Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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June 14, 2026

Strain

by David M Willis on October 16, 2016 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - Glower Vacuum
└ Tags: jacob, sarah

Discussion (108) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    October 16, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    “uh… come…

    here…

    often…?”

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      October 16, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

      “Are those moon pants because when you fell from heaven?”

      • Pablo360
        Pablo360
        October 27, 2016 at 7:55 pm | #

        “BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE AN ALIEN!”

    • Aeron
      Aeron
      October 16, 2016 at 11:24 am | #

      Did… It… Hurt… When… You… Fell- AAH! Forget I said anything! EJECT! EJECT!

      • BrokenEye, True False Prophet
        BrokenEye, True False Prophet
        November 14, 2016 at 1:34 am | #

        Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? Because you’re literally Satan.

  2. AnvilPro
    AnvilPro
    October 16, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Jacob should become a life coach if this lawyering thing doesn’t go through

    • miados
      miados
      October 16, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

      I could see that.

  3. Derek
    Derek
    October 16, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Jacob be appreciative, she almost pulled a muscle

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      October 16, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

      It takes more muscles to smile than to frown. Sarah frowns so much, her mouth muscles can bend steel.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        October 16, 2016 at 12:49 am | #

        So her middle name is Bending?

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 16, 2016 at 1:21 am | #

        Fewer muscles, you mean? Or does she just overtrain frowning until she eclipses the mouth strength of even frequent smilers?

  4. Mr. Mendo
    Mr. Mendo
    October 16, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    “I like…cloth…”

    • A5PECT
      A5PECT
      October 16, 2016 at 12:33 am | #

      “Did that dude just tell you she likes cloth?”

      • Sev
        Sev
        October 16, 2016 at 7:43 pm | #

        “She likes ‘cloth’?
        . . .
        That’s a good bandname.”

  5. Bluewind
    Bluewind
    October 16, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    Her eyeball is trying to run away from the awkwardness! XD

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      October 16, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

      She caught wayward eyes from Becky!

  6. Stephen R. Bierce
    Stephen R. Bierce
    October 16, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    *looks for a latter Rolling Stones record to play*

  7. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    October 16, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    The tension between them is so intense it is distorting spacetime!

  8. Wheelpath
    Wheelpath
    October 16, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    This is just what my hall was discussing last night

  9. Some1
    Some1
    October 16, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    How are you? said the sarahpillar.

  10. Fart Captor
    Fart Captor
    October 16, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    C’mon, Jacob, she’s tryin’.

  11. Dandi_Andi
    Dandi_Andi
    October 16, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    The fact that she’s trying suggests that she does, in fact, want to. She isn’t very good at it, but she wants to try anyway.

    • miados
      miados
      October 16, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

      its hard to change.

      an object in motion tends to stay in motion. an object at rest tends to stay at rest.

      I know its not quite the same but its also kinda why you dont want to go to bed but in the morning dont want to get out of bed.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        October 16, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

        Unified Field Theory by Tim Joseph.

  12. Ash_Ketchup
    Ash_Ketchup
    October 16, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    So you make the mouseover text in advance too? So you ever update the mouseover text later on before the comic posts?

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      October 16, 2016 at 12:52 am | #

      I’ve seen commenters mention it changing, but sometimes it’s just, what, data overflow, or variable name “reused”? It’s some kind of programming term that I understand, yet can’t impart presently.

    • trlkly
      trlkly
      October 16, 2016 at 12:37 pm | #

      I’m pretty sure the entire page is rendered out and ready to go. It just isn’t published.

      Also “mouseover text.” I knew I forgot a name for that. people don’t really use “hover” anymore.

      • The Chosen One
        The Chosen One
        October 16, 2016 at 10:56 pm | #

        I still call it alt-text, myself. Not sure why.

  13. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    October 16, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

    Relax, Jacob, she’ll only strain herself if she does it repetitively.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      October 16, 2016 at 12:55 am | #

      NOT ENOUGH REPS

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 16, 2016 at 1:24 am | #

        It’s been a while, but yeah, a few sets at low resistance, high reps is standard for a beginner feeling out their limits, right?

  14. Spencer
    Spencer
    October 16, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    Oh dear, another comic I have to file under TooReal.doc. Lately I’ve started stuttering sometimes when I talk, and it ends up with words getting choked out like this.

  15. Leorale
    Leorale
    October 16, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    Change is difficult. 🙂

  16. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    October 16, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

    Shoulda practiced small talk on Walky when you had a chance.

    • inqntrol
      inqntrol
      October 16, 2016 at 1:03 am | #

      Sarah: Sooo… how are y-?
      Walky: I’m completely stressed because I have problems at maths and don’t want to admit it!
      Sarah:….
      Walky: Wait, what did I just say?

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        October 16, 2016 at 9:00 am | #

        Nonono! Small talk! SMALL talk!

        Something like:

        “How are you?”
        “Well, my mommy and daddy either loved each other very much or at least had momentary lust, so here I am.”

        …. wait, that’s not right either.

  17. Leorale
    Leorale
    October 16, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

    This strikes me as really kind of Jacob, to note that she’s very terse, and to let her off the hook. He’s good people.

    • Spencer
      Spencer
      October 16, 2016 at 12:55 am | #

      Jacob’s a good dude. He’s not holding Sarah’s pessimism about his investment in their friendship, and just letting them be friends again.

      • trlkly
        trlkly
        October 16, 2016 at 12:52 pm | #

        He’s even better than that. This is his girlfriend’s enemy who she said punched her. The fact that he didn’t assume he got the whole story is amazing.

    • darkoneko
      darkoneko
      October 16, 2016 at 3:27 am | #

      I swear that guy must have a lifelong experience with timid/cranky siblings.

  18. Larkle
    Larkle
    October 16, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

    Now, now, Jacob. It’s good for her to test her stamina like this.

  19. miados
    miados
    October 16, 2016 at 12:17 am | #

    getting out of your comfort zone, even if you want to, isn’t comfortable

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      October 16, 2016 at 12:21 am | #

      Indeed. That’s why there’s all that caution tape around it.

      Pushing out of your comfort zone with the intent of expanding it can be even worse. Just ducking outside of it for a moment out of necessity seems easier to me.

      • miados
        miados
        October 16, 2016 at 12:23 am | #

        well you need to make it bigger if you want to be able to have others in it sometimes. I know its hard for me to push the limits to allow others in. Well face to face others. online others don’t take up much room.

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          October 16, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

          Data compression for the win!

          • miados
            miados
            October 16, 2016 at 12:26 am | #

            so…… pokeball?

        • Fart Captor
          Fart Captor
          October 16, 2016 at 12:35 am | #

          Yeah, I do it (though I should do more of it), but it’s much harder work to make it stick

          • miados
            miados
            October 16, 2016 at 12:37 am | #

            I think my comfort zone has shrunk in the last couple years honestly.

            • Fart Captor
              Fart Captor
              October 16, 2016 at 1:22 am | #

              I know the feeling. It’s all to easy to retreat back into yourself when a new source of stress pops up

              • RacingTurtle
                RacingTurtle
                October 16, 2016 at 11:46 am | #

                Ugh. It me.

          • Disloyal Subject
            Disloyal Subject
            October 16, 2016 at 1:31 am | #

            Seems like it helps when the stakes anchoring the caution tape are getting pounded in by other stressors, deep enough that they won’t come up easily… of course, that often means the zone shifting directions while maintaining size as intense focus on one side leaves another free to be eroded, and if just unwinding the caution tape from the stakes enters the metaphor, then it turns into a clusterfuck as the field is littered with stakes and tattered caution tape clings to a few in the wake of a migrating border.

            • Slartibeast Button, BIA
              Slartibeast Button, BIA
              October 16, 2016 at 1:32 am | #

              [Posts sign “Warning: Metaphor Storm Ahead”]

            • Gneseepaws
              Gneseepaws
              October 16, 2016 at 8:01 am | #

              Honestly, it’s caution tape. I just step over it. Really! The reason it’s there is that the workers have left, and they don’t want you to Fall into a hole or trip on sommit. If I have my eyes open, nothin’ bad’s gonna happen. The caution tape is just there so I don’t do something stupid. Again. It’s not really an obstacle, just an alert, …just plastic tape warning of pitfalls.

              • Gneseepaws
                Gneseepaws
                October 16, 2016 at 8:22 am | #

                I know they are just people. They’re not dangerous, or scary, they aren’t going to point at me, and laugh. They’re not bullies, well, they’re probably not bullies. Most of them will be nice, and not laugh at me, a few might be bullies. They all look bigger’ me. A few might not laugh at me, even if most are bull…. I’m just going to stay on this side of the tape for now.

        • darkoneko
          darkoneko
          October 16, 2016 at 3:27 am | #

          it’s bigger on the inside.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 16, 2016 at 1:27 am | #

        Some people’s comfort zones are akin to Switzerland.
        Others’ are more like the Mongol Empire.

        • Lipke the Articulate
          Lipke the Articulate
          October 16, 2016 at 1:49 am | #

          Their comfort zone is the exception!

  20. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    October 16, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

    Just noticing the insane number of people who wear glasses in this strip.  In the name of vanity (and the old saying about how guys don’t make passes etc.), doesn’t anyone wear contact lenses?

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      October 16, 2016 at 12:21 am | #

      They probably all have astigmatism.

      I’m all in for the eyeglass-wearing people, breaks spectacled stereotypes and what not.

      • Marisa Mockery
        Marisa Mockery
        October 16, 2016 at 12:36 am | #

        Nah they make contacts for astigmatism now, have for a few years. I use them ^^ I hate glasses.

        • JessWitt
          JessWitt
          October 16, 2016 at 12:48 am | #

          Do they now? What brand do you use? Maybe I’ll buy them.

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      October 16, 2016 at 12:29 am | #

      I wear glasses because holy shit I am not putting something directly onto my eyeballs.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        October 16, 2016 at 12:31 am | #

        Let me guess, you also have some irrational bias against letting someone cut into them with lasers too?

        [/joke]

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        October 16, 2016 at 12:49 am | #

        Same reason as my dad. But it’s a healthy fear to have.

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      October 16, 2016 at 12:41 am | #

      Maybe they do. There’s a bunch of characters whose morning / evening routines we’ve never seen who might have contacts.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        October 16, 2016 at 12:43 am | #

        Now I am wondering about Amber vs Amazi-Girl and vision issues, but am too lazy to do the archive troll.

        • Spencer
          Spencer
          October 16, 2016 at 12:53 am | #

          Per Amber, they’re really just reading glasses.

        • Opus the Poet
          Opus the Poet
          October 16, 2016 at 12:56 am | #

          Well, from the political rally scene where she spots Ryan from across a crowded room we know her far vision is pretty good, maybe she just needs them to read?

    • Riku
      Riku
      October 16, 2016 at 1:10 am | #

      Younger people (teens through early twenties I guess?) seem to all need glasses for some reason, I’m really curious what caused this since a lot of older people I know are perplexed by this. I remember in one of my classes in 10th grade a student refused to wear his new glasses because he was embarrassed for some reason so the teacher asked the class who wears contacts or glasses and almost every hand shot up lol.

      • maxyai
        maxyai
        October 16, 2016 at 1:23 am | #

        I have an irrational fear of one of those little tiny clear parabolas getting lost and spending the next 2 hours on my hands and knees looking for. I’ve gotten to watch my father do that on multiple occasions.

      • rectilinearpropagation
        rectilinearpropagation
        October 16, 2016 at 11:01 am | #

        We read screens all the time now so we’ve all got eye strain.

    • Bluewind
      Bluewind
      October 16, 2016 at 1:25 am | #

      We know Billie wore contacts before the semester started, but had to fall back on glasses. Jacob got his glasses after the semester started (and only main male I can think of that wears them) as did the girl he is dating. Amber has astigmatism and only needs them for viewing her computer screen and reading without getting a headache. I’m not sure what Dorothy’s vision issue is or Roz. Ruth needs hers. I’m not even sure if what Marcie wears are glasses or just filters (I know some people wear pink tinted glasses for migraine prevention and not vision) or something else. Robin wears fake ones to look smart… it’s well less than half, so not unbelievable.

      I wear glasses when I’m driving because I’m nearsighted. I can drive without them, but I get a headache if I drive for long. My cousin wore contacts and even with her cleaning regimen she kept getting pink eye, so she went back to glasses after a year.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        October 16, 2016 at 1:32 am | #

        Marcie wears goggles, presumably to protect her eyes while she skates. She wore ’em when she was as young as 5 though, so presumably those lens have some sorta prescription in there.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          October 16, 2016 at 1:32 am | #

          “Wore ’em” meaning glasses. D’oh!

        • Bluewind
          Bluewind
          October 16, 2016 at 1:38 am | #

          I’d forgotten about that flashback. The red tint is since adulthood though. Any idea why? She wears them all the time including at work.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          October 16, 2016 at 1:58 am | #

          Well, there are a few reasons she might:

          – Aesthetic. She IS a human being after all – maybe red is simply her favourite colour?

          – They block out blue light, which helps see clearly (maybe useful for skating at night)

          – They’re known to be soothing to the eyes – some people wear red tinted sunglasses while driving because of that.

          – They help people stand out. Marcie may have a harder time getting folks attention due to her disability, so it might be a way to stand out.

          – Here is an interesting one – they help reduce migraines. Obligatory joke about that coming in useful when you’re friends with Sal aside, that might be handy with someone with a head injury or brain damage – potentially, say, the type that can cause muteness.

          • ischemgeek
            ischemgeek
            October 16, 2016 at 7:57 am | #

            There are certain types vision disorders which anecdotally claim help from colored lenses (e.g., something called Irlen syndrome), though currently the science is controversial in the same way the science for CFS and Morgellons was controversial about a decade or two ago – and when dealing with such ambiguous science, it really can go either way (hence why I chose the two – not to equate CFS with Morgellon’s but to point out that sometimes controversial science settles out in favor of a thing and sometimes it really doesn’t). CFS turned out to be a physical condition as people with it were claiming, as opposed to a psychological one (like some novel psychosomatic presentation of depression, as some were claiming it was at the time), even if it’s poorly understood at this point – but Morgellon’s is now believed to be some variant of delusional parasitosis and not a physical disorder, unlike what those who have it claim.

            And then I do have friends with dyslexia who say that colored lenses help them with reading.

            • BBCC
              BBCC
              October 16, 2016 at 11:08 am | #

              Those are also possibilities!

      • RacingTurtle
        RacingTurtle
        October 16, 2016 at 11:53 am | #

        I actually wondered if Jacob got glasses in the comic specifically because Mr. Willis noticed that there were no dudes with glasses and decided to fix that. (And that it was Jacob specifically because he’s “The Hot Dude”. Willis thinks ladies with glasses are attractive, which is why Danny-the-onetime-main-character does; therefore it makes sense that Ethan, another onetime main character, would also find glasses attractive.)

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      October 16, 2016 at 9:01 am | #

      I’ve said before, it’s related to whatever condition gives them inhumanly large eyes.

  21. Orion Fury
    Orion Fury
    October 16, 2016 at 12:56 am | #

    Am I the only one thinking Jacob seemes cross/irritated by Sarah suddenly?

    • Mr. Random
      Mr. Random
      October 16, 2016 at 1:05 am | #

      Can’t really blame him, all he sees is her alternatingly be extremely reserved and then caustic towards people she doesn’t like. And when she does seem to try she almost immediately goes to one of the other common states.
      This is from his perspective mind, look up the sarah+jacob tag.

    • Riku
      Riku
      October 16, 2016 at 1:06 am | #

      Their last 1on1 interaction didn’t end on a high note and she has a bad history with Jacob’s girlfriend. I’m surprised he was being so nice to begin with. He’s made it pretty clear that he doesn’t like how mean Sarah acts I think

    • Badgermole
      Badgermole
      October 16, 2016 at 1:06 am | #

      He seems irritated because conversation with her is going to be painfully awkward? Also because (to him) it doesn’t seem like she Wants to talk to him at all or has anything to say but is doing the social niceties thing.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        October 16, 2016 at 1:35 am | #

        That was more or less the impression I got, too.

  22. Riku
    Riku
    October 16, 2016 at 1:05 am | #

    Their last 1on1 interaction didn’t end on a high note and she has a bad history with Jacob’s girlfriend. I’m surprised he was being so nice to begin with. He’s made it pretty clear that he doesn’t like how mean Sarah acts I think

    • Riku
      Riku
      October 16, 2016 at 1:06 am | #

      Of course I’d put this in the wrong place

  23. Badgermole
    Badgermole
    October 16, 2016 at 1:09 am | #

    Great sequence of Sarahfaces, hilariously expressive contrasting with the generic thing she’s saying.

  24. adamrocketblack
    adamrocketblack
    October 16, 2016 at 1:13 am | #

    For years now Ive been reading this comic.
    And I constantly have to fight back the urge to say things, which I know will offend someone. ( there is always someone ) . At least 3 or four times a month. I’m starting to feel like a saint over it.

    And I dont even want to talk about it. Its not even my idea. I dont even really care about it.
    But Just because Ive been instructed, that this entire subject is Taboo, I unnecessarily have to fight back these overwhelming urges. Thats not fair.

    But still I fight on. And I dont say it. I just keep my head down, and move on.
    But One day I know the urges will just overwhelming. There will be no stopping it. I did my best, but every person has their breaking point.

    And On that Day I’m going to slip up, and Finally Say:
    ………………..
    ………………

    ………..

    ……..

    …..
    …
    ………………..”Willis , How do you pronounce Dina?”

    • Lipke the Articulate
      Lipke the Articulate
      October 16, 2016 at 1:48 am | #

      I think he’s answered that like a bunch. I remember seeing something about it. I don’t quite recall…
      *quickly looks around website*

      Oh, shit, there it is.

      In the FAQ.

      If it weren’t for the fact that my first couple lines were legitimately my response, this would be a great setup for a “ur dum hur hur” kind of joke a la sarcasm.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        October 16, 2016 at 6:39 pm | #

        And his tumblr.

    • Skater Girl (@syleegrrl)
      Skater Girl (@syleegrrl)
      October 16, 2016 at 1:49 am | #

      Dee-nuh.

    • trlkly
      trlkly
      October 16, 2016 at 12:55 pm | #

      Kee-OH-ree-OO.

      (No idea if anyone will get this.)

  25. hueloovoo
    hueloovoo
    October 16, 2016 at 1:18 am | #

    I feel Sarah in my soul here. Words are hard.

    • adamrocketblack
      adamrocketblack
      October 16, 2016 at 1:24 am | #

      Words are hard.
      This comic punches me right in the Nominal Aphasia.

      —But not as bad as having to google “nominal aphasia” every week because of that thing I keep having to look up over and over again.

      words hard

  26. Pl0x
    Pl0x
    October 16, 2016 at 1:49 am | #

    Oh no…this is too relatable.

  27. Doom Shepherd
    Doom Shepherd
    October 16, 2016 at 2:47 am | #

    Familiar, in a way.

    I am really uncomfortable conversing.
    I am really, really uncomfortable conversing with strangers.
    I am really, really, REALLY uncomfortable conversing with strangers like celebrities, who surely have better things to do than listen to me blather.

    So I try, on a level that is almost subconscious, to end nearly all conversations as quickly as possible. Which makes me rude. Well, I say rude because seeming rude to people who don’t know you is functionally indistinguishable from actually being rude.

    It’s also why it took 8 Star Trek conventions before I got my first autograph.

    • Kathleen
      Kathleen
      October 16, 2016 at 3:14 pm | #

      Remember: humans are social creatures. You are not being annoying.

      Also pro tip: people LOVE talking about themselves. So maybe instead of ending conversations too quickly, try asking them questions instead?

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        October 16, 2016 at 4:48 pm | #

        At least with celebrities the worry is that you will be asking them the same stupid questions they have heard a million times before.

  28. BenRG
    BenRG
    October 16, 2016 at 3:21 am | #

    I’m with Jacob; Sarah is under so much agonising strain here that you’re expecting something to explode and spray debris everywhere at any second!

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      October 16, 2016 at 6:41 pm | #

      I just did laundry.

  29. Eldritch Gentleman
    Eldritch Gentleman
    October 16, 2016 at 3:35 am | #

    She’ll break her social bone if she keeps straining it.

  30. Keulan
    Keulan
    October 16, 2016 at 3:38 am | #

    I understand this too well. I’ve never been good at small talk. Instead there just ends up being an awkward silence between me and whoever I’m sitting next to, unless they’ve got something they want to talk about.

  31. Idontcarenomore
    Idontcarenomore
    October 16, 2016 at 3:38 am | #

    Jacob is being cautious perhaps because of their last encounter ending on a sour note. And Sarah’s (understandable) dislike of his girlfriend. And her obvious problems conversing right now.

    I think he would be fine talking to her, if she wasn’t having such an obviously hard time.

    I hope she doesn’t give up. And if so, I hope she sits right up front anyway.

  32. Bagge
    Bagge
    October 16, 2016 at 4:31 am | #

    Share company in silence?

  33. Tomas
    Tomas
    October 16, 2016 at 7:09 am | #

    Keep on practicing for that Turing test, Sarah. You’ll pass it sooner or later.

  34. Jhon
    Jhon
    October 16, 2016 at 9:08 pm | #

    OK, you’ve established that neither of you is naked.
    Now, build on that!

  35. a snow ʍousɐ
    a snow ʍousɐ
    October 16, 2016 at 10:26 pm | #

    I just saw Zootopia yesterday, I suppose Sarah is Flash 😛

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