Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

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see also: roadside economy
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May 19, 2026

Gig

by David M Willis on January 31, 2020 at 12:01 am
  • 02 - To Remind You of My Love
└ Tags: becky, leslie

Discussion (137) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    January 31, 2020 at 12:01 am | #

    “well, I mean if you’re talking federal grift, hard to beat the toddler in chief”

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      January 31, 2020 at 12:14 am | #

      Haven’t you heard? Anything that a politician does with the aim of getting elected is inherently in the public interest.

      • Wizard
        Wizard
        January 31, 2020 at 1:20 am | #

        The one entertaining thing about the impeachment farce is watching the Banana Republicans twisting their reasoning into pretzels.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          January 31, 2020 at 2:21 am | #

          One question that needs to be asked of Senate Republicans: “Would you have let Obama get away with this?” They were salivating over getting the previous administration on anything; if they could’ve impeached over the mustard thing, they would have.

          Listening to the likes of Kenn Starr come out of the woodwork was laughable, just add him to the list of people who pulled a 180 since the Clinton impeachment. (For those of you too young to remember, TL;DR: the whole investigation was about an alleged real estate scheme, but when that proved fruitless they kept poking until they caught wind of his adultery. His testimony denying the affair was the “gotcha” moment they were dreaming of. For bonus points, read comments by Senators McConnel and Graham, or any of the others who have been in office since then.)

          • He Who Abides
            He Who Abides
            January 31, 2020 at 8:20 am | #

            Schiff actually brought that up, after Dershowitz made his case that reelection justifies anything. I was proud to hear it.

          • Deanatay
            Deanatay
            January 31, 2020 at 8:20 am | #

            Unfortunately, this has now become a part of our electoral process. The instant any President takes office, the other side immediately will start up the impeachment engine. The other side is literally evil, and must be stopped at all costs, no matter what the damage to our nation’s integrity.

            • Geneseepaws
              Geneseepaws
              January 31, 2020 at 9:08 am | #

              We have met the enemy, and they is us.

            • CJ
              CJ
              January 31, 2020 at 11:29 am | #

              Well, my outsider perspective is that the Republicans actually do it all the time. the Democrats wait until the president did some things that are actually good reasons to impeach him.
              If comitting adultery was a reason for impeachment, Trump would have to be impeached several times over. And probably every other President the US ever had, too.

              • Needfuldoer
                Needfuldoer
                January 31, 2020 at 11:56 am | #

                “Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line”, as the old saw goes.

              • DarkoNeko
                DarkoNeko
                January 31, 2020 at 12:25 pm | #

                the “every side does it the same” argument seems to be something USA republicans love to say to justify stuff.

                • thejeff
                  thejeff
                  January 31, 2020 at 2:53 pm | #

                  Sadly, it seems to be something the US media does to avoid being considered “too liberal”. Or nowadays “fake news”.

                  Of course, it doesn’t work.

              • ValdVin
                ValdVin
                January 31, 2020 at 12:40 pm | #

                Your outside perspective is correct.

                The Bothsides disease, in which our media betters tell us the Rs and the Ds do the same bad things with the same baseless motivation, covers up a lot of right-wing crap.

              • R_r
                R_r
                February 10, 2020 at 12:25 pm | #

                Clinton wasn’t impeached for adultery, he was impeached for a perjury trap constructed around the opportunity of his adultery. And enough Republican Senators broke ranks that it was understood that nothing of the sort would ever lead to impeachment again by the Republicans.
                You have based an “all the time” generalization off of a single occurrence.

            • MutantSentry
              MutantSentry
              January 31, 2020 at 11:38 am | #

              Trying to decide if we have reached the Gracchi Brothers/Marius v Sulla period of the collapse of the Roman Republic yet. Once armed factions start battling it out we will have hit the First Triumverate period…

              This is from the summary of Mike Duncan’s The Storm Before The Storm:

              “…rising economic inequality disrupted traditional ways of life, endemic social and ethnic prejudice led to clashes over citizenship and voting rights, and rampant corruption and ruthless ambition sparked violent political clashes that cracked the once indestructible foundations of the Republic.”

              That is talking about Rome in the generation or two before Julius Caesar…
              sounds familiar though doesn’t it.

              https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Before-Beginning-Roman-Republic/dp/1610397215

              • Jhon
                Jhon
                January 31, 2020 at 12:04 pm | #

                +1 upvote.

              • Agemegos
                Agemegos
                January 31, 2020 at 6:50 pm | #

                Yeah. They taught us about the fall of Rome from the Gracchi to Nero in high school. It was meant to be a warning, but it seems that some people took it as a playbook.

              • Agemegos
                Agemegos
                January 31, 2020 at 6:55 pm | #

                They taught us about the decline of the Roman Republic from the Gracchi to Nero in Ancient History in high school. I always thought it was supposed to be a warning, but it seems that some other people took it for a play book.

                The thing about Caesar being immune from prosecution until he left office was a zinger.

            • 3oranges
              3oranges
              January 31, 2020 at 11:57 pm | #

              The Democrats waited a long time to impeach Trump, overlooking one offense after another until there was one that was actually going to impact the election. They never ended up impeaching George W. Bush at all.

              I wish both sides were willing to hold the other accountable for misdeeds, but that is not what you see here.

        • Kensou
          Kensou
          January 31, 2020 at 2:35 am | #

          I experience a sort of entertainment, imagining what it’ll be like when a Democrat is elected President again… but it’s tied up with imagining applying a wiffle bat to their heads for the inevitable Republican hypocricy.

          • StClair
            StClair
            January 31, 2020 at 9:58 pm | #

            at this rate, “if”.

            • Kensou
              Kensou
              February 1, 2020 at 12:04 am | #

              Ugh, I can’t allow myself to believe that, I have enough despair about the future as it is.

        • R_r
          R_r
          February 10, 2020 at 12:29 pm | #

          Dershowitz, who made the argument in question, is,and always has been,a Democrat. He campaigned for Hillary in 2016, and if the impeachment ends in time to allow it without professional conflict, will campaign fod whoever the Democratic nominee is this election. I happen to think his legal argument is incorrect, but he believes it for nonpartisan reasons.

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    January 31, 2020 at 12:02 am | #

    Leslie: Hmm, depends. How much space in the apartment?

    Becky: Thousand square feet, I’d say.

    Leslie: Central heating? Good Wifi?

    Becky: Yup.

    Leslie: What streaming services did Robin provide?

    Becky: Netflix and Amazon. No Disney+.

    Leslie: You bring shame upon this house.

    • King Daniel
      King Daniel
      January 31, 2020 at 12:11 am | #

      Robin loves Attack of the Clones, so she probably does have Disney+.

      • Robert Rence
        Robert Rence
        January 31, 2020 at 12:42 am | #

        She has it, she just doesn’t know how to stream it:

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-10/02-to-remind-you-of-my-love/clingyweirdos/

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        January 31, 2020 at 12:58 am | #

        She’d pay every month, $70 a year, just to have access to one eighteen year old movie?

        What is she, a politician?

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          January 31, 2020 at 3:01 am | #

          yes

        • CFB
          CFB
          January 31, 2020 at 5:54 am | #

          What do you mean eighteen year old movie? Attack of The Clones was released… Oh, I feel old(er) now.

  3. BBCC
    BBCC
    January 31, 2020 at 12:03 am | #

    Aw, Becks, it’s never gonna be easy to be proud of moments where you had to compromise on principles, but regardless, I’m sure Leslie will be proud you’re surviving.

    • Charles Phipps
      Charles Phipps
      January 31, 2020 at 12:18 am | #

      Leslie: I’ll be very proud of you as long as Robin isn’t elected and makes an amendment that I have to be her slave. Because there’s a non-zero % possibility of that.

      • Dean
        Dean
        January 31, 2020 at 12:32 am | #

        Robin is currently drafting the Slave Leia Bikini Act.

        • Freemage
          Freemage
          January 31, 2020 at 2:12 pm | #

          And suddenly, I’m conflicted….

          • Charles Phipps
            Charles Phipps
            January 31, 2020 at 3:58 pm | #

            *Leslie strangles Robin on her sail barge*

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      January 31, 2020 at 9:11 am | #

      That “you’re kind of crushing it” panel looks pretty proud to me.

    • Jhon
      Jhon
      January 31, 2020 at 12:00 pm | #

      Hugz in 3.. 2.. 1..

  4. PHNX
    PHNX
    January 31, 2020 at 12:04 am | #

    I dunno…
    Panel 5 looks pretty “I’m proud’a ya, kid” to me!

    • Chaucer59
      Chaucer59
      January 31, 2020 at 12:08 am | #

      Yep

    • woobie
      woobie
      January 31, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

      That’s what I was going to say!

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      January 31, 2020 at 3:04 am | #

      It definitely does to me as well.

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 31, 2020 at 8:07 am | #

        Yeah, it was the cue for Becky to slip back into the bit.

    • Z
      Z
      January 31, 2020 at 9:45 am | #

      My firs thought. Leslie looks hella proud of Becky and also touched that Becky came back.

  5. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    January 31, 2020 at 12:04 am | #

    Well BANG BANG BANG!–and down you go
    It’s Just A Job I do…

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      January 31, 2020 at 1:45 am | #

      Nice Phil Collins reference there.

      • Joe Covenant
        Joe Covenant
        January 31, 2020 at 5:32 am | #

        Nooooo….
        “Genesis” reference!

        (Yes there IS a difference, dammit!!!! 🙂 )

        • Liquid Len
          Liquid Len
          January 31, 2020 at 11:04 am | #

          Very much so!

      • Stephen Bierce
        Stephen Bierce
        January 31, 2020 at 11:39 am | #

        Hey, it confused me too, but that back-and-forth between Rutherford and Banks really makes the song.

  6. Claire
    Claire
    January 31, 2020 at 12:05 am | #

    Lol deep for better or for worse reference there

  7. Robbie
    Robbie
    January 31, 2020 at 12:07 am | #

    Aww, baby 🙁

  8. Deathjavu
    Deathjavu
    January 31, 2020 at 12:10 am | #

    Don’t be silly, Becky, gig economy companies aren’t federal level grifts.

    They’re international

    • LeslieBean4shizzle
      LeslieBean4shizzle
      January 31, 2020 at 12:19 am | #

      Huh.
      I wasn’t familiar with either term.
      When I googled “gig economy” a very concise definition popped up. I was like “oh, a thing that describes my career. Neat?”
      However, since Willis said “see also” I tried googling “Roadside Economy”
      Nothing came up. Or, rather, stuff about roads and roadside eateries which did not seem to track.

      That or a Roadside Economy somehow involves Roadblock from GI Joe?

      • a/snow/mous/e
        a/snow/mous/e
        January 31, 2020 at 12:31 am | #

        I’m guessing roadside economy is living on the streets.

      • Norah
        Norah
        January 31, 2020 at 12:59 am | #

        I think it’s a reference to the newspaper comic strip “For Better or For Worse.”
        Once a teenager in the strip described another teenager as “She’s a gig. She’s roadside,” meaning she’d had more than one sexual partner. A lot of people on the Comics Curmudgeon blog made fun of this supposed teen slang, saying that the author, a Boomer-aged woman, had probably made it up.

        • 3oranges
          3oranges
          January 31, 2020 at 1:24 am | #

          https://joshreads.com/2005/01/best-ifor-better-or-for-worsei-ever/ if anyone is curious. (Pretty sure it’s not Canadian slang either.)

          • BBCC
            BBCC
            January 31, 2020 at 11:08 am | #

            If it is, I’ve never heard of it.

            • Roborat
              Roborat
              January 31, 2020 at 2:50 pm | #

              Albertan here, and I have never heard that slang either.

      • Jamie
        Jamie
        January 31, 2020 at 1:12 am | #

        It’s… complicated. The gig economy describes how a fairly bulky percentage of the population makes their money these days. When the term was first coined, it was hailed as a new era of people taking control of their destinies by hustling. And now the backlash has begun as gigs tend to be organized by “disruptive” tech companies that are allegedly (I don’t know enough to take sides here) exploiting workers by using the gig economy as a cover for not providing benefits or following other workplace regulations.

        You can find a few dozen thinkpieces from plenty of perspectives if you poke around enough, and I suspect it matters a lot whether your gigs are stuff like writing articles versus making deliveries. Couldn’t explain why; I have a salary and no relevant insight.

        • LeslieBean4shizzle
          LeslieBean4shizzle
          January 31, 2020 at 9:07 am | #

          … yes. I said that googling “gig economy” immediately returned a definition that I instantly recognized as a description of “being a college professor these days”. Aka – contract work, no benefits, no job security beyond a few months.

          It was “roadside economy” that I could find nothing on.
          Apparently because it was a joke about the comic “For Better or For Worse”?

          • begbert2
            begbert2
            January 31, 2020 at 10:53 am | #

            I think that “gig economy” actually implies no job security beyond a few hours – that’s the “gig” part of it, that it’s all going from one job to another to another with no assurance whatsoever that there’s going to be another after that, but with a decent probability of it because there are so many people that might be looking for what you’re peddling. It’s more comparable to booking your bar band out to do performances – each gig is separate and there are no promises about getting another, though of course “wanting a ride” or “needing a hotel” are far more common needs than “wanting live background music”, so you’re more likely to be okay as long of the supply of drivers/airb’n’bers is below saturation.

            And, of course, being totally unregulated (often via borderline or outright breaking of the law) is also a characteristic of the gig economy, because the gig economy probably wouldn’t be profitable enough to be a “thing” otherwise.

    • McBogue
      McBogue
      January 31, 2020 at 2:38 am | #

      Ah, yes. The Gig Economy – because “gigs” have kept so many musicians and actors financially stable all these years.

      /eyeroll

    • Charlie Spencer
      Charlie Spencer
      January 31, 2020 at 7:00 am | #

      Aren’t all political consultants in the gig economy? Campaigns are long-term gigs, but they’re only good for several months, tops. Then you go looking for the next one.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        January 31, 2020 at 9:25 am | #

        The “gig economy” isn’t inherently bad. In fact, a lot of it’s been pretty high end for most of the modern past. Freelance writing, consulting, etc.

        The recent shift has been shifting it back down to low end jobs and using that to avoid treating workers as legal employees – especially when you’re treating them as such in every other way.

  9. Suet
    Suet
    January 31, 2020 at 12:11 am | #

    Les hasta be proud. Gotta stick together through the thick and thin.

    Roadside economy, however, is a tossup and mostly involves trucks

  10. Agemegos
    Agemegos
    January 31, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    It’s the 31st of January! [i]The Order of the Stick[/i] resumes updating this coming Monday!

    If Mike can just keep his head down for three more days I win my bet!

    • Yumi
      Yumi
      January 31, 2020 at 12:15 am | #

      Oh shit, are you trying to reverse psych Willis? Or maybe reverse-reverse psych them?

      • Agemegos
        Agemegos
        January 31, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

        I know that the buffer is queued until Doomsday, and therefore that Willis cannot be psyched.

        Willis has a divine plan, in which our suffering is a necessary part of the glorious whole. Nothing can be changed from its fore-destined path, even if we really, really want to win a football game. Or a bet.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          January 31, 2020 at 12:34 am | #

          Doomsday is April 21st of this year?

          …. eh, it’s more accurate than what Harold Camping predicted.

          • Yumi
            Yumi
            January 31, 2020 at 12:36 am | #

            Thank god.

          • Agemegos
            Agemegos
            January 31, 2020 at 6:52 pm | #

            Doomsday keeps getting postponed. Hadn’t you noticed?

        • PB
          PB
          January 31, 2020 at 9:11 pm | #

          … That was … oddly poetic. 😀

    • Agemegos
      Agemegos
      January 31, 2020 at 12:17 am | #

      I hear that the EU is demanding a single standard connector for recharging devices. I’ll have to have a word to them about text mark-up.

      • Clif
        Clif
        January 31, 2020 at 8:10 am | #

        Snerk.

  11. abysswatcher1993
    abysswatcher1993
    January 31, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    It’s okay to be gay and make mistakes, Becky. What is not okay is to steal government money and help right wingers.

    I don’t care what Dina thinks. If she wants a dinosaur, she could have stolen it from a store. Being a thief is more dignified than helping Republicans.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      January 31, 2020 at 12:35 am | #

      I certainly hope Robin isn’t using government money to finance her election campaign.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      January 31, 2020 at 12:41 am | #

      Robin Hood certainly lives up to that last statement.

      • abysswatcher1993
        abysswatcher1993
        January 31, 2020 at 12:50 am | #

        And Jack Shepard, Arsene Lupin, Lupin III and Ren Amamiya.

        • abysswatcher1993
          abysswatcher1993
          January 31, 2020 at 12:51 am | #

          Sheppard*

          • StClair
            StClair
            January 31, 2020 at 1:50 am | #

            Wrex.

            • Keulen
              Keulen
              January 31, 2020 at 3:08 am | #

              Grunt.

              • Delicious Taffy
                Delicious Taffy
                January 31, 2020 at 6:17 am | #

                Mordin.

                • abysswatcher1993
                  abysswatcher1993
                  January 31, 2020 at 11:19 am | #

                  Tali.

    • Geneseepaws
      Geneseepaws
      January 31, 2020 at 9:18 am | #

      **Being a thief is more dignified than helping Republicans.**

      Being a thief is more dignified, has higher moral standing – but a lower pay grade than helping ** Politicians **

      Attempted fix. Uncertain success.

  12. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    January 31, 2020 at 12:14 am | #

    I feel like she’s already proud of Becky, or will be.

  13. Bagge
    Bagge
    January 31, 2020 at 12:15 am | #

    classic Becky. an over-the-top stunt, followed by goof, followed by a real, honest appology. She has done the same with Joyce and Dina.

    awwwwwwww, Leslie IS proud of you, you doofus. She is an awesome mom like that.

    • REAver
      REAver
      January 31, 2020 at 12:30 am | #

      I’m sorry, what apology? bc “ Sorry, did what I had to” is not one

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        January 31, 2020 at 12:57 am | #

        as I read it, Leslie seems to accept it as one.

  14. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    January 31, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

    Leslie is gay proud of Becky and that’s the best kind of Leslie proud!

  15. Derek
    Derek
    January 31, 2020 at 12:17 am | #

    Not huge fan of panel 1 Becky here. I’m not saying she should have turned Robin’s offer, no, that would have been colossally stupid.

    But she didn’t have to GHOST LESLIE and literally walk out her life with no explanation! That’s so rude and insensitive!! Becky was STALKED by a family member who had threatened her with violence, of course Leslie was going to worry if Becky suddenly disappeared!

    “I had to do it” yes to the taking the offer for a job and tuition
    “I had to do it” no! you didn’t have to be freaking rude to the one person that offered you stability with no strings attached!!!

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 31, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

      Rude and insensitive are not exactly unknown qualities in Becky.

      Neither is appologizing for it and trying to make it right in her own very Becky way… which may or may not seem like a good way, depending on where you stand.

    • Lexi
      Lexi
      January 31, 2020 at 3:01 am | #

      I assume Becky was just literally terrified. She grew up with Toedad, and just him, and it’s only been a couple months that she’s been out from under that influence. Remember, it’s literally only midterms in the comic, of term one.

      I suspect that Becky learned really well how to hide things that made parental units not-proud. Bad report cards, sexual desires, the urge to show her bared shoulders in public… This seemed like something that would make Les not-proud, and she hid because making parents not-proud was a bad thing.

      I don’t think Becky is proud of herself right now either.

      She’s also 18, and probably not so good at the “understanding other people’s emotions” thing yet.

      • HMH
        HMH
        January 31, 2020 at 2:57 pm | #

        Hell, at 18, a lot of us aren’t even good at the “understanding our own emotions” thing yet!

    • Fart Captor
      Fart Captor
      January 31, 2020 at 3:19 am | #

      I think “what I had to do” probably only refers to the devil’s bargain she made with Robin, and not ghosting Leslie. The rest of the conversation is clearly about that

      Probably also worth noting that while Becky didn’t have to ghost Leslie, she’s not just some kid who didn’t bother to call home. Becky’s had to fear and distrust virtually all the adults in her life until very recently. What with the family member who had threatened her with violence and growing up in a community that would have 100% condoned it.

      She was probably deathly afraid that she’d screwed up her relationship with practically the only adult besides/since her mom she’s been able to trust

      • Geneseepaws
        Geneseepaws
        January 31, 2020 at 9:21 am | #

        Practically;… Leslie, and Joyce’s dad.

      • Derek
        Derek
        January 31, 2020 at 1:25 pm | #

        I understand this but it’s still frustrating (to the readers): to avoid upsetting Leslie for getting a job with a bad person, Becky upsets Leslie by not telling her anything. Very similar to Walky’s avoidance

  16. Piotr W
    Piotr W
    January 31, 2020 at 12:20 am | #

    What keeps surprising me about Becky is how worldly she is, considering her upbringing. “Gig economy” and so on… I’m not sure Joyce knows such terms?

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 31, 2020 at 12:23 am | #

      She is knowledgable in the ways of the economic world. It’s simple Gayganomics. http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-6/02-that-perfect-girl/trickledown/

  17. brumagem
    brumagem
    January 31, 2020 at 12:38 am | #

    I still hate Becky’s hair but
    I L O V E H E R S O M U C H
    P R E C I O U S E N T R E G A Y N E U R

  18. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    January 31, 2020 at 12:43 am | #

    Aw, Becky wants to impress cool Aunt Leslie.

    On that note, I hope her job with Robin is a long con.

    • HMH
      HMH
      January 31, 2020 at 2:32 am | #

      excuse me i did not come here to have my heart literally tactical nuked from orbit

      • HMH
        HMH
        January 31, 2020 at 2:33 am | #

        this uh, is unrelated and was not meant to be a reply to anything

        guess that’s showbiz, baby

  19. TemperaryObsessor
    TemperaryObsessor
    January 31, 2020 at 12:51 am | #

    I hope Becky is joking because I get the impression Leslie was proud of her way earlier than this.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 31, 2020 at 12:56 am | #

      Not so much “joking” as “fishing for confirmation of mom-proudness” as I read it.

  20. Leorale
    Leorale
    January 31, 2020 at 12:59 am | #

    I love how clearly Becky is talking to her original mom, here.

    (And Leslie is gonna totally be proud)

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 31, 2020 at 1:05 am | #

      Oooooh! That is a very good read.

      Good thing Bonnie would be proud of the person Becky has become.
      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2016/comic/book-6/04-it-all-returns/deserves/

  21. Eve
    Eve
    January 31, 2020 at 1:56 am | #

    I mean she seems less ‘disappointed’ than ‘worried for your safety and stability’ Becky. She’s probably just proud of you for surviving.

  22. Archivist
    Archivist
    January 31, 2020 at 2:43 am | #

    So that’s how you make dot eyes look down.

  23. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    January 31, 2020 at 3:00 am | #

    “not until you make her pass pro-queer laws, no”

  24. Keulen
    Keulen
    January 31, 2020 at 3:10 am | #

    I’m kinda worried Becky will actually succeed in getting Robin re-elected. Though I suppose if Robin switches parties immediately afterwards it might be ok-ish.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      January 31, 2020 at 9:31 am | #

      As I’ve said before, I’ve got no idea how Becky would succeed. Other than through Robin-style wacky hijinks or possibly a sympathy vote after an Evil Dad attack, but those can’t be blamed on Becky.

  25. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    January 31, 2020 at 3:23 am | #

    “Roadside”? “Gig”? Holy Cheese, was that a For Better Or For Worse joke??? After all these years? I am impressed!

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      January 31, 2020 at 3:07 pm | #

      Yup, a reference to a comic from around 15 years ago, just goes to show you how deep the buffer is for this comic.

  26. Zaxares
    Zaxares
    January 31, 2020 at 4:47 am | #

    That last one hit home more personally than I’d care to admit. While I know my parents love me unconditionally (they’ve proven this to me on so, so many occasions), I still know that (especially my Dad) they still disapprove of some of the choices I’ve made and the direction I chose to go in life. So yes, they love me, but they’ll never be proud of me the way they’re proud of my much more conventionally successful brother. 😛

  27. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    January 31, 2020 at 5:41 am | #

    I don’t get the principles thing. The political messages Becky is sending are not against her (or Leslie’s) principles. With this type of campaign Robin will not get re-elected, and if she were she seems self-interested enough to revise her ideology for the sake of getting votes. I mean, if Becky’s activism is so strong in her district to elect her, she’d gain by being a champion for it (with the added benefit of being able to spend any number of days with Leslie without political cost). If not, at least Becky is putting some issues out for political conversation, as Dorothy already noted to Roz.

    • timemonkey
      timemonkey
      January 31, 2020 at 6:38 am | #

      Because they both know Robin would absolutely switch back to being harmful to them as soon as it was beneficial to her Robin’s only supporting her now because it’s the only group willing to back her right now.

      • Sombrero
        Sombrero
        January 31, 2020 at 7:58 am | #

        Does Becky know? Leslie was willing to give Robin one opportunity and she got burned, why is unprincipled for Becky to give her another one (even if it seems a bad idea)? I mean, this looks to be more about Leslie’s feelings than about “principles”.

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          January 31, 2020 at 9:31 am | #

          Becky initially made ‘don’t go back on your promises’ one of her conditions of working for Robin, so she knew then. She then retracted that one, since Robin wouldn’t give her everything she asked, and pivoted to attempting to half-ass it so she can’t get elected, since she knows Robin will still be Robin.

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            January 31, 2020 at 9:36 am | #

            Which is the better approach anyway, since it gets her what she needs and gives up something that’s unenforceable and almost certainly irrelevant.

            Since it all relies on Becky being the kind of political genius who can get a Republican elected in Indiana with a leftist platform.

    • CJ
      CJ
      January 31, 2020 at 8:20 am | #

      Though Leslie doesn’t know it, Becky gave out on he principles because she accepted the two out of three deal from Robin. where she close schooling and a place to live over political consistency.
      But Leslie knows how Robin works, so she can be sure there something like that involved anyway.
      And Becky: She still likes you and is proud of you, just look at her face.

      • Sombrero
        Sombrero
        February 1, 2020 at 6:30 am | #

        Right. I forgot about the two out of three thing. So this is a re-run of Ethan’s Chik-fil-A dilemma with higher stakes. Anyway, I still believe Leslie is more about her own feelings than the principles thing (although I agree that Leslie sure knows something like that is happening), and FWIW my own take is that Becky made the right decision because of what thejeff said above.

  28. Fasuhn
    Fasuhn
    January 31, 2020 at 5:54 am | #

    Not sure why this is the comic that made me realize this and prompted me to ask, but: does anybody else read Leslie’s lines in Pearl’s voice?

    • Tarnish
      Tarnish
      January 31, 2020 at 6:33 am | #

      Someone on the last comment thread mentioned they did, also mentioning they read everyone’s favorite redhead in Amethyst’s voice. Personally, while I definitely feel for Pearl, Leslie always came across as someone different to me.

    • PB
      PB
      January 31, 2020 at 9:10 pm | #

      … It’s not too far off, actually.

  29. Vulcanodon
    Vulcanodon
    January 31, 2020 at 7:53 am | #

    Mixed feelings, Becky; we adults has them. But pride is definitely one. You have navigated terrible storms with almost no information and here you are.

  30. BenRG
    BenRG
    January 31, 2020 at 8:04 am | #

    Becky, Becky… Who is Leslie to you? Because, if you want a surrogate mother, I don’t think that she can be that for you. Heck, I’m not even sure that you’re close enough to her for her to be a mentor right now!

    • Clif
      Clif
      January 31, 2020 at 8:15 am | #

      Some bonds are made instantly.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 31, 2020 at 9:27 am | #

      I’m pretty sure Leslie wouldn’t terribly MIND to be a surrogate mother to Becky…. if she can convince herself that she is up to the task, that is.

      (See: Leslie worrying about Becky not eating enough fresh fruit)

    • Mark
      Mark
      January 31, 2020 at 5:38 pm | #

      Leslie (though a very nice person) shouldn’t be anyones mom or mentor at the moment. Look at her interactions with Robin, how she runs her classes, her romantic escapades. Look at how many things went wrong and how many things could have gone even worse if not for luck.

      She needs to sort herself before she can help anyone else out

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        January 31, 2020 at 11:51 pm | #

        Yeah, and she doesn’t even buys herself fresh fruit.

        http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-7/04-the-do-list/apples/

  31. Diane
    Diane
    January 31, 2020 at 8:29 am | #

    Oh good, Becky is just projecting her need for a mother onto Leslie, who has seemed to not really mind that either. Glad my original line of thinking was wrong.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      January 31, 2020 at 9:26 am | #

      I’m probably stretching a bit, but Leslie might not mind terribly to suddenly have a daughter either

      • Sol Karas
        Sol Karas
        January 31, 2020 at 10:04 am | #

        If she’s the same from Shortpacked! (which I imagine she is) she does actually want children, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

      • Diane
        Diane
        January 31, 2020 at 7:16 pm | #

        I don’t think it’s stretching. I, too, legit think Leslie would love to suddenly have a daughter. She has a very mothering feel no matter the universe.

      • PB
        PB
        January 31, 2020 at 9:06 pm | #

        I am embarrassed at how long it took me to realize this.

  32. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    January 31, 2020 at 10:15 am | #

    Awwww. Poor Becky.

  33. MutantSentry
    MutantSentry
    January 31, 2020 at 10:45 am | #

    It just occurred to me… the very last strip of DoA will be a geriatric Walky from the original timeline slipping away after a prolonged illness, with the whole DoAverse being his final dream.

    Then it will pull out again an Tommy Westphall is looking at his snowglobe from the last episode of St Elsewhere…

    • He Who Abides
      He Who Abides
      January 31, 2020 at 2:32 pm | #

      Huh, I was thinking old Walky waking up next to old Joyce, having dreamed up the whole story.

      • Roborat
        Roborat
        January 31, 2020 at 2:55 pm | #

        Then the Soggies flow in.

  34. Valis_KR3
    Valis_KR3
    January 31, 2020 at 2:08 pm | #

    Leslie doesn’t have to be proud of her but she doesn’t have give her crap for it either. At the end of the day it’s a mixed bag.

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