Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

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June 22, 2026

Shitty

by David M Willis on August 17, 2020 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - Is a Song Forever?
└ Tags: jennifer, ruth

Discussion (107) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 17, 2020 at 12:02 am | #

    But they were just HANDING OUt rights to feel shitty! It’s 2020! (in some universe outside of DoA)

    • Solenoid
      Solenoid
      August 17, 2020 at 1:17 am | #

      Here’s the thing, we’ve all still got the old rights to feel shitty from 2014, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. They build on each other and keep making it worse!

      • clif
        clif
        August 17, 2020 at 2:47 am | #

        It’s called the law of conservation of accumulated shittyness. Calling it that doesn’t add anything, but it does make it sound more scientific.

        • Felix
          Felix
          August 19, 2020 at 5:55 am | #

          It’s simply conservation of energy, and the energy’s been real shitty since 2008 financial crisis.

  2. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    August 17, 2020 at 12:08 am | #

    She won the 1v1 with Carol!

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 17, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

      Clearly the author lacks empathy because he didn’t let us see this! (I know that’s not why, it’s just, I wanted to see it.)

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        August 17, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

        This is some sick ploy from Willis to get us to request Carol for a bonus strip so we can see it, isn’t it?

        • Regalli
          Regalli
          August 17, 2020 at 12:35 am | #

          I mean honestly, they could put it as the prelude to a fucking Slipshine somehow and I’d buy it just to see Carol get beat up by a depressed bisexual Canadian woman. (Billie finds the story the hottest thing ever? Fuck if I know.)

          … Though it’s not too late to change our Patreon voting, is it? I mean I still do want to see Jocelyne but if we could get Carla’s Ultra Car toy and Puppy Dorothy and Julia Gray and the Wonder Woman costume through, there’s a chance, right?

          • RowenMorland
            RowenMorland
            August 17, 2020 at 1:27 am | #

            Sliphine Presents: Ruth does a suplex!

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          August 17, 2020 at 7:44 am | #

          Yeah, but we’d request Carol so we could see it and then he’d show us a flashback Carol or something else unrelated.

    • Lumino
      Lumino
      August 17, 2020 at 12:17 am | #

      It will forever be the Noodle Incident. We will never get to see how it went down.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        August 17, 2020 at 12:22 am | #

        At least that way we can imagine it however we like.

        I said this once before, but my preferred version has Ruth dressed as the Undertaker while Billie stands off to the side with a black suit and mustache, hoisting an urn and yelling “OH YES!”

        • auroki
          auroki
          August 17, 2020 at 12:31 am | #

          I need fan art of that now

    • Undrave
      Undrave
      August 17, 2020 at 12:32 am | #

      We didn’t see it! DAMN YOU WILLIS!!!

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      August 17, 2020 at 2:48 am | #

      it’s probably gonna ends up in a patreon special I guess

  3. Chris
    Chris
    August 17, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

    I think she needs Becky’s advice from a few days ago.

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      August 17, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

      Or was it a few moments ago?

  4. Delicious Taffy
    Delicious Taffy
    August 17, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

    Oh no, Carol is also dead. What a loss.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

      Sad.
      So very sad.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      August 17, 2020 at 12:14 am | #

      Couldn’t have happened to a nicer karen.

      • Regalli
        Regalli
        August 17, 2020 at 12:39 am | #

        Consider though: Linda recognized bailing out a kidnapper and defending him after he kidnapped your daughter is wrong. I’m pretty sure Carol would not (or hell, possibly even DOES not) see anything wrong with stealing $700 from your child because they wanted to spend it on helping their friend, who’s ‘the wrong kind of people,’ and you want to break up the friendship.

        I mean I kind of want to puke saying it, but Linda may actually be a nicer karen. Marginally. Still would not mind her dying in the slightest, though!

        • SuperFroakie82
          SuperFroakie82
          August 17, 2020 at 12:51 am | #

          Linda being “nicer” doesn’t actually contradict BBCC’s comment though, it just means that she’s incapable of dying.

          • Geneseepaws
            Geneseepaws
            August 17, 2020 at 1:02 am | #

            NowTHERE’S and image! Un-Dead Carol!
            Hnk, Hnk, must.not.beg.!

            • David
              David
              August 17, 2020 at 3:08 am | #

              Uh, the whole point of fundamental Christianism is being undead.

              • Deanatay
                Deanatay
                August 17, 2020 at 10:17 am | #

                No it’s to worship the undead, namely Lich Jesus. To actually claim you’re undead is heretical and hubristic.

          • Opus the Poet
            Opus the Poet
            August 17, 2020 at 5:03 am | #

            Can I say that is a terrible thing to wish on someone, unless you grant eternal youth at the same time? Because I have been through that scenario, and the damage is cumulative.

            Nineteenth anniversary end of this month, and my scars are getting tight and reminding me that I’m going to suffer forever.

            • Geneseepaws
              Geneseepaws
              August 17, 2020 at 7:44 am | #

              While we live there is yet hope, but the dead are dead alike.
              Hang in there!
              *Except for the Vegetarian Un-dead of course; “Grains… Grains!”*

              • Koms
                Koms
                August 17, 2020 at 9:29 am | #

                This is the best thing I’ve read on the internet today.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          August 17, 2020 at 1:04 am | #

          I’ve yet to find the insult I’m looking for with Linda. I used asshole for Blaine and I’d probably have used bastard for Ross. None I’ve come up with yet have been satisfactory.

          I guess I’ll know it when she too is dead. 🙂

          • Geneseepaws
            Geneseepaws
            August 17, 2020 at 1:17 am | #

            Down East, we say (when a boat looks like it needs a mercy sinking**), S.P.1-C., for sh*t pot first class.

            **Eco-sunk, as a fist habitat.

            • Geneseepaws
              Geneseepaws
              August 17, 2020 at 1:18 am | #

              Fish habitat. Fish.

              • Agemegos
                Agemegos
                August 17, 2020 at 3:05 am | #

                You aren’t fooling anyone, you know.

  5. Scott
    Scott
    August 17, 2020 at 12:09 am | #

    That moment when you realize your character development.

  6. Bagge
    Bagge
    August 17, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

    Oh no, that Joyce-thing is catching

  7. Nono
    Nono
    August 17, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

    I may request the footage of said tackling and dragging of Carol. For security reasons.

    • Dara
      Dara
      August 17, 2020 at 12:39 am | #

      And performance analysis.

      I expect high marks, I just want to be there to give them.

  8. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    August 17, 2020 at 12:12 am | #

    Ruth is no Deanna Troi

  9. The Coolest Child
    The Coolest Child
    August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    She really did tackle Carol.

    Admirable.

    • Madock345
      Madock345
      August 17, 2020 at 12:14 am | #

      I will forever be salty that we didn’t get to see that on screen

      • Undrave
        Undrave
        August 17, 2020 at 12:32 am | #

        DAMN YOU, WILLIS!!

      • Delicious Taffy
        Delicious Taffy
        August 17, 2020 at 1:05 am | #

        Imagine the comments, though.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        August 17, 2020 at 2:28 am | #

        Maybe it will end up a Patreon backer bonus strip?

        Either that or somebody’s going to request it as a two-character commission in the next book Kickstarter.

      • Jhon
        Jhon
        August 17, 2020 at 11:50 am | #

        We will always have her Blaine suplex.

  10. Achallenger
    Achallenger
    August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    “wow I feel shitty!”
    “Yeah that makes sense…”
    “No but look, there’s all these terrible this happening!”
    “….”
    “So I don’t get it, why should I feel so bad?!?”

    Ohhh so close

  11. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    *can’t decide between Simply Red and Phil Collins this time* 🙁

  12. VinzKlortho
    VinzKlortho
    August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    I-it’s not like I understand what you’re going through or anything, b-baka!

    • Cholma
      Cholma
      August 17, 2020 at 12:25 am | #

      Now I’m picturing Rick Moranis saying this (with a spaghetti strainer on his head, of course). Thank you for that bizarre image, Keymaster of Gozer!

      • clif
        clif
        August 17, 2020 at 2:25 am | #

        You can say that again.

    • Cholma
      Cholma
      August 17, 2020 at 12:27 am | #

      Now I’m picturing Rick Moranis saying this (with a spaghetti strainer on his head, of course). Thank you for that image, Keymaster of Gozer!

  13. Mra
    Mra
    August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    Aw, Ruth tossed Carol and we didn’t even get to see it?

  14. BBCC
    BBCC
    August 17, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

    Compassion? In THIS brain? It’s more likely than you think!

    Also, Ruth, gonna need to see that tackle.

  15. Spencer
    Spencer
    August 17, 2020 at 12:14 am | #

    One of the worst things I did when my mental health was in a bad state was use other peoples’ misery to put myself down. Like if I hadn’t absorbed enough suffering it leaked out and infected other people.

    Course you can’t even talk about that out loud because then you come to the conclusion of “I’m so selfish, I’m making someone else’s problems fuel for my own issues.”

  16. Jerry
    Jerry
    August 17, 2020 at 12:15 am | #

    Wait, Ruth tackled-and-dragged Carol and we didn’t get to see it?! Shenanigans! SHENANIGANS!!!!

    • Geneseepaws
      Geneseepaws
      August 17, 2020 at 1:07 am | #

      Are you calling Shenanigans? Cause if there are loose Shenanigans, I wanna help you stop them.

    • He Who Abides
      He Who Abides
      August 17, 2020 at 7:11 am | #

      I’ll get my broom.

    • Ellegos
      Ellegos
      August 17, 2020 at 7:23 am | #

      This is either a glaring oversight, or the greatest Patreon incentive EVER DEVISED!

      • Geneseepaws
        Geneseepaws
        August 17, 2020 at 7:49 am | #

        Willis only has himself to blame, but he could stop all the chatter and just Show Us The Money!

        • Geneseepaws
          Geneseepaws
          August 17, 2020 at 11:53 pm | #

          Sorry, I mean show us the monkey, getting suplex’t.

  17. Jess
    Jess
    August 17, 2020 at 12:21 am | #

    Great expression and comedic timing in the last panel there.

  18. Jane
    Jane
    August 17, 2020 at 12:22 am | #

    Be careful, Ruth! If you start feeling empathy for other people, then you might become the beloved protector of the dorm instead of a feared dictator hoarding the femurs of your residents!

    • Jane
      Jane
      August 17, 2020 at 12:24 am | #

      (Ah, just in case anyone took that the wrong way, I’m just joking about her reputation; I don’t mean to imply that she’s actually a bad person)

  19. ReFlex76
    ReFlex76
    August 17, 2020 at 12:22 am | #

    Dammit, I wanted to see Ruth suplex Carol.

  20. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    August 17, 2020 at 12:24 am | #

    I know exactly where Ruth is coming from here.

  21. Mae
    Mae
    August 17, 2020 at 12:25 am | #

    If we’re not gonna see Ruth suplexing Carol, can we at least see Carol’s limp, bruised, angry body sprawled out on the pavement?

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      August 17, 2020 at 12:41 am | #

      I’m hoping we see her later in the storyline, still visibly limping in pain and scratched up.

      I mean what I’m REALLY hoping for is a flashback, buuuut…

  22. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    August 17, 2020 at 12:27 am | #

    That is a beautiful “That can’t be true” comedy take at the end. Not quite as good as Baron Wulfenbach being told that he might be the problem in his relationships, but I don’t know if anyone could beat that.

    http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070709#.XzoFGjVlDIU

  23. RACHEL BRESLER
    RACHEL BRESLER
    August 17, 2020 at 12:36 am | #

    I like the Ruth who has her depression medicated. Original flavor Ruth was very toxic, would not recommend.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      August 17, 2020 at 9:52 am | #

      And she still gets to threaten and tackle people …for the right reasons.

  24. Tan
    Tan
    August 17, 2020 at 12:40 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 10: My Life Today Is Fine

    or

    Dumbing of Age Book 10: Feel Real Shitty

    Vote now.

  25. DT
    DT
    August 17, 2020 at 12:40 am | #

    It happened off-screen?
    Somebody better pick up that phone.

    Cause I fucking called it.
    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/04-is-a-song-forever/instructed/#comment-1482465

  26. Regalli
    Regalli
    August 17, 2020 at 12:43 am | #

    Ruth: I’m… reacting with compassion for other human beings? People who are in my care? Preposterous!

  27. SeanR
    SeanR
    August 17, 2020 at 12:48 am | #

    NO FAIR!!!1! I wanted to see her suplex Carol!

  28. NinjaNick
    NinjaNick
    August 17, 2020 at 12:57 am | #

    After tossing Carol out the door, Ruth should be feeling a little less than garbage. Probably lucky.

  29. vlademir1
    vlademir1
    August 17, 2020 at 12:58 am | #

    Now I kinda hope the next strip is Billie expressing her own empathy for Ruth through cuddling and spooning and nothing more.

  30. Also Becky
    Also Becky
    August 17, 2020 at 1:00 am | #

    Who gave Willis the right to call me specifically out like this?

  31. NinjaNick
    NinjaNick
    August 17, 2020 at 1:02 am | #

    Somebody should draw Ruth’s epic tackle.

  32. foamy
    foamy
    August 17, 2020 at 1:07 am | #

    Don’t worry Ruth, you’re a Leafs fan. You *always* have a reason to feel shitty (In all the other things going topsy-turvey this year, one thing remained consistent: Leafs went out in the 1st playoff round).

    • March
      March
      August 17, 2020 at 8:56 pm | #

      They are delightfully consistent in a world that needs it.

  33. DaveM
    DaveM
    August 17, 2020 at 1:13 am | #

    Ruth is just upset because she thought she’d be able to cross “Suplex a Grandmother” off her bucket list (as she mentioned). Alas none of Karen’s Carol’s progeny have spawned yet, so she spent all that effort to just suplex another sh*tty parent. And while that’s fun, it’s not like sh*tty parents are rare or anything.

  34. Rikunda
    Rikunda
    August 17, 2020 at 1:39 am | #

    Suplex is just not the same as tackling. I am upset.

  35. BenRG
    BenRG
    August 17, 2020 at 2:11 am | #

    For some reason, I can hear Ruth wailing: “Me have empathy? No… No! It can’t be true! It can’t be truuueee!!!”

    Seriously, though, it looks like Ruth is having one of the down days that comes when one is trying to kick an addiction. Billie probably needs to work out if there is anything she can do to make her feel better.

  36. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    August 17, 2020 at 2:22 am | #

    Aw Ruth, falling into a well of survivor’s guilt isn’t going to help yourself or anyone else.
    Ride that not-granny tackling high.

    Speaking of, that happened off screen?! C’mon, Willis, what happened to “show, don’t tell”? 🙁 Is making it a bonus strip in the cards?

    • HeySo
      HeySo
      August 17, 2020 at 3:07 am | #

      Think of the appeal that has to many readers, though. He’s definitely saving that as a volume release bonus image/strip, to encourage sales. 😛

  37. Jay
    Jay
    August 17, 2020 at 2:44 am | #

    Billie: “You’re a good person.”

    Ruth: “That can’t be right.”

    Billie: “I love and care about you. You’re one of best people I know.”

    Ruth: “…Why?”

    • StClair
      StClair
      August 17, 2020 at 2:47 am | #

      Yup, that’s me about… one day in three.

  38. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    August 17, 2020 at 2:47 am | #

    impossiburu

  39. foducool
    foducool
    August 17, 2020 at 3:15 am | #

    empathy? I REFUSE!!!

  40. Eldritchy
    Eldritchy
    August 17, 2020 at 4:41 am | #

    Scientifically Impossible!

  41. Mendel
    Mendel
    August 17, 2020 at 4:50 am | #

    There’s also the aspect of seeing the security of people shattered who are in a similar situation as you. It makes you trust your own security less.
    Learning of others my age dying makes me fear my own death a little more, that sort of thing. The “I’m fine today” just got shaken by others not being fine, and it could have been Ruth in that situation.

    What was her responsibility with regard to the kidnapped students being missing when they should have been gathered post-fire-alarm?

  42. Liam
    Liam
    August 17, 2020 at 5:18 am | #

    “That’s a made up word.”

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 17, 2020 at 6:45 am | #

      In fairness, all words are made up.

      • clif
        clif
        August 18, 2020 at 12:13 am | #

        I must admit, that’s kvrtlnxe.

  43. Moonbeam Funk
    Moonbeam Funk
    August 17, 2020 at 6:13 am | #

    Every now and then I’m surprised a comic title wasn’t taken already by a previous update and “Shitty” is one of those times.

    • David M Willis
      David M Willis
      August 17, 2020 at 4:11 pm | #

      I KNOW RIGHT????

      • He Who Abides
        He Who Abides
        August 17, 2020 at 6:04 pm | #

        I’m genuinely surprised that it took you this long to use it.

        • clif
          clif
          August 18, 2020 at 12:16 am | #

          But think of all the depressing one word titles he still has in reserve.

  44. Jamie
    Jamie
    August 17, 2020 at 6:59 am | #

    Arguing with one’s therapist about whether or not you feel empathy is a thing. It’s a weird experience, but it’s a thing.

  45. JBento
    JBento
    August 17, 2020 at 7:02 am | #

    I feel EXTREMELY betrayed that we didn’t get to see Ruth tackling Carol and dragging her outside.

    EXTREMELY!

  46. He Who Abides
    He Who Abides
    August 17, 2020 at 7:12 am | #

    That’s unpossible!

  47. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    August 17, 2020 at 9:15 am | #

    Ruth has achieved a new feeling. I’m so happy!

  48. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    August 17, 2020 at 9:59 am | #

    “🎵 Feelings. Nothing more than feelings. 🎶”

  49. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    August 17, 2020 at 10:32 am | #

    Em-pah-thee?? No, I’m a sociopath. That’s not on the list of my approved emotional emulations.

  50. Ryek Hvek
    Ryek Hvek
    August 17, 2020 at 10:51 am | #

    she’s feeling Empatholigical

  51. C.T Phipps
    C.T Phipps
    August 17, 2020 at 3:05 pm | #

    Yes, go rip the femurs out of a subordinate to prove your toughness.

    I admit, I prefer Klingon Ruth.

  52. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    August 17, 2020 at 3:38 pm | #

    Okay I was wrong earlier. This isn’t survivor’s guilt, it’s… misery impostor syndrome?

    Aw, Ruth… 🙁 Talk it out with your girlfriend.

  53. Juanoku
    Juanoku
    August 17, 2020 at 9:31 pm | #

    Damn, that’s really sad

    • clif
      clif
      August 18, 2020 at 12:19 am | #

      Eat at Arby’s.

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