Dumbing of Age Book Eleven

Dumbing of Age

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the whole brain trust is here!  or is it the diamond dogs?  which bill lawrence show is this
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

September 18, 2023

Enqueerinatin’

by David M Willis on August 25, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 01 – Bring Me to Life Drawing

└ Tags: becky, dorothy, joyce, sarah

Discussion (258) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 25, 2022 at 12:01 am | #

    Now remembering a friend whose grandmother took her to get her BC, then afterwards was all, “I know what these are for… they’re for HAVING SEX”

    Friend: “Grandmother, they’re for my ovarian cyst!”

    Grandmother: “…OH. Well, that’s okay then! 😀 ”

    so, looking forward to all kinds of lovely exchanges coming up ¬.¬

    • Rose by Any Other Name
      Rose by Any Other Name
      August 25, 2022 at 11:24 am | #

      I had a friend who had those (Ovarian cysts). Always sounded awful.

      I feel like I should have a birth control pills story, but I really don’t. I didn’t need them until College at which point I just went to the pharmacy and got them on my own.

  2. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    August 25, 2022 at 12:02 am | #

    Wow what’s this, the town market ?

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      August 25, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      Yeah, for a pair that got kidnapped just a few months ago Sarah and Joyce seem very unconcerned with keeping their door locked.

      • Ryan
        Ryan
        August 25, 2022 at 1:58 am | #

        Don’t J&S share a bathroom with B&D? Honestly, I don’t know how universities config the locks on those. If they’re for privacy of the bathroom occupant, then it’s effectively a four person suite. Regardless, they seem to leave the bathroom unlocked generally.

        • Devin
          Devin
          August 25, 2022 at 7:01 am | #

          No, Joyce and Sarah share a bathroom with Sal and Malaya.

          Becky and Dorothy share a bathroom with Dina and Amber.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          August 25, 2022 at 7:03 am | #

          No. Sal and Malaya share with Joyce.

          And yeah, I’ve got no idea how the half-bath doors work.

  3. Nono
    Nono
    August 25, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    I like how, despite being very similar aesthetically, the lesbians have adopted it as ‘plaid’, while the gays (and Canadians) have adopted it as ‘flannel’.

    • brionl
      brionl
      August 25, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      Plaid is the color pattern.
      Flannel is the fabric.

      • Jflb96
        Jflb96
        August 25, 2022 at 5:16 am | #

        Plaid is an item of clothing, flannel is a type of fabric. The pattern is check, or possibly tartan.

      • Star Ringer
        Star Ringer
        August 25, 2022 at 6:01 pm | #

        Nah, plaid is the wolf guy from elden ring and flannel is what you use to pour liquids into a small opening.

        • Ana Chronistic
          Ana Chronistic
          August 25, 2022 at 11:39 pm | #

          I thought Flannel was John and John of TMBG

    • Some1
      Some1
      August 25, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

      Nah, flannel is a fabric and plaid is a pattern. They’re objectively two different things.

      • CorporateDronesDontHaveMissiles
        CorporateDronesDontHaveMissiles
        August 25, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

        Do an image search for ‘flannel’ and see what pattern you see. Usage rules language 🙂

        • Bicycle Bill
          Bicycle Bill
          August 25, 2022 at 12:44 am | #

          With the exception of pajamas and Ralphie’s bunny suit (from “A Christmas Story”), just about every piece of flannel I’ve ever seen has been a plaid-patterned shirt.  Maybe because there just ain’t much call for things like flannel trousers or underpants.

        • Thag Simmons
          Thag Simmons
          August 25, 2022 at 12:50 am | #

          If you google steel you get a lot of pictures of tubes/pipes but that doesn’t mean “Steel” and “Tube” are synonyms

          • jackiedu46k
            jackiedu46k
            August 25, 2022 at 1:04 pm | #

            Not really equivalent here. I get appliances, tubes , bolts and all kinds of steel objects when looking up steel.
            When looking up flannel i only get plaid.

            • thejeff
              thejeff
              August 25, 2022 at 2:58 pm | #

              To quote Wikipedia “The term “flannel shirt” is often mistakenly used to refer to any shirt with a plaid or tartan pattern. However, ‘flannel’ refers simply to the fabric, and not all flannel shirts are plaid.”

              Nor, for that matter, are all plaid shirts flannel.

              • Ana Chronistic
                Ana Chronistic
                August 25, 2022 at 11:40 pm | #

                I had what I’m pretty sure was a flannel shirt where the design was effectively graph paper

        • brionl
          brionl
          August 25, 2022 at 1:01 am | #

          I have flannel sheets. They are not plaid pattern.
          I have plaid shirts that are not flannel material.
          There are shirts that are both, but there are a lot of things that are only one or the other.

          • Leorale
            Leorale
            August 25, 2022 at 10:42 pm | #

            Same.
            (Flannel sheets are real nice when it’s chilly out.)

        • Inahc
          Inahc
          August 26, 2022 at 5:18 pm | #

          in england, a flannel is what you wash your face with. it was a looooong time before I found out flannels (the washcloth) are not made of flannel (the fabric). I’m still not clear on what the fabric names actually are. terrycloth maybe?

          • Plain Marie
            Plain Marie
            August 27, 2022 at 9:02 am | #

            That sounds right.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      August 25, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

      Plaid is Scottish, flannel is Canadian.

      From this we can deduce that Scots are lesbians and Canadians are gay.

      • Some1
        Some1
        August 25, 2022 at 12:37 am | #

        According to the internet flannel might actually be Welsh.

        • Enkrod
          Enkrod
          August 25, 2022 at 12:20 pm | #

          Idk, that consonant to vowel ratio seems wrong for welsh.

      • RowenMorland
        RowenMorland
        August 25, 2022 at 4:58 am | #

        Wouldn’t it be plaid is Northern bellow Scotland and tartan in Scotland (where conforming to whatever patterns they’ve approved as tartan)

    • SDRainbow
      SDRainbow
      August 25, 2022 at 1:05 am | #

      *nathan fillion holding up finger then putting it down meme*

      how did you know I’m wearing plaid flannel RIGHT NOW

    • FlamestAndLight
      FlamestAndLight
      August 25, 2022 at 7:30 am | #

      is that a thing where you are? In all queer communities I’ve been in plaid and flannel have been used interchangeably by everyone with a lean towards flannel, especially for lesbians

  4. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    August 25, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    You say “Diamond Dogs” and that’s just begging for Bowie. Am I right?

    • wwwhhattt
      wwwhhattt
      August 25, 2022 at 5:26 am | #

      This ain’t rock and roll, this is Lesbians

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      August 25, 2022 at 11:43 pm | #

      for certain reasons that song makes me feel self-conscious 😬

      (let’s see if I remember the correct e-mail for this name)

  5. The Wellerman
    The Wellerman
    August 25, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    Love how well this strip is drawn, and the ever increasing gay-diation levels I’m sensing 😊

    I’m so close to finishing my interview project, i can feel it….

  6. AeromechanicalAce
    AeromechanicalAce
    August 25, 2022 at 12:04 am | #

    Cut her some Slack Sarah, Joyce has been through a lot of shit and come honestly a long way in the last, what’s it been, 3-4 months? You don’t overcome 18 years of brainwashing followed by a total shattering of said brainwashing in a few weeks you know.

    • Limons
      Limons
      August 25, 2022 at 12:59 am | #

      Sarah would be a very very very strict mother ( if she ever becomes one of course).

      • ktbear
        ktbear
        August 25, 2022 at 2:08 am | #

        Duess we’ll never know, short of a HUGE time skip.

  7. Nono
    Nono
    August 25, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Also Becky is still considering herself Joyce’s bestie huh. Despite them having a massive row like, days before.

    • justin8448
      justin8448
      August 25, 2022 at 12:55 am | #

      I like how the way she phrased it, she left room for Dorothy to be Joyce’s “Straight Bestie.”

      But yeah, it’s nice to see that they’re capable of putting aside their recent argument.

    • thumb
      thumb
      August 31, 2022 at 4:30 am | #

      Besties do be like that sometimes.

  8. Bunny
    Bunny
    August 25, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Yeah. My niece asked her mother to sign off on Guardisil. My sisters response was “Why? Are you planning to have sex?” And proceeded to shame her about the request and detail her getting the vaccine. A few years later, niece needed treatment for HPV. I still haven’t forgiven my sister.

    • Bunny
      Bunny
      August 25, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

      “Derail” not “detail”

      • Hazel
        Hazel
        August 25, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

        Yeah, that’s not something you just forgive.

    • Adam Black
      Adam Black
      August 25, 2022 at 3:02 am | #

      that is super Fuqed up
      especially as you can get HPV from saliva.

      ( i think People are less aware of that because the higher testosterone levels less likely you are to clear an HPV infection;By only focusing on women with HPV they missed who/ where the biggest carriers were. So unlike women there is a massive amount of men with hidden HPV oral and throat conditions. A lot were hidden behind tobacco cancers . ie Not vaccinating men was sexist and a bad idea.

      • RowenMorland
        RowenMorland
        August 25, 2022 at 6:06 am | #

        Not to mention vaccination more of the population for things when there is even a half decent reason gets people more used to the idea of vaccinations being a normal and sensible thing.

        • Mopey
          Mopey
          August 25, 2022 at 8:07 am | #

          Yes.
          But.
          The anti-vax movement is reactionary by nature and isn’t about unfamiliarity really (at least not the ‘true believers). Unfortunately the more people are vaccinated the higher the odds are of someone receiving a vaccine at the same time as they’re coincidentally starting to show unrelated symptoms for an unrelated condition. Which is basically free money to any public person unscrupulous enough to stoke the anxieties of anti-vaxers.

        • Wizard
          Wizard
          August 25, 2022 at 11:01 pm | #

          For most of my life, vaccines weren’t really controversial. The only people up in arms were the same tinfoil brigade that claimed fluoridated water was a communist mind control plot. I’m not really sure why the whole anti-vax bullshit blew up when it did. I think it might be partly because the most common vaccines had been around long enough for a lot of people to forget just how dangerous the diseases they had nearly eliminated really were. Back when most people knew, or at least knew of, someone who’d been paralyzed by polio, the vaccine was a pretty easy sell. Nowadays, lots of people barely even know what polio is. Since people are determined to be scared of something, some settled on vaccines.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        August 26, 2022 at 2:40 am | #

        Yeah, the idea that HPV is a ‘girl’s disease’ and that only vaccinating women for it would be sufficient herd immunity did nobody any favours.

    • Wizard
      Wizard
      August 25, 2022 at 11:09 pm | #

      Wow, preventing STDs will only encourage people to have sex. That’s right up there with the idea that comprehensive sex ed will encourage kids to have sex. (Despite the studies showing that kids given the “abstinence only” version tend to start having sex sooner and have more unplanned pregnancies.) Or the idea that needle exchanges promote drug use. (Instead of reducing the spread of blood-borne disease, and making sure that used needles are disposed of safely.)

  9. Schpoonman
    Schpoonman
    August 25, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    Sarah.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      August 25, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

      Sarah.

      • AGV
        AGV
        August 25, 2022 at 1:46 am | #

        Sarah Harding! 🗣️

        • Nova
          Nova
          August 25, 2022 at 1:54 am | #

          How many Sarah’s do you think are on this island?

          • Devin
            Devin
            August 25, 2022 at 7:03 am | #

            Wow, I can’t remember the last time I heard a JP2 reference, I appreciate the both of you. <3

            • Mopey
              Mopey
              August 25, 2022 at 8:09 am | #

              Google was no help here. Unless you’re genuinely talking about the image format or Pope John Paul II.

              • Devin
                Devin
                August 25, 2022 at 9:32 am | #

                Jurassic Park

  10. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    August 25, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    Pants Drugs sounds like when you are folding laundry and find a quarter in your gene pocket, except instead of a quarter it is mind-altering substances and now all your sweat shirts and work out pants are tripping balls.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 25, 2022 at 9:57 am | #

      That’s how tie-dye was invented. True story

  11. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    August 25, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

    *crosses fingers for sitcom antics in which Joyce attempts to convince a pharmacist that she’s a lesbian, possibly discovering her true feelings for Dorothy in the process*

    • Jon
      Jon
      August 25, 2022 at 8:49 am | #

      I think if Joyce discovered she was a lesbian and then DIDN’T go for Becky, it would shatter Becky completely. Like I know she’s got Dina already but Joyce was her first love, since long long long ago.

      • DrunkenNordmann
        DrunkenNordmann
        August 25, 2022 at 1:07 pm | #

        Considering sexuality is consistent between universes, wouldn’t Joyce be bi in that case, if anything?

  12. chuckroast
    chuckroast
    August 25, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    Where do I get the drugs for my pants? And where do I put them? The pockets? The fly?

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      August 25, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

      I think ants drugs are just belts. Just one can keep a pair of pants riding high for hours.

      • True Survivor
        True Survivor
        August 25, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

        Pants not ants.

        • Miri
          Miri
          August 25, 2022 at 3:22 am | #

          But ants gleefully riding belts makes for a beautiful mental image…

        • Lieutenant Dan
          Lieutenant Dan
          August 25, 2022 at 7:03 am | #

          “What is this? A drug for ants?”

    • TheFlamingonator
      TheFlamingonator
      August 25, 2022 at 5:53 am | #

      in that little pocket within a pocket.

      • Plain Marie
        Plain Marie
        August 27, 2022 at 9:05 am | #

        What else are you going to do with that little pocket, right?

  13. BBCC
    BBCC
    August 25, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

    Sarah’s right that Joyce is gonna need to get her own meds at some point or she’s gonna be in a LOTTA pain, but right now she is in the pain. I say let Dorothy get ’em this time. Joyce can be a grown up next time.

    Yeah, around here it’s like ‘lesbian or just Canadian?’

    • AGV
      AGV
      August 25, 2022 at 1:50 am | #

      It’s hard to guarantee!

    • JBento
      JBento
      August 25, 2022 at 6:48 am | #

      whynotboth.gif

  14. DailyBrad
    DailyBrad
    August 25, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

    I forget, did Joyce and Becky make up yet? I guess Becky doesn’t mind helping her out with this regardless, she knows it’s pretty debilitating for her.

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      August 25, 2022 at 12:18 am | #

      They didn’t really settle their differences as much as have mac n cheese and ignore the conflict, but we’re here and they’re getting along so it probably doesn’t matter.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        August 25, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

        …Mac n cheese doesn’t count as settling differences?

        • Sirksome
          Sirksome
          August 25, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

          Not really. They squashed the immediate conflict but didn’t actually resolve the issue and that has changed their dynamic since right now they’re both withholding information from each other (Becky and the sex she’s having) and (Joyce with her impending potential autism diagnosis). Stuff they probably would’ve told each other before their conflict. Mac n’ cheese was a nice distraction but it didn’t solve anything.

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            August 25, 2022 at 12:38 am | #

            Maybe not in the long run. Any time not spent shouting at your best friend is a net positive.

          • LiterallyJustSomeGuy
            LiterallyJustSomeGuy
            August 25, 2022 at 10:41 am | #

            I agree with everything you said about the conflict not being fully resolved and them withholding information from each other. Thank you for putting that so nicely; I needed the refresher. I will also point out that they are now spending time together and calling each other friends without shaming each other for their religious beliefs, which is a big step up from where they were at the beginning of the conflict.

        • Otl1973
          Otl1973
          August 25, 2022 at 1:16 am | #

          Not if it came out of a box…

          • Taffy
            Taffy
            August 25, 2022 at 1:23 am | #

            Where else is it gonna come from?

          • Bratty Roger
            Bratty Roger
            August 25, 2022 at 2:02 am | #

            Actually, I prefer the powdered cheese in the boxed versions which allows better control over ^how^ thick the cheese sauce turns out (so I can keep it from being TOO thick)

        • Wizard
          Wizard
          August 25, 2022 at 11:12 pm | #

          Well, sharing food is one of humanity’s oldest ways of building trust.

      • JBento
        JBento
        August 25, 2022 at 6:49 am | #

        They didn’t “ignore the conflict.” Joyce did, Becky kept pushing.

        • Rose Red
          Rose Red
          August 25, 2022 at 11:54 am | #

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-12/02-ill-leave-you-a-phantom/dinnermusic/

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-12/03-trial-and-sarah/godstrings/

          Haven’t seen her pushing since then, so that’s good, and I’m slightly less grumpy at Becky now, but… we’ll see where it goes.

    • John Campbell
      John Campbell
      August 25, 2022 at 12:38 am | #

      On the first pass, I read that as “make out”.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        August 25, 2022 at 12:40 am | #

        They should do that too.

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:52 am | #

      well it was an awkward rift but i don’t think it’s something that would’ve completely burned a bridge/end a childhood friendship but they have time to talk and reconcile as opposed to one of them moving away for a decade or so and cut off all contact

  15. Cass
    Cass
    August 25, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

    Her consequences for… being born with an assholeish reproductive system, Sarah? This really isn’t a you reap what you sow situation, it’s more a can she manage to shake off a little more of the brainwashing for the sake of her own physical well-being one.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      August 25, 2022 at 12:14 am | #

      Basically Sarah is saying that if she can’t make herself get her meds to treat being having an assholeish reproductive system, she’s gonna have to deal with the consequences of having an assholeish reproductive system.

      As someone else with an assholeish reproductive system, I agree with Sarah in theory, but right now, I think Joyce is in enough pain that it’s fine to just let Dorothy grab ’em. When I’m in those days I’m in ‘lie in bed and hope it stops’ mode and I wouldn’t be up to going to get meds no matter what.

      • Nono
        Nono
        August 25, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

        I think a potential issue is that Dorothy is, well, a little bit of an enabler. Sarah lets Dorothy do it for her once, then it becomes a usual thing, and Joyce never picks up her drugs for herself.

        That said, in the moment? Sure, get her the drugs.

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          August 25, 2022 at 1:29 pm | #

          Yeah, I can easily see it becoming that. If I were Sarah’s friend, I’d say let Dorothy do it this time and then next time (when Joyce hopefully isn’t in debilitating pain) MAKE her do it.

      • Adam Black
        Adam Black
        August 25, 2022 at 2:48 am | #

        i thought this was about plaid

  16. Taffy
    Taffy
    August 25, 2022 at 12:14 am | #

    Becky’s appearance is a welcome one. She’s lightening the tone of the entire conversation and possibly even the act of getting the pills itself. Treating it like no big deal instead of just saying it’s not and amazing it one anyway, that’s the way to do it.

  17. Grimey
    Grimey
    August 25, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

    I appreciate that Joyce’s line of vision is on Dorothy as she learns her clothing style is queer fashionable.

  18. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    August 25, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 12: Your Entire Wardrobe’s At Least A Little Bicurious

    • MisterJinKC
      MisterJinKC
      August 25, 2022 at 12:51 am | #

      Well yeah. It just came out of the closet.

      • StClair
        StClair
        August 25, 2022 at 1:07 am | #

        Boo this man!

      • powerpowerpow
        powerpowerpow
        August 25, 2022 at 1:36 am | #

        I tip my hat to you, MisterJinKC.

      • Nova
        Nova
        August 25, 2022 at 2:10 am | #

        Amazing. This is a delightful pun.

      • Wizard
        Wizard
        August 25, 2022 at 11:15 pm | #

        Push the red button.

      • Plain Marie
        Plain Marie
        August 27, 2022 at 9:06 am | #

        Bwahaha! Excellent!

  19. Devin
    Devin
    August 25, 2022 at 12:16 am | #

    I’m legitimately surprised Dorothy doesn’t know Joyce’s birthdate.

    • ANeM
      ANeM
      August 25, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

      I’m more surprised she actually internalized Carla’s inability to differentiate between her and Joyce.

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:55 am | #

      When IS joyce’s b-day , anyways? I’m sure it would’ve come up/been told at some point but usually some ppl don’t make a big deal outta it or tell someone aw eek ahead if they decide to celebrate it and invite ppl

      • Ed Callahan
        Ed Callahan
        August 25, 2022 at 7:26 am | #

        I believe there was a strip where it was mentioned Joyce’s birthday was in the spring.

      • BBCC
        BBCC
        August 25, 2022 at 1:30 pm | #

        In the Walkyverse it was May 5th. I’d imagine it’s similar here.

    • Johan
      Johan
      August 25, 2022 at 9:57 am | #

      She does. She has her SS card and other medical information from when she made Joyce the eyeglass appt.

      I think the line is just phrased a bit weird. Anyone can grab her prescription if they have her birthday.

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        August 25, 2022 at 10:10 am | #

        Wait: do the pharm need to know your birthday to sell they for you? Is it a remedy only for adults?

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          August 25, 2022 at 10:26 am | #

          Well, sort of. You wouldn’t normally give hormonal birth control to little kids.

          Here it’s used more as a weak form of ID, I think. Making sure it’s the right person’s prescription, if not necessarily the right person picking it up.

  20. Robbie
    Robbie
    August 25, 2022 at 12:16 am | #

    Consequences????

    I usually understand where Sarah is coming from, but this seems so hatefully ableist I’m caught off guard.

    • Rabbit
      Rabbit
      August 25, 2022 at 12:21 am | #

      Not only that but consequences of *what?* Her body not functioning at peak when it comes to her period?

      Jesus christ, Sarah.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        August 25, 2022 at 12:23 am | #

        Perceived laziness, maybe?

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      August 25, 2022 at 12:31 am | #

      Right?!?! This kind of bigotry is so common that I’m just about numb to it. And not in a good way.

      It never gets any easier to be an autistic, does it? 😟

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        August 25, 2022 at 12:40 am | #

        Speaking of this, @Laura, @Regalli,

        My friend in Georgia is going through a crisis that threatens his ability to function and work. They clearly have some kind of depression-type neurodivergence, very likely could be autism too (in fact im almost certain this is burn-out).

        If you can put together an infodump on resources that can help him get a free diagnosis and some tips on how to get the autism / depression diagnosis in particular, that would be invaluable help.

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 25, 2022 at 12:19 pm | #

          For access to services and immediate crisis help, call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225, available 24/7.
          https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/

          Also try calling 2-1-1 for referrals.

          If no health insurance, sign up for Obamacare or visit a community health center.
          https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/shop-rates/georgia/
          https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

          Or call the suicide prevention crisis line at 988.

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 25, 2022 at 12:23 pm | #

            Also:

            https://namiga.org/

            https://www.silcga.org/cils/find-cil-locations-in-georgia/

            https://www.mhageorgia.org/

            Good luck with your interview project!

            • Laura
              Laura
              August 25, 2022 at 12:28 pm | #

              Or

              https://dph.georgia.gov/childrens-health/georgia-autism-initiative

              https://ga.thearc.org/

              More child focused but could maybe refer.

              Or

              https://autisticadvocacy.org/resources/
              Not local but could maybe refer to cool local support orgs.

              • Laura
                Laura
                August 25, 2022 at 3:50 pm | #

                And this one for navigating the disability benefits system:

                https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/

                and

                https://www.georgialegalaid.org/

                • Laura
                  Laura
                  August 25, 2022 at 3:53 pm | #

                  Directory of GA adult mental health community services:

                  https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/be-dbhdd/be-supported/mental-health-adults/adult-mental-health-community-services

                • Laura
                  Laura
                  August 25, 2022 at 4:39 pm | #

                  How to meet SSDI criteria for mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders and what evidence is necessary to prove them: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 25, 2022 at 11:36 pm | #

          I hope that helps! Good luck!

    • Queezle
      Queezle
      August 25, 2022 at 2:57 am | #

      Yes, that feels really uncalled for.
      I was actually happy that Dorothy offered to pick them up for her, and some comments already suggested that yesterday.
      And I am not saying that Sarah, Dorothy and Becky have like no point in the whole pill thing, but I really want them to calm down a bit. Joyce is dealing with a lot right now and what they are doing now, talking around, over and at Joyce seems really counter productive.
      In Joyce’s position my next step would probably be looking myself in the bathroom.

    • JBento
      JBento
      August 25, 2022 at 6:51 am | #

      This is only ableist if you think Joyce’s reluctance on getting the pills is a result of her possible-autism and not due to religion. Or if you think being religious is a disability, I guess.

      • Taffy
        Taffy
        August 25, 2022 at 3:51 pm | #

        Now there’s a can of worms we could open. Well, not so much “worms” as “those scary-ass leeches from those books about the orphans”. And not so much a “can” as a “steel drum cartoonishly glowing with malevolent radioactive power”.

      • Fuzzy
        Fuzzy
        August 25, 2022 at 7:22 pm | #

        I think it’s ableist because the “consequences” are debilitating pain from a health condition?

    • Ed Callahan
      Ed Callahan
      August 25, 2022 at 7:33 am | #

      Sarah isn’t ableist; she is anti human. She’s the cst misanthrope, after all.

    • Joy
      Joy
      August 25, 2022 at 4:40 pm | #

      I agreed, I do think Sarah is just blatantly in the wrong here. She also can’t actually control Dorothy or Joyce, nor would she try to.

      (The difference is that one thing is problematic, the same thing with a dynamic power & control would be abusive. Without that dynamic, it’s just kind of frustrating.)

  21. newlland(Henryvolt)
    newlland(Henryvolt)
    August 25, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    I don’t know why the pharmacist of all people would be the judgemental one, if the pills are meant to help for more than just birth control than he should know that she’s using it for means other than it’s name brand and would also be getting more dozens of you wemon coming in to ask for the same thing.

    Also Joyce does realize there are lesbians out there that dress and look straight passing just as well right?

    • newlland(Henryvolt)
      newlland(Henryvolt)
      August 25, 2022 at 12:23 am | #

      Then again, this might just be me putting logic first over emotion and social anxiety induced fear. Which even though gives me an attitude of being serious still at times can be just as insensitive as not taking a matter seriously enough in a almost laughing manner.

      • Catt_Al
        Catt_Al
        August 25, 2022 at 1:22 am | #

        As a pharmacist – my only judgement is are you loud and annoying in my store.

    • UrsulaDavina
      UrsulaDavina
      August 25, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

      I rarely interact with the pharmacist getting my pills. It’s sometimes a tech or even someone who really is just a cashier and I have heard horror stories of techs and cashiers being highly unprofessional with certain meds that people request.

    • Derek
      Derek
      August 25, 2022 at 1:24 am | #

      You’d think so, but there’s plenty of evidence of pharmacists and technicians making comments or outright refusing to fill birth control prescriptions
      https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2022/07/21/walgreens-pharmacy-birth-control-condoms/10110827002/

      https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/morning-after-pill-denied-religious-beliefs-1.6541535

      • anon
        anon
        August 25, 2022 at 1:42 am | #

        I remember once a student asked our health teacher how the morning after pill worked and she straight up said “i’m not allowed to tell you that” (not sure how we were on that topic, ’cause i live in an ‘abstinence only’ sex ed kinda state but at least the internet is more of a thing now)

        • Miri
          Miri
          August 25, 2022 at 3:30 am | #

          Was she at least allowed to recommend an accurate information source? Or like, drop in a few minutes later “if you’re curious about how any medications work, the [American equivalent of the] BNF is available free online”?

  22. Yeet
    Yeet
    August 25, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    Goddammit Sarah.
    If this is the brain trust Sarah is currently being the janitor – aggressively being not someone’s friend and definitely at least a little evil.

    Now that I think about it, college town pharmacies probably see a bunch of people with their first prescription for this specific thing, including people who are freaking out about it, so probably they’d forget any particular person pretty fast.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      August 25, 2022 at 12:21 am | #

      Another nervous white girl having a quiet panic attack? Time to go get the birth control.

    • Sirksome
      Sirksome
      August 25, 2022 at 1:02 am | #

      I don’t know. It kinda makes sense Sarah would be grumpy about this. America has a history of not doing black women many favors when it comes to women’s health or just health in general. Joyce might need to check her privilege on the hussy stigma cause Sarah probably has had to deal with that in some capacity.

      • Yeet
        Yeet
        August 25, 2022 at 2:25 am | #

        Joyce hasn’t even done anything besides be unwell and have anxiety. Telling someone not to help their friend who is sick and in pain because “consequences” isn’t exactly advancing the cause.

        • Sirksome
          Sirksome
          August 25, 2022 at 8:13 am | #

          No, but Sarah does have justifiable reasons to be frustrated with Joyce on this. Women’s reproductive health (especially in 2022 because half the country decided women don’t get to have bodily autonomy) it effects black women more. The stigma of a woman being a slut for going on birth control is applied more to minorities. This is in the same vein as Dina being frustrated Joyce instantly got an appointment for an autism diagnosis. Joyce needs to keep it in context a little.

          Sarah is an abrasive grouch whose definitely being more tough than loving here, but Joyce is also maybe blowing this out of proportion.

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            August 25, 2022 at 10:22 am | #

            It’s also not the first time.
            It’s not even the first time with this problem. Nor will it be the last.

            Joyce had to be taken by one of her friends to the doctor. She’s going to have to be taken to get the prescription filled (or someone will have to get it for her) and that’s only partly because she’s in pain now. She’ll also apparently need to have someone coax her into physically taking the pill.

            And that’s just this one issue.

            • Yeet
              Yeet
              August 25, 2022 at 10:51 am | #

              People who need help going to the doctor still deserve to be treated with respect.
              People who are worried about being seen a certain way because of anxiety and 18 years of indoctrination also deserve respect.
              Both of these apply even if someone else – or a significant group of people – has it worse.
              If you, personally, aren’t willing to help a sick person that’s one thing, but encouraging someone else not to strikes a pretty bad chord.
              Consider that your problems would also be lessened if someone helped you. Everyone’s problems would be lessened if we all helped each other.
              The other option is “it’s fine if people experience unnecessary pain and don’t get help, in fact they should think about others instead of getting help” and that’s the one that had Joyce not on medication as a child when this first started being a problem.

              • Schpoonman
                Schpoonman
                August 25, 2022 at 11:20 am | #

                I should go back to the second or third time Joyce’s agoraphobia really kicked in and see if anyone said “God, she just needs to get over it already.”

                • Taffy
                  Taffy
                  August 25, 2022 at 3:53 pm | #

                  I think we already know the answer to that.

              • Sirksome
                Sirksome
                August 25, 2022 at 11:44 am | #

                To be clear Joyce is totally valid for how she feels. I just don’t think Sarah is horrible for not being the tolerant and understanding one here. Joyce has to other very best friends supporting her. Sarah can be mean.

              • BBCC
                BBCC
                August 25, 2022 at 1:34 pm | #

                Sarah is saying the reality. At some point Joyce needs to go get her pills herself or she’ll deal with the consequences of not having them – in this case debilitating pain. At first I was like ‘Yeah, but she IS in debilitating pain right now. Maybe it’d be best, practically speaking, to let Dorothy do it this time’.

                But now I remember that Joyce has said herself that she will not do some things if they seem unpleasant unless someone literally makes her do it and yeah, Sarah is right here.

                Dorothy could still go for moral support if she’s freaking out, but it’s important for Joyce to do this herself and it’s probably going to be better earlier than now.

                • thejeff
                  thejeff
                  August 25, 2022 at 2:56 pm | #

                  @BBCC: I think that’s part of the problem. It’s probably always best to do it for her “this time”. Or to push her to do it, like with the glasses. Each individual occasion, it makes sense.

                  But it’s not good overall to keep doing it. So when do you stop?

                • BBCC
                  BBCC
                  August 26, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

                  I mean, on a practical level, when you’re in that much pain you don’t feel like doing ANYTHING. That plus the psych issues that do need to be dealt with might make it better to do this time. I’m speaking from personal experience on the pain front.

                  You’re right though. When the options are ‘Do it for her’, ‘Make her do it’ or ‘Leave her and it doesn’t get done’ how do you know which is best?

              • thejeff
                thejeff
                August 25, 2022 at 2:54 pm | #

                She definitely deserves to be treated with respect as everyone does, and they’re collectively not doing a great job at it now. I agree.

                At the same time, even your friends don’t have to always take care of everything for you. That puts a huge strain on a friendship over time. It can be infantilizing as well. If a friend has to take care of this kind of thing for you often enough, they’ll just naturally start to manage it for you. Make decisions for you, because they’ve internalized that you’re not going to do it for yourself.

                We see that in both Dorothy and Becky, I think. Neither is handling it particularly well, which isn’t surprising, since they’re also 18 and learning to adult themselves. They’ve both been criticized here both for not doing enough to help and for taking over and making decisions for Joyce. It’s an awkward line and it gets a lot more awkward the more often it comes up.

                • Yeet
                  Yeet
                  August 25, 2022 at 3:22 pm | #

                  I’d actually be pretty happy with Dorothy and Sarah if they get to “not yelling at a person in pain” and “avoiding advocating suffering” with a side of “apologising for yelling at/around a person in pain” tbh but the conversation swerved to “other people have it worse” and “you can’t expect help” pretty fast.

      • Joy
        Joy
        August 25, 2022 at 4:41 pm | #

        You know that’s actually reasonable point.

    • Wizard
      Wizard
      August 25, 2022 at 11:25 pm | #

      IU has a well-respected medical school, and they’re affiliated with the largest healthcare network in the state. (These days, it’s actually known as IU Healthcare.) Plus, there’s a Student Health Center on campus, which includes a pharmacy. Considering they have a “Gender Affirming Care Team”, I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be too judgey about filling a prescription for contraceptives.

  23. Grayfinity
    Grayfinity
    August 25, 2022 at 12:21 am | #

    It’s a ruse, I just know it! She’ll just use this chance to try to convert Joyce!

    I would say Joyce would try to deconvert Becky, but I don’t think she’s in any mood for an argument.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      August 25, 2022 at 12:24 am | #

      I think it’s actually kind of encouraging she’s called herself Joyce’s “soft butch bestie”, and not something like “best pal in Jesus”.

    • MisterJinKC
      MisterJinKC
      August 25, 2022 at 12:52 am | #

      Why do you think that? Becky’s never been the type to try to convert others. She’s open about her own beliefs, but her girlfriends an atheist for crying out loud.

      • Grayfinity
        Grayfinity
        August 25, 2022 at 1:08 am | #

        I admit my previous comment was a little gun-jumpy in an attempt at being funny but she has had a couple of times post-confession where while she didn’t outright try to convert Joyce, she did needle her indirectly to coming back to the faith.

        And it’s only Joyce because she knew her as she was back then and has been trying to shove her back into that box. But I will admit that she hadn’t done so lately from our POV. Gotta remember that the fallout happened one or two weeks ago in comic time (give or take, I lose track).

      • alongcameaspider
        alongcameaspider
        August 25, 2022 at 2:58 am | #

        Did you forget the whole music thing from mav and cheese night that was explicitly revealed to have been am attempt at reconverting Joyce?

        • Archieve
          Archieve
          August 25, 2022 at 4:00 am | #

          Not to mention she’s been implying to everyone who will listen that Joyce can’t know about her and Dina because she tots still believes the bibles view on sex like a true believer.

      • justin8448
        justin8448
        August 25, 2022 at 3:16 am | #

        And here I assumed Grayfinity was talking about Becky trying to convert Joyce to gayness, and vice versa.

        • Miri
          Miri
          August 25, 2022 at 3:32 am | #

          Nah, Becky knows that gayness is inherent, not a choice… While she was devastated to discover Joyce is straight she has accepted this.

        • Grayfinity
          Grayfinity
          August 25, 2022 at 4:35 am | #

          I never was known for the ability to clarify. Sorry!

  24. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    August 25, 2022 at 12:27 am | #

    This strip really be assuming that someone employed in a service capacity cares at all about the customer’s personal lives.

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:50 am | #

      i would hope ppl working at teh pharmacy is making more than min wage but seeing hundreds of customers a day ppl would probably just be neutral or at least maybe fake sympathy, unless it’s super inappropriate i can imagine some ppl making a lighthearted joke about certain prescriptions (tho i wouldn’t banter like that or just laugh if the person themselves is making a joke at their own expense)

    • Skater Girl
      Skater Girl
      August 25, 2022 at 2:52 am | #

      As a woman who exists in the world, my experience is that many of them do. Pharmacy workers have been known to refuse to fill women’s birth control prescriptions at all for judgey religious reasons. To be a woman in a patriarchal system is to be judged constantly.

      • Plain Marie
        Plain Marie
        August 25, 2022 at 6:31 am | #

        Yup. Agree. You’d be surprised (general you, not you in particular) at the ways someone could decide to offer commentary, judgement, and interference in someone else’s personal life. A stranger’s even.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      August 25, 2022 at 7:39 am | #

      I think the strip is more acknowledging that people with social anxieties often think that, than assuming it’s true.

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      August 25, 2022 at 1:06 pm | #

      I used to think that before I started working in retail, now I’m pretty sure most retail workers don’t care about what the customers are buying.

  25. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    August 25, 2022 at 12:38 am | #

    Just wonder if someone were to get a prescription for sildenafil citrate for treating high blood pressure and angina (a chest pain associated with coronary heart disease) and took it to get filled.  Would they get all warped out of shape because that same drug is now better known as Viagra, the quicker-dicker-upper?  Of course not.

    Joyce, it’s just medicine, prescribed for you by a doctor.  Out of all the thousands of medications he might have prescribed, this is the one that he thinks will be best for your particular condition(s).  The fact that it’s also known as birth control pills has absolutely nuthin’ to do with it.

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:39 am | #

      i don’t know much about birth control but other than stopping her period entirely i think if she really wanted she could’ve insisted on say, stronger painkillers as opposed to birth control but it’s a shame that there’s any kinda discomfort for something ‘natural’ that happens to a lot of the world’s population

      • Wizard
        Wizard
        August 25, 2022 at 11:43 pm | #

        Difficult periods can have detrimental effects beyond pain, so this is probably a better approach. Also, at standard doses, I believe hormonal pills merely moderate menstruation, but don’t typically stop it entirely. You can “double up” and take full strength pills for the entire cycle, instead of placebos, which will effectively stop it totally. This, and other approaches to shutting down menstruation, are slowly gaining popularity. As more women find out about the possibility at a younger age, I expect it will become more widespread. The best part is, these methods are totally reversible, so women can have kids when they’re ready.
        As to why it’s uncomfortable and otherwise unpleasant, blame the fact that evolution is a slow and messy process, especially for a species as long-lived as humans. We’re a biological kludge that just barely works. Or, if you’re Joyce’s mother, you could blame it on Eve and that fruit.
        (Disclaimer: I am neither a woman nor a gynecologist, so my knowledge of menstruation is mostly theoretical and highly incomplete. If a more knowledgeable person spots any errors, I will humbly accept corrections.)

    • JBento
      JBento
      August 25, 2022 at 6:55 am | #

      You forget that it’s a man’s god-given right to fuck but women who use birth control are sluts because the only reason decent women have sex is to make babies.

      /ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  26. UrsulaDavina
    UrsulaDavina
    August 25, 2022 at 12:46 am | #

    I wonder if Joyce is on her dad’s Healthcare or the IU Healthcare plan and if Joyce’s parents divorce isn’t finalized I’d fear her mother somehow finding out privacy be damned and making Joyce’s life more stressful which will excarebate the whole scenario.

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:46 am | #

      well, there is supposed to be doctor patient confidentiality even with relatives, unless it’s something that absolutely has to be told or so like joyce being hospitalized and her emergency contact(s) being notified?

      • UrsulaDavina
        UrsulaDavina
        August 25, 2022 at 4:21 am | #

        I was thinking if insurance send the invoice the via the mail unless specified and while i doesn’t specfied the reason for the visit Joyce’s mom seems like busy body who would look into the origin of the bill she might not get much info given HIPA album the cost may rouse her to grill Joyce about the charges might cause Joyce to snap.

        • UrsulaDavina
          UrsulaDavina
          August 25, 2022 at 4:23 am | #

          *while it

          I am not sure while album came up I think that’s a predictive text error.

          • UrsulaDavina
            UrsulaDavina
            August 25, 2022 at 4:24 am | #

            *A busy body

            *her suspicion

            I really hate we can’t edit.

      • Rose Red
        Rose Red
        August 25, 2022 at 3:24 pm | #

        from personal experience, at least about five years ago, I can confirm that with at least one insurance company, if you’re on your parents’ insurance and you don’t pay completely out of pocket, your parents will get a summary of your birth control prescriptions/IUD insertions/removals in the EOB. if they don’t keep track of them or look at them closely every month, it’ll probably escape notice, but if they’re the sort to check and make sure they’re not being overcharged for something (which does happen)… well, they’ll see it.

        you can invoke your privacy rights, so that they are unable to see the details in the EOB, but it was an opt-in thing, so if they’ve been checking it every month, and you didn’t think to set it up right at the beginning, one month they’ll just get a “HIPPA says we can’t tell you this info” message instead of the normal EOB, and they might get suspicious, and maybe you can bluff your way out of it by saying it’s a policy thing, but if they have other adult kids on their insurance and nothing changed for seeing their EOBs that doesn’t hold water, and and and…

        lots of things to be anxious about, lots of ways to get caught, but if parents aren’t keeping an eye on the EOBs they might not notice you opting in.

  27. Limons
    Limons
    August 25, 2022 at 12:57 am | #

    Just saying , hope Sarah never gets to be a mother

    • The Oracle
      The Oracle
      August 25, 2022 at 1:00 am | #

      What a strange thing to say.

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        August 25, 2022 at 1:17 am | #

        I see what you mean. She already hates interacting with people any more than she needs to. Having children would be out of the question.

        • The Oracle
          The Oracle
          August 25, 2022 at 1:24 am | #

          I’m afraid I don’t follow.

          • The Wellerman
            The Wellerman
            August 25, 2022 at 1:28 am | #

            Is interacting with children not defacto interacting with people?

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:36 am | #

      people can change/make pretty huge life decision in 15-20 years that they never would’ve expected though I think sarah knows herself well enough to probably already decide against having a kid

      And i’m sure some are ok parents but i feel like if you already have younger siblings you’d also maybe preemptively decide pretty early on about not wanting to be around more kids/babies

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        August 25, 2022 at 1:44 am | #

        Yeah I mean in Sarah’s case, the evidence really speaks for itself:

        https://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/adopt/

        • BBCC
          BBCC
          August 25, 2022 at 1:37 pm | #

          Sarah doesn’t sound like she has the greatest relationship with her family. “Lying to your parents is an adulthood rite of passage, like pretending you love them.’

  28. Andy
    Andy
    August 25, 2022 at 1:12 am | #

    I wonder how much of Sarah’s comment stems from Joyce talking about all things sex being completely and horribly immoral for a good while.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      August 25, 2022 at 1:27 am | #

      Oh, I hadn’t considered that angle.

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        August 25, 2022 at 1:29 am | #

        Yo Taffy just wanted to say, LOVING your new avatar. MT is so awesome

        • Taffy
          Taffy
          August 25, 2022 at 5:38 am | #

          We do enjoy an enby icon.

          (Watch Infinity Train if you like things that are good, everyone. You’ll find it.)

          • Wizard
            Wizard
            August 25, 2022 at 11:49 pm | #

            So your av is Lake? I thought so, but I wasn’t sure. I really enjoyed the first three seasons of Infinity Train. (The fourth wasn’t bad, exactly, I just like the first three better.)

  29. Derek
    Derek
    August 25, 2022 at 1:16 am | #

    Wow Sarah, “let her suffer the consequences”? Consequences of what? Being uncomfortable with birth control after a LIFETIME of being in a cult that told her all aspects of female sexuality are evil? Joyce should be punished for that?

    • anon
      anon
      August 25, 2022 at 1:32 am | #

      I do feel sympathetic for Joyce but I think at one point she’d have to get the medicine herself/deal with any snide comments or the awkwardness of showing up to the pharmacy though it would be better if they all went together as a sign of support

    • Adam Black
      Adam Black
      August 25, 2022 at 2:36 am | #

      I wondered that too.
      I think shemeans the consequences of buying a pruding plaid wardrobe

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      August 25, 2022 at 1:38 pm | #

      Consequences of not getting her pills, which will be ‘your uterus is a rude bongo every few months’.

  30. Derek
    Derek
    August 25, 2022 at 1:16 am | #

    All of Joyce’s friends are awful.
    She needs better ones. She deserves better than this

    • Plain Marie
      Plain Marie
      August 25, 2022 at 6:27 am | #

      I get where they are coming from. I think they *think* they are being helpful and caring friends, and maybe they just don’t know a better way. When Joyce blows up at them, it’s be a learning experience for all.

    • -
      -
      August 25, 2022 at 8:59 am | #

      Frankly, I would have long ago tired of Joyce’s “quirky” objections to basically any scenario that arises and left her to it. Don’t get the meds? Don’t get the relief they provide. Suit yourself.

      • Schpoonman
        Schpoonman
        August 25, 2022 at 11:09 am | #

        Yes, but you’re a tremendous asshole.

        • -
          -
          August 26, 2022 at 6:38 am | #

          … and who are you?

          • The Oracle
            The Oracle
            August 26, 2022 at 7:24 am | #

            The second person who’s called you that in as many days, for one thing.

  31. Techhead
    Techhead
    August 25, 2022 at 1:21 am | #

    I found the shirt in question in the archives, and yeah, yeah I see it

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2021/comic/book-11/05-as-long-as-its-free/cake-2/

  32. Kitschensyngk
    Kitschensyngk
    August 25, 2022 at 1:27 am | #

    Cut to Joyce in a big hat and trench coat walking up to the counter and speaking in a low voice “I’m picking up some pills for a friend.”

    • Nova
      Nova
      August 25, 2022 at 2:14 am | #

      I want this to be the case. Not because it’s a good idea or helpful to Joyce, but because literally any punchline that involves wacky disguises is great to me.

    • George the Archon
      George the Archon
      August 25, 2022 at 5:24 am | #

      Oh yes! Needs a big fake mustache and whatever Joyce thinks is a foreign accent though. 😉

  33. Angel
    Angel
    August 25, 2022 at 1:30 am | #

    Always found it silly that certain clothing (other than purposefully wearing like a pride wristband/specificlgbt colors) would be associated with certain things

    (tho, be nice if there was like “don’t hit on me/leave me alone” kinda outfit/vibe you could put on to avoid ppl lol)

    • Wizard
      Wizard
      August 26, 2022 at 12:00 am | #

      Clothing is one way people have communicated information about themselves since, probably, the invention of clothes. Clothing has historically signaled social status, profession, religion and many other things for thousands of years. Certain clothing is associated with a specific gender, although the exact detail can vary a lot across cultures. While the exact details may be arbitrary and even silly, this can still serve a lot of functions. If you need help in a store, someone wearing a uniform or name tag is probably a better bet than asking some rando, just to give one example.

  34. Robert
    Robert
    August 25, 2022 at 1:33 am | #

    Blue and Orange [plaid shirt] Morality.

    A new page at TVTropes.

  35. Nova
    Nova
    August 25, 2022 at 2:03 am | #

    Dorothy walks in: Asks Sarah if Joyce has taken her pill yet.

    Becky walks in: Asks Sarah and Dorothy if Joyce has taken her pill yet.

    No one gives Joyce’s feelings on the matter any real consideration other than Becky who assumes them (but is right and does at least offer something helpful).

    Dorothy yells about Joyce not getting the pills yet. Sarah demands that Joyce be left to suffer until she can go get them herself.

    I would not stay friends with people who infantilized, judged, and talked over me in this way while I was in physical pain, emotional pain as I found my way out of a cult, and exploring entirely new and terrifying territory.

    On top of that, neurodivergencies can create a special kind of anxiety around things a person has never done before. It’s helpful to have a script, some idea what’s going to happen, and a friend to do the thing with. Unfortunately Joyce’s script and idea about what might happen is from her culty upbringing, and her friends are arguing among themselves whether she’s worth helping.

    It looks rough.

    • Archieve
      Archieve
      August 25, 2022 at 3:58 am | #

      Yeah I think it’s also a bit possesive on Becky’s part too, she was by Dorothy’s side in not wanting to take the first step to help her friend and more concerned about insinuating to everyone that Joyce was still judgmental over premarital sex but now she wants to make Joyce’s medication her business.

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      August 25, 2022 at 4:30 pm | #

      Is this going to be the storyline for the next few weeks? Every page a new cast member comes into the room to ask the same question, with it finally looking like the stateroom scene in A Night at the Opera.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 25, 2022 at 11:40 pm | #

        Somewhere in the middle of it, Joyce heads out to get her pills. No one realizes she’s gone.

  36. Chasey
    Chasey
    August 25, 2022 at 2:21 am | #

    Eh, I say let Dorothy or Becky get them for her this first time, but next time, when she’s maybe feeling less in pain, drag her in to the pharmacy. She’ll have to do it herself eventually.

    • Wizard
      Wizard
      August 26, 2022 at 12:03 am | #

      Or she could arrange to get future refills through the mail, a service which is totally available through the Student Health Center.

  37. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    August 25, 2022 at 2:23 am | #

    Oh my gods! Joyce now has three of the four Classic Moms. Dorothy is Helicopter Mom. Sarah is Tough-Love Mom. Becky is Mom-Who-Thinks-She’s-Her-Daughter’s-BFF. (Fourth would be the Mom-Who-Just-Wants-Grandchildren.)

    • chuckroast
      chuckroast
      August 25, 2022 at 2:29 am | #

      I think that’s just her mom.

      • JBento
        JBento
        August 25, 2022 at 6:57 am | #

        That was her mum in the Walkyverse, to be more accurate.

    • Beau Kirin Maysey
      Beau Kirin Maysey
      August 25, 2022 at 7:13 am | #

      giving steven universe a run for his money…

  38. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    August 25, 2022 at 2:32 am | #

    Oh boy. Other people talking about you, around you, as though you aren’t there. My favorite. 😐

    Wait, sorry, my favorite is being talked to about you to your face as though you’re a third party.

    /seethe

  39. Adam Black
    Adam Black
    August 25, 2022 at 2:45 am | #

    I feel for every woman in Joyces position.

    I had a male equivalant

    mds “these dont nomally hurt”

    ME: 60 morphine aint enough. Nuts suspened like im in a leg cast.

  40. Raen
    Raen
    August 25, 2022 at 3:38 am | #

    Does that include the bi pride sweater?

  41. Farmer_10
    Farmer_10
    August 25, 2022 at 4:40 am | #

    I’d say Diamond Dogs. The Brain Trust never offered any real solutions.

  42. Eldritchy
    Eldritchy
    August 25, 2022 at 4:55 am | #

    The middle panel Joyce makes me think of Kazuma when he was living under the kotatsu and fought back against attempts of removing him from there.

  43. George the Archon
    George the Archon
    August 25, 2022 at 5:19 am | #

    Okay, know what? Becky as a character can be a little wearing-on me (in a good-writing way – Willis writes a good character, and it’s understandable why she has those personality traits, and is emphasisable-with about it) but today? Today she made me laugh out loud with her laser-guided understanding of the issue that’s actually blocking Joyce – and her creative problem-solving skills thereabout!

    And on a comedic level, I’m really enjoying the whole ‘three parallel conversations that are related but aren’t quite meshing’ that’s going on in the last panel.

    (TV Tropes probably has a term for the latter. But I plan to do things today so an not going down that timesink yet. )

    • George the Archon
      George the Archon
      August 25, 2022 at 5:22 am | #

      Or if it’s more appreciable by Mr Willis: “Today’s strip made me laugh despite having a sore throat, so causing me physical pain, damn you.” 😉

    • Plain Marie
      Plain Marie
      August 25, 2022 at 6:16 am | #

      They have a whole Greek Chorus thing going on, don’t they? So who will show up next to comment on Joyce? Are they going to keep adding another person each day? If so, I’d not be surprised if Joyce snapped and ejected the lot of them. My bias is: I hate commentary!

      • spriteless_auntie
        spriteless_auntie
        August 25, 2022 at 8:25 am | #

        Aww yeah this strip could really use some Booster. Showing up in another wing early in the morning.

      • George the Archon
        George the Archon
        August 25, 2022 at 8:47 am | #

        Heh. Joyce telling the whole lot of them to bugger-off and then stomping out to get her prescription filled would be an appropriate and acceptible outcome, here.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          August 25, 2022 at 10:23 am | #

          It absolutely would be. One Sarah would likely celebrate.

          But will she actually do that without pushing?

          • George the Archon
            George the Archon
            August 25, 2022 at 8:35 pm | #

            You’re right – Sarah absolutely would!

            And I think our chorus is unintentionally pushing her to that without realising it – recent Joyce is (rightfully) grumpy.

            Will it happen? We’ll see shortly I guess.
            Should it? It would be glorious.

    • Schpoonman
      Schpoonman
      August 25, 2022 at 11:08 am | #

      I’m not even attempting the deeper magic, it’s called “One Dialogue, Two Conversations.”

      https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OneDialogueTwoConversations

      • George the Archon
        George the Archon
        August 25, 2022 at 8:38 pm | #

        Respect due!
        TV Tropes explains all, as be it consumes all (time).
        So mote it be.

  44. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    August 25, 2022 at 6:04 am | #

    Joyce has friends who know her so well to knew she wasn’t going to take or buy the pills. How wonderful! They point out that she doesn’t look straight… I wonder if the day will ever come when she realizes they are right.

  45. JBento
    JBento
    August 25, 2022 at 7:00 am | #

    I dunno, Becky, feels like a pharmacist who would give Joyce grief about BC wouldn’t be more positive about gayness.

    Also, the most unbelievable thing about this entire comic is now that Dorothy doesn’t already know Joyce’s birthdate.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      August 25, 2022 at 7:45 am | #

      I think it’s more about Joyce’s feeling of being judged than anything an actual pharmacist would do.

  46. Beau Kirin Maysey
    Beau Kirin Maysey
    August 25, 2022 at 7:11 am | #

    Please let this entire chapter be a slow filtering of EVERY character into Joyce’s room until it’s ready to burst at the seams

    • Cerusee
      Cerusee
      August 25, 2022 at 7:16 am | #

      The deleted outtake from Duck Soup that critics call “curiously prescient. Like, 90 years ahead of its time”.

      • ValdVin
        ValdVin
        August 25, 2022 at 7:30 am | #

        I note that you’re someone with very good taste, but isn’t that scene from A Night at the Opera?

        • Ed Callahan
          Ed Callahan
          August 25, 2022 at 7:48 am | #

          Yes.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        August 25, 2022 at 10:44 pm | #

        “And two hard-boiled eggs!”

  47. Carla's #2 Fan
    Carla's #2 Fan
    August 25, 2022 at 7:16 am | #

    Perhaps Joyce should get the iud instead.

    • vulcanodon
      vulcanodon
      August 25, 2022 at 8:36 am | #

      Good for hussy purposes but unlikely to regulate her painful periods.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 25, 2022 at 10:18 am | #

        I have a hormonal iud. It’s good for both!

        • Carla's #2 Fan
          Carla's #2 Fan
          August 26, 2022 at 3:50 am | #

          Yeah I’m ace, mine is for sure about regulating my periods. Also, Leorale, I accidentally hit flag instead of reply at first, I’m so sorry!

  48. Nicoleandmaggie
    Nicoleandmaggie
    August 25, 2022 at 8:01 am | #

    Is this the first time on screen becky has said Dorothy instead of Dotty or did I miss/forget something?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      August 25, 2022 at 8:57 am | #

      Not the first time, but instances are few and far between.

  49. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    August 25, 2022 at 8:57 am | #

    The solution is so obvious!

    Dorothy impersonates Joyce, and Becky tags along.

  50. Reaver
    Reaver
    August 25, 2022 at 9:21 am | #

    A moment to contemplate how massive their dorm rooms must be if so many people can fit in them…

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      August 25, 2022 at 10:27 am | #

      You can fit a lot of people into even a small dorm room as long as they don’t care much about personal space.

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      August 25, 2022 at 4:01 pm | #

      It’s only four people, and three of them aren’t particularly large. This wouldn’t crowd up a car, and I’m pretty sure the dorm is bigger than that by a good amount.

  51. Suet
    Suet
    August 25, 2022 at 10:19 am | #

    ♪ All this time, I can’t believe I couldn’t see ♫

    The last time we saw Joyce in that shirt (almost exactly a year ago)

    That time we saw Joyce in another plaid top

    Rule of threes! Joyce in another plaid shirt!

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      August 25, 2022 at 10:39 am | #

      Also plaidsies!

  52. Bagge
    Bagge
    August 25, 2022 at 12:26 pm | #

    Becky has plenty of thoughts on Joyce’s warderobe

  53. Dot
    Dot
    August 25, 2022 at 1:34 pm | #

    As a butch, the term “soft butch” always makes me cringe.

  54. The Jighole Man
    The Jighole Man
    August 25, 2022 at 2:21 pm | #

    so 2 things.

    1: i like how they have 3 different ideas on how it should be done (i’ll help you get over embarrasement, i’ll do it for you, and You’ll never grow if you keep having other people do it for you)

    2: is she going to have another crisis over dressing “bi-curious”? she freaked out over glasses, and she can’t bring herself to get her pills, even though it would help with the pain she is feeling. then there was the possible autism thing (an understandable thing to be worried about)

  55. Fuzzy
    Fuzzy
    August 25, 2022 at 7:42 pm | #

    I have agoraphobia. I’m doing better right now (I’ve been going out by myself at least four times a week!), but my pharmacy is unfortunately a place I have trouble going to. I ask my boyfriend to get my medications for me every month. When he can’t, I ask friends to go with me. I’ve skipped days because I couldn’t find someone to go with me soon enough. I haven’t been to the pharmacy alone in at least a year.

    Joyce couldn’t walk across campus for a good while. I don’t remember if that’s “fixed” now, but trauma and its responses often last past the triggering point — regardless of whether Ryan is still on campus, the feeling of fear lingers. I think it’d be reasonable to expect that, embarrassment or no, she might need someone to go with her. Maybe the embarrassment is just a more obvious thing for her to latch onto and point to as why she doesn’t want to go.

    Sometimes people need help. Sometimes they need consistent help for the same thing, every month. It’s okay if people can’t give her it, but it’s not wrong to need the help.

    • Steelbright
      Steelbright
      August 25, 2022 at 11:34 pm | #

      i would like this comment many times if possible. Sorry you have to deal with that. glad for your compassionate outlook on the struggles people face

      • Fuzzy
        Fuzzy
        August 26, 2022 at 8:22 pm | #

        I appreciate that. 🙂 Thank you. I try my best.

  56. Steelbright
    Steelbright
    August 25, 2022 at 11:37 pm | #

    a distinctly unhelpful peanut gallery

  57. Black
    Black
    August 25, 2022 at 11:54 pm | #

    I’m genuinely curious how Becky would know that, in the last panel, when the only lesbian I’ve seen her interact with has been her girlfriend.

    Has Becky been hanging out with other lesbians off-panel?

    • Wizard
      Wizard
      August 26, 2022 at 12:16 am | #

      Maybe she’s just been doing a lot of research online, especially since she no longer has her school or parents scrutinizing her search history.

  58. Kelli217
    Kelli217
    August 25, 2022 at 11:57 pm | #

    Sarah, she’d rather suffer the consequences than face an unknown situation.

Who's that guy over there?

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