Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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i mean, you can, but it won't be polite back
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

May 5, 2026

Exermacises

by David M Willis on November 19, 2023 at 12:01 am
  • 02 – It's The Love I Haven't Got
└ Tags: joe, joyce, sarah

Discussion (89) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    November 19, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    no shirt
    no shoes
    no toenails

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      November 19, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

      You be polite to the exercise machines by WIPING THEM DOWN AFTER EVERY USE

      • Angel
        Angel
        November 19, 2023 at 12:46 am | #

        maybe any group exercise she ever had in a church group was in one of those rooms with those soft mats where she’d be used to taking off her shoes lol

    • Decidedly Orthogonal
      Decidedly Orthogonal
      November 19, 2023 at 12:28 pm | #

      No horny?

      Something tells me this won’t exermacise her horny demons.

      • GLaDOS
        GLaDOS
        November 19, 2023 at 2:22 pm | #

        As Screwtape put it:

        If he must think of the medical side of chastity, feed him the grand lie which we have made the English humans believe, that physical exercise in excess and consequent fatigue are specially favorable to this virtue. How they can believe thus, in face of notorious lustfulness of sailors and soldiers, may well be asked.

  2. Animedingo
    Animedingo
    November 19, 2023 at 12:04 am | #

    Foreplay

    • Clif
      Clif
      November 19, 2023 at 2:07 am | #

      It’s called foreplay because that’s what it’s fore.

      • Plaaaaaa
        Plaaaaaa
        November 19, 2023 at 6:48 am | #

        Fo’ replay

  3. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    November 19, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    Hehe, maybe this was a sub-optimal idea for a date

  4. Caro
    Caro
    November 19, 2023 at 12:05 am | #

    theyre so cute /gen

  5. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    November 19, 2023 at 12:07 am | #

    Wow, they are all ready at the married 40 years stage of the relationships. Who says Joyce takes relationships slow?

    • PASchaefer
      PASchaefer
      November 19, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

      Nobody. Nobody says that . Joyce was the one imagining marriage about as soon as she held a boy’s hand. =D

      • Miri
        Miri
        November 19, 2023 at 7:18 am | #

        Nah, she got there as soon as he asked her out. No physical contact necessary!

  6. Schpoonman
    Schpoonman
    November 19, 2023 at 12:09 am | #

    Step machines are ridiculously kinky, they want you to step on them and to wear shoes, too.

    Maybe Joyce should start with the treadmill.

    • Some1
      Some1
      November 19, 2023 at 12:13 am | #

      I was going to make a comment saying Joyce should just imagine that the step machine is into it but you kinda beat me to it so imma piggy back on your comment

    • PirateTawnee
      PirateTawnee
      November 19, 2023 at 1:59 am | #

      Still waiting for a step machine that will ask to be stepped on. Consent is important yo.

      • Decidedly Orthogonal
        Decidedly Orthogonal
        November 19, 2023 at 3:43 pm | #

        Interesting concept. One wonders if “harder daddy/mommy” will motivate more people to work out harder¹, or will make more flee in terror/shame from the gym? 🤔

        [1] 😉

  7. RacingTurtle
    RacingTurtle
    November 19, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

    “Make out. Make out now.”

  8. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    November 19, 2023 at 12:10 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 14: Oh Good, You Remember the Things I Retroactively Decided Nobody Noticed To Keep Myself Sane

  9. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    November 19, 2023 at 12:15 am | #

    I will say it’s probably good to have a lightly traumatic but ultimately harmless accident early when learning any sort of potentially hazardous activity. Sticks in your brain and keeps you cautious without having serious consequences

    • Angel
      Angel
      November 19, 2023 at 12:56 am | #

      “joyce brown and the mediocre body horror”

      that said id prefer a brisk with while holding hands and then grabbing lunch after

  10. Dara
    Dara
    November 19, 2023 at 12:16 am | #

    This seems like weirdly quick escalation

    • David DeLaney
      David DeLaney
      November 19, 2023 at 9:09 am | #

      … have you even met Joyce

      –Dave, I’m told it’s a learning experience, for everyone involved

  11. Opus the Poet
    Opus the Poet
    November 19, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    You’re to being polite to the machine, you’re being polite to the people using the machine after you, by not leaving it covered in blood from your unshod foot.

    • Angel
      Angel
      November 19, 2023 at 12:54 am | #

      i assumed someone wiped it down but i wonder how many ppl did visit the gym that day.

    • thejeff
      thejeff
      November 19, 2023 at 3:07 am | #

      I think she just got her toe crunched a bit. No actual blood.

      • Decidedly Orthogonal
        Decidedly Orthogonal
        November 19, 2023 at 3:46 pm | #

        Oh there was blood. Now, whether it remained subdermal, or fully popped like a cherry washing machine is up to someone willing to do an archdive.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 19, 2023 at 9:32 am | #

      Unshod shouldn’t be a problem, socks were the problem. Those things are way too slick.

  12. Mym
    Mym
    November 19, 2023 at 12:18 am | #

    https://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-8/02-this-is-the-way-that-we-love/glisteny/
    Conquistador

    • bejouled
      bejouled
      November 19, 2023 at 12:43 am | #

      Thank you for your service, now I don’t have to go looking

    • Miri
      Miri
      November 19, 2023 at 7:29 pm | #

      https://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-8/02-this-is-the-way-that-we-love/stepmachine/ and possibly why she’s so cross with Joe… He was trying to let her know she was doing something dangerous, but could definitely have done it in a way that didn’t cause her to break concentration, stride, attention, twist away from the machine… But also allowances for 18 y/o reacting to person doing something silly and trying to stop them ASAP…

  13. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    November 19, 2023 at 12:22 am | #

    Yes you can

  14. BBCC
    BBCC
    November 19, 2023 at 12:28 am | #

    Joyce you’re polite to the machines by using them properly – by wearing shoes!

    • Angel
      Angel
      November 19, 2023 at 12:50 am | #

      i’m surprised she didn’t feel more uncomfortable instantly, even w/o the injury, i had a ‘stepper’ thing at home and there was def bumps on the machines to where you def had to wear shoes

  15. Dday
    Dday
    November 19, 2023 at 12:31 am | #

    Reposting this from yesterday, cause I finished it kinda late. I swear I won’t be spamming it later. Mostly drew this cause Sarah in her workout duds is making cartoonish steam shoot out my ears
    Its kinda spicy but more or less sfw, features abs:
    https://i.imgur.com/WcMTGzx.png

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      November 19, 2023 at 12:35 am | #

      👍

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      November 19, 2023 at 12:48 am | #

      awe shit awesome! ^^

    • NickG
      NickG
      November 19, 2023 at 6:56 am | #

      Great expressions on all of them, but Sara in particular.

      • Dday
        Dday
        November 19, 2023 at 11:41 am | #

        Thanks, yeah Sarah is Our Lady of Perpetual Grumpitude, RBF queen

    • David DeLaney
      David DeLaney
      November 19, 2023 at 9:10 am | #

      and your bound/gagged Faz avatar goes SO well with it

      –Dae, spicy, hot, but I can still see myself swallowing…

    • Miri
      Miri
      November 19, 2023 at 7:31 pm | #

      I managed to read that as “go greasy on the carbs” but am ill… Pretty sure that oodles of garlic bread and proper fish and chip shop chips are not the way to chiseled abs… Sadly…

  16. HueSatLight
    HueSatLight
    November 19, 2023 at 12:33 am | #

    what’s wrong with exermacises? Is it because it feels like it should be -ize?

    • Angel
      Angel
      November 19, 2023 at 12:52 am | #

      probably too early for sarah to put up with joyce’s whimsical word choices, or maybe because it makes her sound childish, tho i imagine that was a misspeak based onthe second panel rather than being playful

    • Bash
      Bash
      November 19, 2023 at 2:04 am | #

      She’s saying it to cover up the fact that she doesn’t actually know how to work out, and didn’t think this far ahead. And being Joyce, she’s going to do or say something cringe rather than admit that.

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        November 19, 2023 at 11:49 am | #

        you hit the nail right on the head, as it were. Her awkwardness is cute, but she still feels awkward.

        I still think exermacizes looks better. But I’ve been trying to spell it exercize my whole life so -shrug emoji-

    • Shadowsnail
      Shadowsnail
      November 19, 2023 at 11:03 am | #

      It’s because the correct pronunciation is emaxemarcimasemas.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 19, 2023 at 11:44 am | #

      Because it’s cute, and Joyce has too much of that going on as it is.

  17. Angel
    Angel
    November 19, 2023 at 12:55 am | #

    maybe she should stick to jumping rope…tho what would be a good beginner thing to use other than the tiny dumbbells lol

  18. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    November 19, 2023 at 1:05 am | #

    Now kiss.

    …. actually that feels kinda different saying that when they’re already in a romantic relationship….

  19. Joe Moose
    Joe Moose
    November 19, 2023 at 1:16 am | #

    To quote: “You two bicker like a married couple!”

  20. Steelbright
    Steelbright
    November 19, 2023 at 1:17 am | #

    This is going well

    • The Jighole Man
      The Jighole Man
      November 19, 2023 at 1:22 am | #

      indeed.
      it may be an argument, but the argument is based on joe caring for her, rather than some drama nonsense.

    • Bash
      Bash
      November 19, 2023 at 2:05 am | #

      I think it is going pretty well actually. It’s a return to their usual dynamic, rather than things being awkward now that they’re dating.

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      November 19, 2023 at 11:42 am | #

      But so far, this is an acceptable fight so far, neither of them are trying to hurt the other emotionally or physically, and they’re not letting anything fester unsaid. Compare to Walky and Lucy, we haven’t seen them fight yet (If I Remember Correctly). Walky seems to be avoiding saying almost everything he’s thinking, possibly because he thinks it will upset Lucy.

      Joe is right about the toe smooshing, and Joyce should stop blaming him. But Joe should also be telling Joyce he doesn’t think less of her if she doesn’t know about working out and won’t think any less of her if ultimately she ends up disliking it.

      • Mym
        Mym
        November 19, 2023 at 1:11 pm | #

        +2

  21. DashWallkick
    DashWallkick
    November 19, 2023 at 1:22 am | #

    Joe you might like her for being beautiful and kind and funny but she’s still Joyce and you still have to deal with her neuroses and her inability to accept when she’s wrong.

  22. Andrews
    Andrews
    November 19, 2023 at 2:30 am | #

    *tips hat* madam step machine

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      November 19, 2023 at 5:09 am | #

      M’chine

      • Decidedly Orthogonal
        Decidedly Orthogonal
        November 19, 2023 at 3:54 pm | #

        Just want to express my appwciation for this word play.

        • Decidedly Orthogonal
          Decidedly Orthogonal
          November 19, 2023 at 3:56 pm | #

          Appreciation even. 😅

        • HueSatLight
          HueSatLight
          November 19, 2023 at 6:46 pm | #

          appweciation

    • David DeLaney
      David DeLaney
      November 19, 2023 at 9:12 am | #

      it’s rude to cut someone you’ve been introduced to, after all

      –Dave, Alice is just full of useful etiquette lessons

  23. Suet
    Suet
    November 19, 2023 at 3:09 am | #

    You can actually be polite to a step machine maybe, by wiping the handles after using it.

    Hit it? What did the treadmill ever do to you, Sarah?

    • Pergola
      Pergola
      November 19, 2023 at 9:42 am | #

      Politeness to machines is practice for politeness to people.

  24. Taffy
    Taffy
    November 19, 2023 at 5:11 am | #

    Stretching is for people who don’t want to pull something or whatever. Also known as cowards.

  25. foducool
    foducool
    November 19, 2023 at 5:30 am | #

    it’s like they’ve been married for years lmao

    • NGPZ
      NGPZ
      November 19, 2023 at 5:57 am | #

      if they’re bond can withstand the trials, who knows? ^^

      (but knowing Willis he can always come up with more end-game-y ships LOL)

      • HueSatLight
        HueSatLight
        November 19, 2023 at 12:55 pm | #

        like who?
        <-

        • Mym
          Mym
          November 19, 2023 at 5:35 pm | #

          RaidahXSarah

  26. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    November 19, 2023 at 6:51 am | #

    Shit, it’s exactly how my parents argues. Or me with my mom.

  27. Daibhid C
    Daibhid C
    November 19, 2023 at 8:13 am | #

    This is the most adorable first fight I’ve seen in a webcomic since that bit in El Goonish Shive where they were all “No, you’re wrong to think you might be a bad person!”

  28. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    November 19, 2023 at 8:49 am | #

    The beginning of the end for the beautiful couple or just a healthy discussion that will strengthen them? Let’s see what Jacob and Sarah will say.

  29. David DeLaney
    David DeLaney
    November 19, 2023 at 9:13 am | #

    they do say you should never go to bed angry

    –Dave, they’re leaving footprints in their sands

    • David DeLaney
      David DeLaney
      November 19, 2023 at 9:15 am | #

      also I notice we’ve got thirteen completely different facial expressions this strip! in, what, 45 seconds?

      –Dave, all hail Willis, bringer of visual conflict! *the mice cheered!*

  30. Needfuldoer
    Needfuldoer
    November 19, 2023 at 9:40 am | #

    The toe may have healed, but Joyce is still sore.

    • Dday
      Dday
      November 19, 2023 at 10:52 pm | #

      Joyce’s toe may be wounded, but her sole still burns…

  31. Cracker Jack
    Cracker Jack
    November 19, 2023 at 10:47 am | #

    Look, the step machine LIKES being stepped on! Don’t kink shame!

    • David DeLaney
      David DeLaney
      November 20, 2023 at 3:57 am | #

      *Usenet from 3 decades ago would like to add high heels to your concept’s location and outfit*

      –Dave, we’ll work the accelerator pedal in somewhere too

  32. Stephen Nedland
    Stephen Nedland
    November 19, 2023 at 11:52 am | #

    Well, can be polite to the step machine; whether or not it notices the curtesy, is questionable.

  33. Allen Alberti
    Allen Alberti
    November 19, 2023 at 1:12 pm | #

    Am i the only one who noticed the incredibly high resolution of today’s strip?

    • Taffy
      Taffy
      November 19, 2023 at 2:43 pm | #

      Is it higher than usual? I guess it might look a little crisper.

    • Justnobodyfqwl
      Justnobodyfqwl
      November 19, 2023 at 3:13 pm | #

      Yeah, it’s INSANE? It’s like Sprite compared to the Coke of the rest of the comic

    • HueSatLight
      HueSatLight
      November 19, 2023 at 4:14 pm | #

      Is it line weight and/or anti-aliasing differences? like in panel 2 especially

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      November 19, 2023 at 4:21 pm | #

      Maybe a super-high-res version was uploaded earlier, but right now the file’s the same pixel dimensions as yesterday’s comic.

      • Allen Alberti
        Allen Alberti
        November 20, 2023 at 6:01 pm | #

        can confirm, yesterday when opening image in new window it was MASSIVE and today it’s a normal strip.

  34. Adept
    Adept
    November 19, 2023 at 1:56 pm | #

    Standing between these two Joyce looks tiny.

  35. Grayfinity
    Grayfinity
    November 19, 2023 at 5:00 pm | #

    Oh goodie, the first argument post-courtship. (Please correct me if I’m wrong…)

    This is progressing nicely! Won’t be long until they’re ‘(arguing) like an ol’ married couple’.

  36. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    November 19, 2023 at 10:41 pm | #

    That escalated…. VERY quickly.

  37. Hinoron
    Hinoron
    December 3, 2023 at 2:00 am | #

    “Hit the machines” “hit the treadmill”.
    It’s like no one knows how to use them properly and just punches them out of frustration…
    😉

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