Dumbing of Age

Discussion (26) ¬

1. 
   Yusaku777

   November 18, 2011 at 11:37 pm | #

   I think this comic is too smart for me.
2. 
   MLBlue

   November 19, 2011 at 6:55 am | #

   That buff and charming version of Walky needs to be made into an avatar. Certainly so.
3. 
   Reboot

   November 19, 2011 at 8:15 am | #

   Where’s Stoolie?!

   • 
     ShifterComic

     November 20, 2011 at 6:08 am | #

     Stoolie had to leave. His home planet needed him.
4. 
   Leorale

   November 19, 2011 at 12:12 pm | #

   that rocks.
5. 
   Joraiem

   November 19, 2011 at 8:02 pm | #

   Ha! I guess it’s true – make everyone smart enough, and you get a boring plot with no conflict.

   Unless you have dumb antagonists! Then they wouldn’t have to do the right thing. Awesome.

   • 
     David M Willis

     November 19, 2011 at 9:08 pm | #

     I think that was the impetus behind the first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon.

     • 
       Joraiem

       November 20, 2011 at 6:29 pm | #

       Okay, I’ve never actually had the chance to see it, so I’m deriving this entirely from “Turtles Forever,” but…

       Were the good guys even smart? Or were they just less dumb than the bad guys?

       • 
         David M Willis

         November 20, 2011 at 6:40 pm | #

         The latter!
   • 
     Thor

     November 22, 2011 at 12:30 am | #

     No, you can still make everyone “smart enough” as long as they have different values, motivations, priorities, and goals. Plenty of room for character conflict, and no one needs to be holding the Idiot Ball.
6. 
   Tristan J

   November 19, 2011 at 10:47 pm | #

   Complaining about fictional characters being stupid doesn’t amuse me unless it’s done in the form of an essay explaining why every value the character holds is wrong. Preferably, addressed to the character in question.

   “Oh my God, Dorothy values school over romance, and doesn’t want to string Danny along? Better write her a comment explaining why she’s a horrible human being. She reads the comments, right?”
7. 
   Quantum Polagnus

   November 19, 2011 at 11:10 pm | #

   “Yes, I knew I would you appreciate it.” GREATEST QUOTE EVER.

   • 
     ShifterComic

     November 20, 2011 at 4:24 am | #

     Hah. Those are the kind of mistakes that happen when you proof-read at 5 AM. I’m not sure I should correct it or not.
8. 
   L

   November 20, 2011 at 3:50 am | #

   This is the first time a webcomic has ever reminded me of how dumb I can be.
9. 
   Ridureyu

   November 21, 2011 at 12:03 am | #

   I… love this comic, I really do.
10. 
    Hogan

    November 21, 2011 at 3:58 am | #

    *gives the thumbs up to this comic when he is through laughing*
11. 
    Rognik

    November 21, 2011 at 7:32 am | #

    I refuse to let the impossibility of negative page views spoil my enjoyment of this comic.
12. 
    Ridureyu

    November 21, 2011 at 2:54 pm | #

    I think a major part of this is that people believe that, if something is depicted ina work of fiction, then it is promoted as “right.” THis is a major source of the Moral Guardian backlash against everything from Harry Potter on up – “The bad guy said that there’s no good or evil, so the movie teaches it!”

    So, when someone in a Willis comic makes a stupid decision, a lot of people think, “Oh, no! Since Joyce did it, then David Willis is trying to promote it as the right decision! I must post and SAVE THE READERS FROM HIS VILLAINY!”

    • 
      concernedDragon

      November 21, 2011 at 3:42 pm | #

      …wait…. this means that DAVIS WILLIS IS ENCOURAGING COVERING UP RAPE ATTEMPTS. D:
    • 
      johannhowitzer

      November 21, 2011 at 6:19 pm | #

      *throws hands up in the air*
      THANK! YOU!
    • 
      Tucker

      November 28, 2011 at 4:19 pm | #

      At the end of the day, it was just pointing out that a story full of smart people making sensible decisions doesn’t make for good drama or comedy. It lampshades the existence of comic drama and situational comedy in the first place.

      Also, is there good and evil? Can such a polarized dichotomy actually exist in the real world? Just to throw in my little philosophical piece.
13. 
    aqua

    November 22, 2011 at 11:48 am | #

    with a title such as dumbing of age it is easier to assume that Willis is saying that every thing these characters do is exceedingly stupid and should never be done.
14. 
    D Train

    November 22, 2011 at 9:06 pm | #

    Willis looks like Velma Dinkley in the last panel. Just sayin’.
15. 
    Mike S

    November 23, 2011 at 12:40 am | #

    For some reason, reading Joyce’s line, all I could hear was Sandra Bullock from Demolition Man (after getting dressed down by Sly outside Taco Bell).
16. 
    DT

    November 28, 2011 at 12:57 am | #

    Smart people apparently also speak in very stilted, expositionary dialog.
    I’d read it just for that. :p

    • 
      Melissa

      November 28, 2011 at 7:35 am | #

      And they like to workout, too! Oh, that might be because exercise IS smart. I fail at smart