Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

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May 12, 2026

Avenues

by David M Willis on March 2, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 03 – Trial and Sarah
└ Tags: becky, dina

Discussion (107) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    March 2, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    what is breakfast anyway but first dinner

    • Clif
      Clif
      March 2, 2022 at 12:54 am | #

      Technically, first breakfast is last dinner.

      • Harmony
        Harmony
        March 2, 2022 at 5:16 pm | #

        So…
        last dinner is the first breakfast & first dinner is breakfast

        So we can cancel out the words breakfast, dinner, is, and first…

        last the

        This sounds like “lasting”

        Therefore, all meals are lasting. As there’s no variable, that means lasting() going with default value, which with timing functions typically translates to a not-ending state.

        Therefore, Meal™ never ends.

        • Librain
          Librain
          March 4, 2022 at 3:03 am | #

          ThE eTeRnAl FeAsT!

    • someone
      someone
      March 3, 2022 at 9:33 am | #

      Breakfast is literally when you’re breaking your fast, i.e., eating again after not having eaten for a while.

      • Paradox
        Paradox
        March 3, 2022 at 1:07 pm | #

        I fasted for 12 minutes, now I’m having breakfast

    • Azrael
      Azrael
      March 4, 2022 at 10:24 am | #

      After 25+ years of working grave all meals are dinner.

  2. ThunderNight
    ThunderNight
    March 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    psycho-cereal

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      March 2, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

      Also known as a cereal killer.

      • Decidedly Orthogonal
        Decidedly Orthogonal
        March 2, 2022 at 1:38 am | #

        Hack the planet!

    • Johnny
      Johnny
      March 3, 2022 at 9:18 am | #

      c’est que c’est
      Fafafafa fafafafa fa fa better
      Run run runnn run run run awayyyyy

  3. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    March 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    Plot twist: Becky succeeds in turning on when she buys one of these.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      March 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

      Turning DINA on. I accidentally a word.

      • Clif
        Clif
        March 2, 2022 at 12:48 am | #

        I too many words.

      • Amós Batista
        Amós Batista
        March 2, 2022 at 6:05 am | #

        Too late. Now I imagine Becky being the furry one.

    • Paradoxius
      Paradoxius
      March 2, 2022 at 2:02 am | #

      Dina just needs a Grinch costume to match.

      • brute
        brute
        March 2, 2022 at 2:14 am | #

        ah, a person of culture

  4. King Daniel
    King Daniel
    March 2, 2022 at 12:06 am | #

    What about second breakfast?

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      March 2, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

      Don’t forget Elevenses, super, dinner. You know about them don’t ya?

      • Jon
        Jon
        March 2, 2022 at 1:24 am | #

        Super dinner is my favorite meal!

        • PirateTawnee
          PirateTawnee
          March 2, 2022 at 2:13 am | #

          Does a regular dinner with Super Friends count? I feel like it should.

          • King Daniel
            King Daniel
            March 2, 2022 at 3:14 am | #

            Would that make them Supper Friends

        • Devious Smile
          Devious Smile
          March 2, 2022 at 11:17 am | #

          sooo if you love Supper Dinner.
          Does that make you a…. Sinner? eh? eh?
          *hides before incoming tomatoes*

  5. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    March 2, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    Oh my gosh, Dina does that thing where she sticks her tongue out while thinking. I’ve met anyone other than myself and my grandfather that does/did that.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      March 2, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

      I know for SURE Joyce does that too. In fact, I am almost certain that exact part of her face was recycled from Joyce in Photoshop.

    • Nono
      Nono
      March 2, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

      It’s a pretty common habit to have! Your brain subconsciously does it to limit the number of extra activities your body is doing so it can focus on the task at hand.

      Though that can vary; I stick my tongue out while thinking, but I also pace. It’s weird.

      • The Wellerman
        The Wellerman
        March 2, 2022 at 12:35 am | #

        Hmmm…. fascinating fact. Earthling, I must investigate further.

        Sauce?

      • Sara Hysaro
        Sara Hysaro
        March 2, 2022 at 3:17 am | #

        Pacing is a BIG one for me. I don’t stick my tongue out, but I’m always pacing. Any time I get a thought to explore I just get up to wander around, and sometimes after DnD sessions I have just so much excess energy I need to go for a walk (dunno if that’s exactly related, though).

    • Rose by Any Other Name
      Rose by Any Other Name
      March 2, 2022 at 1:26 am | #

      I know, right?

      … Dina has never been hotter then that moment.

      Damn you, Dina, and your scientific excellence! Rather than Becky, it is I who you have caught in your web of seduction!

    • Chasey
      Chasey
      March 2, 2022 at 1:38 am | #

      I used to do it but I made myself stop because my tongue would always be out front instead of to the side and my lord, it just me look like a moron, haha.

  6. The Wellerman
    The Wellerman
    March 2, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

    Great thinking Dina!!!

    This epic scientific expedition continues!!!

    😆😆😆 🍿🥤

    *plays “World of Adventurers” on Hacked Muzak*

  7. Sirksome
    Sirksome
    March 2, 2022 at 12:18 am | #

    I mean eating cereal might as well be sex sometimes. Cereal is pretty good.

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      March 2, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

      Yeah!!! Imma eating some right now actually!!! 😋😋😋

      I don’t care what people say. Crispex and Cheerios are pretty good without milk.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        March 2, 2022 at 2:51 pm | #

        Cheerios is a recommended finger food for babies and toddlers, so yeah.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      March 2, 2022 at 1:24 am | #

      The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

    • Victor
      Victor
      March 2, 2022 at 8:10 am | #

      Y’all are nuts. I’ve had sushi that I could compare to sex with a straight face. I’ve had a Thai curry that was nearly there. I even had lasagna (at a little sidewalk cafe in Rome) that might be considered comparable.
      But cereal? The ‘food’ that was literally developed to discourage masturbation because it was so bland?

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        March 2, 2022 at 9:01 am | #

        I think you’re thinking about Corn Flakes. If you think all cereals are that bland, you need to try more cereals. Anything with chocolate, for example. And Raisin Bran always gives me a woodie.

        (You know, because it’s POST)

      • Delicious Taffy
        Delicious Taffy
        March 2, 2022 at 4:28 pm | #

        I really have to wonder what the fuck was going through people’s heads in Ye Olden Dayes. Eating corn flakes makes kids not wanna whack it? First off, how? I want an explanation more reasonable than “the octopus that lives in my brain told me so”. Second off, why are you so worried about kids’ genital state, sir? Somethin’ you wanna tellogg, Mr. Kellogg? Why don’t you have a seat over there? Don’t worry about the cameras, Mr. Kellogg, they’re just for posterity.

    • zee
      zee
      March 2, 2022 at 12:49 pm | #

      Cereal is mid. Milk makes it worse

  8. Kyrik Michalowski
    Kyrik Michalowski
    March 2, 2022 at 12:19 am | #

    The fact that Dina has taken the time to create a list and create notes is simultaneously sweet/weird. Although, I can’t deny it is effective and methodical, so it is just like Dina.

    • Nono
      Nono
      March 2, 2022 at 12:34 am | #

      Dina and Dorothy both do it, therefore the only thing left to do is a spreadsheet-off.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        March 2, 2022 at 1:25 am | #

        Joe also does it.

        …..

        …. I wanna add a smarmy follow-up to that, but I’m drawing a blank.

    • PirateTawnee
      PirateTawnee
      March 2, 2022 at 2:16 am | #

      “The only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down.”

      • Devin
        Devin
        March 2, 2022 at 2:23 pm | #

        And I believe Becky is very much against screwing around right now.

  9. Nono
    Nono
    March 2, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

    So, sexiest (and least sexy) cereal?

    I think Frosties is probably up there.

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      March 2, 2022 at 12:42 am | #

      I don’t know if they are the sexiest, but I do love me some Cookie Crisp or Reese’s breakfast cereal.

      • Kyrik Michalowski
        Kyrik Michalowski
        March 2, 2022 at 12:44 am | #

        Now i want cereal and it is almost midnight, I don’t have my favorites but I do have trix, and that’s good enough.

    • Anon A Mouse
      Anon A Mouse
      March 2, 2022 at 12:42 am | #

      I’d say Chex for it’s blandness, and yet Chex MIX can potentially spice up any situation.

      • Clif
        Clif
        March 2, 2022 at 12:51 am | #

        Chex mix goes surprisingly well with garlic.

        • Andy
          Andy
          March 2, 2022 at 1:26 am | #

          Considering garlic powder is one of the ingredients, I can’t say that’s really surprising/

    • Proxiehunter
      Proxiehunter
      March 2, 2022 at 12:47 am | #

      Cornflakes were literally invented to be un-sexy.

      • Kyrik Michalowski
        Kyrik Michalowski
        March 2, 2022 at 12:56 am | #

        You make an excellent point, and they do get soggy pretty quickly.

        • Ray Radlein
          Ray Radlein
          March 2, 2022 at 1:38 am | #

          Man, soggies don’t rule

          • Geneseepaws
            Geneseepaws
            March 2, 2022 at 2:21 am | #

            Since cheerios sog so very easily, I have to mix in some Honey-Almond-Flax Crunch Kashi so that there is some texture that doesn’t vanish as soon as the water or milk or what have you hits the bowl.

            • Azhrei Vep
              Azhrei Vep
              March 2, 2022 at 7:41 am | #

              But that’s the best feature of Cheerios! Why would you want to ruin it like that?

      • Nono
        Nono
        March 2, 2022 at 12:57 am | #

        Does muesli/oatmeal count as cereal? Because I’d put them on the bottom.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          March 2, 2022 at 1:27 am | #

          Do you mean that you’d put that on your partner who is a bottom, or do you mean on your partner’s bottom?

        • King Daniel
          King Daniel
          March 2, 2022 at 1:39 am | #

          You take that back about muesli right this inst–

          …wait, does being grey-ace mean you’re right about muesli being unsexy?? asking for a friend here

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          March 2, 2022 at 2:36 am | #

          Oatmeal is cheap and good for you (if your digestive system can process gluten).

          • The Wellerman
            The Wellerman
            March 2, 2022 at 2:38 am | #

            I think there’s a gluten free version, actually.

            • Needfuldoer
              Needfuldoer
              March 2, 2022 at 4:51 am | #

              Good! No excuses to not start the day with a steamin’ bowl of oatmeal!

              • Needfuldoer
                Needfuldoer
                March 2, 2022 at 4:52 am | #

                Fack.

                https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aVIewv1K3CA

              • zee
                zee
                March 2, 2022 at 12:51 pm | #

                The texture is a hate crime

        • Arian
          Arian
          March 2, 2022 at 8:57 am | #

          Muesli is my favourite cereal! And porridge (that’s what oatmeal is, right?) is my next-favourite!

          I don’t actually think *any* cereal is sexy, but muesli and porridge are tastiest, and not any *less* sexy than anything else. I steadfastly defend their reputation.

          Cornflakes are the least sexy. Instasludge. Ugh.

    • Thag Simmons
      Thag Simmons
      March 2, 2022 at 12:51 am | #

      Kellogg rolling in his grave.

    • Ophidiophile
      Ophidiophile
      March 2, 2022 at 3:26 am | #

      Froot Loops. Has a bird on the box. And birds are dinosaurs.

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        March 2, 2022 at 9:08 am | #

        So does Cocoa Puffs. And, chocolate is ALWAYS sexier.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          March 2, 2022 at 11:31 am | #

          Those don’t even taste chocolate-y anymore.

          • Delicious Taffy
            Delicious Taffy
            March 2, 2022 at 4:22 pm | #

            They didn’t taste chocolatey 25 years ago, either. I wonder if they ever have.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      March 2, 2022 at 9:11 am | #

      Sure, I’ll recycle my joke from above:

      Raisin Bran gives me a woodie. Because it’s POST!

      (Don’t talk to me about that Kellogg’s stuff. Soggies can have it.)

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      March 2, 2022 at 11:56 am | #

      I don’t know if cereal can be sexy, but I find any cereals that don’t have at least some sugar in them way too bland.

    • Jamie
      Jamie
      March 2, 2022 at 3:03 pm | #

      I love that everyone thinks of cereal as boxes of brand names. Hypercapitalist colonization of the mind for the win.

  10. BBCC
    BBCC
    March 2, 2022 at 1:02 am | #

    Excellent – science is done best on a full stomach.

    • Kyrik Michalowski
      Kyrik Michalowski
      March 2, 2022 at 1:26 am | #

      Shopping is also best done on a full stomach, lest you fall prey to impulse buying all the candy and snacks.

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      March 2, 2022 at 1:36 am | #

      So THAT’S what was so messed up with these experiments.

      (CW: … look, I don’t know what to label it as, but it’s messed up.)

  11. Florence
    Florence
    March 2, 2022 at 1:05 am | #

    As I said a week ago, Dina is so good and Becky is lucky to have her, especially with helping her to recognise what the specific problems she has are and vocalise them.

    I especially love that Dina is so causally cool about sex. I was worried that by making her asexual she would be another autistic character in fiction that would be infantilised and at best be confused by sex but instead she’s comfortable and exploring all parts with no hesitation. It’s really nice to see an autistic who isn’t running away from adult things.

    If you’re reading this David’s Willis, thank you for this character turn, this autistic appreciates it 💜

    • karishi
      karishi
      March 2, 2022 at 1:29 am | #

      I had a similar response, especially with the way she was still smiling in the last panel of last comic; Having the sexytimes experiment rolled back wasn’t a failure or a rejection, it was a piece of useful information and making sure her partner was comfortable.
      And her interest in clarity is…INCREDIBLY USEFUL in a burgeoning relationship, especially one looking into sexytimes.

      • Florence
        Florence
        March 2, 2022 at 1:43 am | #

        It’s so nice to see as an autistic, and yes her interest in clarity is so good for this dynamic

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      March 2, 2022 at 1:44 am | #

      Yeah, what I really like she has unique, bright, powerful stripes that ALL kinds of neurodivergents can really relate to, and I’m one of them. 🥰

      Such marvelous brain power and passion in what she does. Next to Goku and Izuku Midoria, she’s like my favorite socially challenged hero. 😂

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      March 2, 2022 at 12:04 pm | #

      It’s definitely nice to see an autistic character who’s not treated as a child who can’t handle anything sexual.

    • RedCat
      RedCat
      March 2, 2022 at 2:22 pm | #

      Well she IS a biology student.

  12. EpochFlame
    EpochFlame
    March 2, 2022 at 1:08 am | #

    qc steve moment

    • Decidedly Orthogonal
      Decidedly Orthogonal
      March 2, 2022 at 1:42 am | #

      Bros! Bros! Bros!

    • Keulen
      Keulen
      March 2, 2022 at 12:02 pm | #

      I’m sure he’s eating cereal somewhere.

  13. Eldritchy
    Eldritchy
    March 2, 2022 at 4:00 am | #

    It would be an absolute Power Move against Kellogg if she got horny from eating cereal.

    • Inbar Fink
      Inbar Fink
      March 2, 2022 at 7:31 am | #

      Dina Saruyama: more powerful than God and also John Harvey Kellogg.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        March 2, 2022 at 11:34 am | #

        But can she defeat W. K. Kellogg, the guy who actually started the cereal company?

        • TomHCinMI
          TomHCinMI
          March 2, 2022 at 12:45 pm | #

          It was Michael W. Kellogg and a non-Kellogg partner who started the cereal company.
          There were lots of Kelloggs in Battle Creek.

          • Needfuldoer
            Needfuldoer
            March 2, 2022 at 2:53 pm | #

            [Citation needed]

            They count W. K. Kellogg as their founder, and apparently the corporate ancestry traces back to the company he founded to sell cereal at retail (instead of just to former clients/patients of the sanitarium).

            https://www.kelloggcompany.com/en_US/our-heritage.html

            If you want a really confusing name, look at all the “Hershey”-s in Pennsylvania.

  14. Sombrero
    Sombrero
    March 2, 2022 at 4:24 am | #

    What now? Back to the Zoomr of Murdr? A CerealHub video? You can discover it now at Patreon yadda yadda.

  15. Hydrohead
    Hydrohead
    March 2, 2022 at 8:53 am | #

    I do miss being able to eat cereal whenever and simi-continuously.

  16. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    March 2, 2022 at 9:14 am | #

    Also DAMN IT BECKY EAT LUNCH WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND

    DON’T SKIP MEALS

    (sorry this may be a thing for me right now)

  17. Alan in DC
    Alan in DC
    March 2, 2022 at 9:47 am | #

    Joe Rosenthal is coming out with his own cereal. It doesn’t Snap, it doesnt Crackle, and it doesn’t Pop.

    It just lays there and Bangs.

  18. J
    J
    March 2, 2022 at 10:50 am | #

    time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.

  19. Rabisch
    Rabisch
    March 2, 2022 at 10:56 am | #

    Love Becky’s smile in the last panel ♡.

  20. Darkoneko
    Darkoneko
    March 2, 2022 at 1:15 pm | #

    Where did they come from and why are they not soggy

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      March 2, 2022 at 2:54 pm | #

      Because the soggies may not rule the Dumbiverse. Dina is just too powerful.

  21. Opus the Poet
    Opus the Poet
    March 2, 2022 at 3:06 pm | #

    Well it looks like the DOA comment system doesn’t like the cut-and-paste emogis.

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      March 2, 2022 at 4:34 pm | #

      Or laughs, like “hahaha”, or “lol”.
      But @Wellerman could post it. I don’t know…

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      March 2, 2022 at 11:42 pm | #

      Yeah I can always do it just fine.

      Don’t use too many though?

      The bots on this site must be on some bad stuff… 😑

  22. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    March 2, 2022 at 4:44 pm | #

    Living through loopholes inside a tough sexual abstinence faith is a living hell. I hope one day Becky will pass through all thess rules and hardship.

    Thanks for be the best girlfriend ever, Dina.

  23. Kyrik Michalowski
    Kyrik Michalowski
    March 2, 2022 at 4:59 pm | #

    Not many comments on this one. Clearly people left to go get cereal and forgot to come back,

    • Delicious Taffy
      Delicious Taffy
      March 2, 2022 at 5:16 pm | #

      Nobody’s getting naked or being slightly morally ambiguous.

      • 0kami
        0kami
        March 2, 2022 at 11:15 pm | #

        Or implying grievous physical harm to themselves or others.

  24. Edward Rhodes
    Edward Rhodes
    March 2, 2022 at 11:32 pm | #

    “Time is an illusion! ‘Lunchtime’ doubly so!” Ford Prefect “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

  25. Bagge
    Bagge
    March 2, 2022 at 11:54 pm | #

    OK, but will Becky get a bowl?

  26. Katerly
    Katerly
    March 3, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    I love that little smile in the last panel.
    It’s just, “Damn, that’s what I love about you.”
    All wrapped up in a smile. Because of course Dina would consider that maybe, just maybe cereal might get some stuff going. But also, it’s lunchtime.

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