honestly i’m surprised she picked up a bowling ball aso pposed to sitting and waiting for alice to show up (id k if she was invited versus billie who might take her)
Asma is very into bowling. They are there on her suggestion. You can also see her reading books on the subject. So of course she picks up a bowling ball.
clif
A bowling ball can also be a weapon in emergencies.
I’m looking forward to seeing further enjoyable Asma attitude if and when it’s discovered that they didn’t bother inviting ANY hot girls in leather jackets to join them.
They were probably too busy macking on each other to remember to invite any hote girls in leather jackets. xD Should be fun.
Big Z
Judging only by what was on-camera, they were actually too busy involving themselves into Becky and Dina’s relationship and then cuddling in jammies at 3pm.
Now, that one’s actually on Asma. She requested the friend with the gloves and leather jacket. No mention of any other traits.
That describes Sal basically perfectly with the limited info provided, and she’s much more of a friend to Dorothy and Joyce than Alice is, who they barely know. Why WOULDN’T they assume it was Sal?
The specific phrasing — from https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/nexttime/ — was “…What about your one friend? Little taller than you, with the hair? Wears a leather jacket and boots?” Yes, almost certainly referring to Alice — especially considering https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/help-3/ — but Sal is more likely to spring to mind, especially considering the use of the words “friend” and “hair” (and we know Joyce has very much noticed Sal’s leather jacket).
BYM!
And her hair. She, in a not at all gay way, wanted to brush it.
She’s got Movie / TV Show cop energy.
Santiago from Brooklyn 99, Juliet from Psych, and Judy Hopps from Zootopia are exactly the kind of cop Dorothy would be.
Sadly, real cops tend not to measure up to that standard. Be a better world if they did.
Judy Hopps is openly corrupt and immediately made an arrangement with a crime boss. She also regularly goes off the rails in ways that wildly endanger nearby civilians.
Problem is she probably couldn’t get herself elected student council president in the first place, if her attempt to get RA assistant and her high school social life is accurate…
Remind me, do Joyce and/or Dorothy actually know Alice? Like well enough to hook Asma up with her? Because otherwise this just seems like a thinly veiled attempt to get in her good books.
Sirksome
Joyce has talked to Alice to make an impassioned case for Billie’s worth. They’ve also met once after that when Billie and Alice rekindled their friendship. It’s where Alice learned Joyce had sex with Dorothy but not in the way you’d think, although that hardly matters now. There is a sort of acquaintance relationship established with Joyce. Does Joyce have her contact information or know it was Alice specifically that Asma wants to hang with? Has she even remembered about asking Alice or anyone to join the bowling date for Asma? We don’t know, but I’d be surprised if she did because Joyce has been much more focused on other things these last several hours since she last interacted with Asma.
John Campbell
Joyce does have contact info for Alice, because she cyberstalked her as part of the “get Billie laid her friend back” plan.
Zero
It’s not veiled, that was their openly stated intent.
And it’s hardly their fault that Asma assumed both that they knew her and that they’d immediately thing of her from her vague description.
I’m finding Asma relatable in this one. I’m not a Muslim, but I relate to Asma’s expressions and reactions to Dorothy and Joyce in this strip. They definitely have a lot to learn about many things.
The intensity of Asma’s withering stare in panel two could probably make plants wilt with a single glance. The sheer “plz stop” energy is palpable all the way here from past the fourth wall. Honestly impressive.
…I find myself imagining a cop trying to hook up by wearing a tshirt that says “fuck the police”, and I can’t decide whether or not he would be more or less successful
Both. It reads as Joyce, in a chipper tone, trying to lessen the irritation and badness of cops going through your stuff. “Hey, how are you?” “Well, I just got diagnosed with a terrible sickness.” “I was sick last year too~!”
Perhaps, but I also see it along the energy lines of “the doctor originally thought it was cancer but then it turned out to be not so serious” for Joyce personally, especially since they had been worried about the Amazi-girl stuff being found. Not that Asma would know the background on that.
Turns out, in real life, autistic people often relate to others by sharing their own experiences that seem similar in some way. And, also common in real life, is people not understanding it as an attempt to relate, and instead taking it as rude/one-upsmanship/inappropriate behavior, when it’s actually meant as a form of empathizing.
You’re hitting on a common complaint about autistic folks here. There’s a difference in communication style (and the onus should not be on autistic folks to adapt/change/understand the other style without any effort to be met halfway)
Neurotypical = Shares something about them
Autistic = Oh – are we sharing about ourselves? – I am going to show I empathise by sharing how I relate.
Neurotypical = I was talking about ME, how dare you then talk about YOU.
Autistic person = ??? I did what you did, how is it okay for you to do that but bad for me to do it, I was only sympathising with you kindly wtf…
But I guess yeah, pair that with Joyce’s chipper smile and she starts coming over like Faz does (just less pervy – though only just, lately), it is going to give maximimum miscommunication and misunderstanding.
Dandi_Andi
Yeah. I read this as “Oh! I ALSO experienced that! Right of the bat we have something in common we can talk about. I was afraid this was going to be super awkward, but we’re off to a great start.”
thejeff
Honestly, it seems like the police raid would be the most obvious and biggest topic of conversation for everyone in the dorm. For days if not weeks.
Maybe it’s more the casual “how was your day?” when the answer should have been obvious?
Leorale
Yeah, it’s the giant smile (and presumably a chipper chirping peppy voice to go with it) that makes the tone inappropriate.
___
Armed-to-the-teeth cops going through your stuff: invasion of safety, privacy, etc.
___
Helplessness, due to having neither control over your living space, nor recourse when it’s violated this way.
___
We’ve seen Dina’s reaction of feeling literally unsafe in her home afterwards. Definitely not fun or happy; serious business.
___
Giant smile may accidentally communicate: Lol what fun! Potentially-traumatizing stuff! Teehee! 😃 😀
103 thoughts on “Pick a lane”
Slartibeast Button, BIA
Glad things are starting so well.
anon
honestly i’m surprised she picked up a bowling ball aso pposed to sitting and waiting for alice to show up (id k if she was invited versus billie who might take her)
Thomas
Asma is very into bowling. They are there on her suggestion. You can also see her reading books on the subject. So of course she picks up a bowling ball.
clif
A bowling ball can also be a weapon in emergencies.
NGPZ
aw GAWD ya can smell the secondhand embarrassment just WAFTING offa deez whitebread morons XD (-_-)
Dot
I take some measure of amusement in how Asma continues to mirror my own attitude towards these two
Yet_One_More_Idiot
Methinks they’re about to get an Asma attack! xD
(Last panel, Asma looks almost wryly amused at how tonally oblivious Joycy and Dots are)
Big Z
I’m looking forward to seeing further enjoyable Asma attitude if and when it’s discovered that they didn’t bother inviting ANY hot girls in leather jackets to join them.
Yet_One_More_Idiot
They were probably too busy macking on each other to remember to invite any hote girls in leather jackets. xD Should be fun.
Big Z
Judging only by what was on-camera, they were actually too busy involving themselves into Becky and Dina’s relationship and then cuddling in jammies at 3pm.
IntangibleMatter
There’s no way that them having invited the wrong person will make things worse. There’s no way, things will be fine.
Doctor_Who
Now, that one’s actually on Asma. She requested the friend with the gloves and leather jacket. No mention of any other traits.
That describes Sal basically perfectly with the limited info provided, and she’s much more of a friend to Dorothy and Joyce than Alice is, who they barely know. Why WOULDN’T they assume it was Sal?
Jo_cubstar
Wait she *didn’t* mean Sal?!
Bash
The description sounded like Sal, but we saw Asma thirsting over Alice previously.
Cruithne
Wait … they do know Alice … what if they actually invited Alice?
deliverything
The specific phrasing — from https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/nexttime/ — was “…What about your one friend? Little taller than you, with the hair? Wears a leather jacket and boots?” Yes, almost certainly referring to Alice — especially considering https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/help-3/ — but Sal is more likely to spring to mind, especially considering the use of the words “friend” and “hair” (and we know Joyce has very much noticed Sal’s leather jacket).
BYM!
And her hair. She, in a not at all gay way, wanted to brush it.
Needfuldoer
Did they invite anyone else?
clif
Good question. I wonder when and if Asma will ask.
Shogo
Good. Now unhinge your jaw and swallow them whole for their insolence.
ADLegend21
I still don’t get the Dorothy is a cop energy. She’s like the most anti-cop white girl we’ve ever seen.
Doctor_Who
She’s got Movie / TV Show cop energy.
Santiago from Brooklyn 99, Juliet from Psych, and Judy Hopps from Zootopia are exactly the kind of cop Dorothy would be.
Sadly, real cops tend not to measure up to that standard. Be a better world if they did.
Zero
Judy Hopps is openly corrupt and immediately made an arrangement with a crime boss. She also regularly goes off the rails in ways that wildly endanger nearby civilians.
Jo_cubstar
This is sarcasm, right?
Dara
oh my gods she really is judy hopps isn’t she
i mean, in terms of cop energies
judy hopps. dang.
Freemage
Yeah, this might be the most perfect analog for Dorothy out there. Someone with talent should do a fanart mashup.
Dot
Her life’s ambition for most of the strip’s run was to be President of the United States of America
John Campbell
Yeah, it’s not cop energy. Tony has cop energy. Dorothy has Democratic establishment politician energy.
NGPZ
in other words a distinction without a difference (-_-)
Km
Misguided as it is, cops still have spines. Democratic politicians on the other hand…
Thag Simmons
Dorothy has big “Student Council President” vibes, which are in fact cop vibes.
Km
Problem is she probably couldn’t get herself elected student council president in the first place, if her attempt to get RA assistant and her high school social life is accurate…
Dean
Hall monitor energy.
NullSet
State Attorney General energy
Hastur
Dumbing of Age Book 16: Chronically Tonally Inappropriate
Dara
Honestly, Asma looks like half-amused in panel six. It’s just like, “wow, you really are just always like this. Wow.”
darkoneko
dont’ say that so happily, Joyce
Serendipity
Autism isn’t always just cute and quirky. Lack of tone control is a significant issue in many of our lives.
Briar
Direct correction is in fact how a lot of us learn things. Their comment was fine.
Cameron Stone
Why did Asma agree to hang out with these two morons again?
NGPZ
she wanna hook up with Alice LOL, and thought she’d be meeting up with these dorks
Dot
She is humoring them because she thinks they will provide her with access to Alice.
Steamweed
Now I gotta start my Asma/Sal fanfic. Most important part of it: the name.
Asmal? Sasma? Assal?
Ray Radlein
“AL”
NullSet
Salma
Cameron Stone
Remind me, do Joyce and/or Dorothy actually know Alice? Like well enough to hook Asma up with her? Because otherwise this just seems like a thinly veiled attempt to get in her good books.
Sirksome
Joyce has talked to Alice to make an impassioned case for Billie’s worth. They’ve also met once after that when Billie and Alice rekindled their friendship. It’s where Alice learned Joyce had sex with Dorothy but not in the way you’d think, although that hardly matters now. There is a sort of acquaintance relationship established with Joyce. Does Joyce have her contact information or know it was Alice specifically that Asma wants to hang with? Has she even remembered about asking Alice or anyone to join the bowling date for Asma? We don’t know, but I’d be surprised if she did because Joyce has been much more focused on other things these last several hours since she last interacted with Asma.
John Campbell
Joyce does have contact info for Alice, because she cyberstalked her as part of the “get Billie
laidher friend back” plan.Zero
It’s not veiled, that was their openly stated intent.
And it’s hardly their fault that Asma assumed both that they knew her and that they’d immediately thing of her from her vague description.
Kyulen
I’m finding Asma relatable in this one. I’m not a Muslim, but I relate to Asma’s expressions and reactions to Dorothy and Joyce in this strip. They definitely have a lot to learn about many things.
Tequila Mockingbird
The intensity of Asma’s withering stare in panel two could probably make plants wilt with a single glance. The sheer “plz stop” energy is palpable all the way here from past the fourth wall. Honestly impressive.
Tequila Mockingbird
*panel 3
Leorale
lane 5
Ray Radlein
She’ll glare wherever she wants to glare! She’s a loose canon!
Dara
South to drop off, north to pick up.
Qube
…I find myself imagining a cop trying to hook up by wearing a tshirt that says “fuck the police”, and I can’t decide whether or not he would be more or less successful
3oranges
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsIBPTTqreM
yak
Thank you for linking this
Qube
well I meant more in an ironic self-referential “kiss the cook” type way but this works too
Trip
So is it HOW Joyce says things more than what, specifically, she says? Very frequently I’ve seen people hating her for reasons I don’t understand.
I do understand SOME of the reasons, mind you.
Miroku2235
Both. It reads as Joyce, in a chipper tone, trying to lessen the irritation and badness of cops going through your stuff. “Hey, how are you?” “Well, I just got diagnosed with a terrible sickness.” “I was sick last year too~!”
Kimi
Perhaps, but I also see it along the energy lines of “the doctor originally thought it was cancer but then it turned out to be not so serious” for Joyce personally, especially since they had been worried about the Amazi-girl stuff being found. Not that Asma would know the background on that.
Ash
Turns out, in real life, autistic people often relate to others by sharing their own experiences that seem similar in some way. And, also common in real life, is people not understanding it as an attempt to relate, and instead taking it as rude/one-upsmanship/inappropriate behavior, when it’s actually meant as a form of empathizing.
Holly
You’re hitting on a common complaint about autistic folks here. There’s a difference in communication style (and the onus should not be on autistic folks to adapt/change/understand the other style without any effort to be met halfway)
Neurotypical = Shares something about them
Autistic = Oh – are we sharing about ourselves? – I am going to show I empathise by sharing how I relate.
Neurotypical = I was talking about ME, how dare you then talk about YOU.
Autistic person = ??? I did what you did, how is it okay for you to do that but bad for me to do it, I was only sympathising with you kindly wtf…
But I guess yeah, pair that with Joyce’s chipper smile and she starts coming over like Faz does (just less pervy – though only just, lately), it is going to give maximimum miscommunication and misunderstanding.
Dandi_Andi
Yeah. I read this as “Oh! I ALSO experienced that! Right of the bat we have something in common we can talk about. I was afraid this was going to be super awkward, but we’re off to a great start.”
thejeff
Honestly, it seems like the police raid would be the most obvious and biggest topic of conversation for everyone in the dorm. For days if not weeks.
Maybe it’s more the casual “how was your day?” when the answer should have been obvious?
Leorale
Yeah, it’s the giant smile (and presumably a chipper chirping peppy voice to go with it) that makes the tone inappropriate.
___
Armed-to-the-teeth cops going through your stuff: invasion of safety, privacy, etc.
___
Helplessness, due to having neither control over your living space, nor recourse when it’s violated this way.
___
We’ve seen Dina’s reaction of feeling literally unsafe in her home afterwards. Definitely not fun or happy; serious business.
___
Giant smile may accidentally communicate: Lol what fun! Potentially-traumatizing stuff! Teehee! 😃 😀
Fireprincesslily
I don’t know if it was supposed to come off like that, but I think I see Asma cracking a smile in that last panel.
clif
Not sure about the smile, but the weird thing is that Joyce is making friends with her and Dorothy isn’t.
Throwatron