Topic: Damn you, Willis! (Dumbing of Age) (Read 522767 times)

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2200 on:** 24 Feb 2016, 20:05 »

When Willis put "end of storyline" in the alt-text yesterday, does that mean (based on previous times he's done that) that we won't see more Joyce's weekend at home?

Gladstone · « **Reply #2201 on:** 24 Feb 2016, 21:42 »

We won't see any more of Friday evening. Each storyline/chapter generally covers one day in-universe, so the next 100-200 strips will deal with Saturday and Sunday.

Kugai · « **Reply #2202 on:** 24 Feb 2016, 21:56 »

Lessons in humanity ahead from the Zhenyuanlongsuni ahead for Sarah I think.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2203 on:** 25 Feb 2016, 05:38 »

Quote from: Gladstone on 24 Feb 2016, 21:42

We won't see any more of Friday evening. Each storyline/chapter generally covers one day in-universe, so the next 100-200 strips will deal with Saturday and Sunday.

Oh, "storyline" just means day? Interesting.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2204 on:** 25 Feb 2016, 22:23 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 25 Feb 2016, 05:38

Quote from: Gladstone on 24 Feb 2016, 21:42
We won't see any more of Friday evening. Each storyline/chapter generally covers one day in-universe, so the next 100-200 strips will deal with Saturday and Sunday.
Oh, "storyline" just means day? Interesting.

This has been known/debated for a while, hasn't it? I feel like there might have been argument earlier as to whether it possibly meant a week, but I know I sided with the 'storyline=1 day' crowd, and haven't given it a second thought since.

I should admit, I'm a tipsy person saying this. I can say for a fact that I've known for a long while, almost since I started reading DoA, that each storyline approximated a single day's span. I might be imagining the disagreement. I'm probably imagining that. Forget I mentioned it.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2205 on:** 26 Feb 2016, 04:06 »

I'm not disagreeing, I guess I just never really thought about what a "storyline" meant.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2206 on:** 26 Feb 2016, 21:08 »

Good lord, do I relate to that desire, Sarah. I've been unable to find a solution, personally, but I relate.

BenRG · « **Reply #2207 on:** 26 Feb 2016, 23:15 »

I'm wondering if we're going to have an arc about Dina showing Sarah that she isn't a bad person for occasionally being selfish and not wanting to get hurt by others' problems boiling over. It is, after all, only a sign that she cares enough to feel empathy!

Kugai · « **Reply #2208 on:** 27 Feb 2016, 12:20 »

And to top it all off, Sarah will now find the chairs are actually bolted to the floor for safety reasons.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2209 on:** 27 Feb 2016, 21:25 »

I think what I love best about today's comic is that I remember having that exact conversation here on the message boards.

Kugai · « **Reply #2210 on:** 28 Feb 2016, 13:31 »

Sorry Sarah, but for Dina this is a real conversation.

BenRG · « **Reply #2211 on:** 29 Feb 2016, 02:34 »

Joyce's body language at the end of today's strip (29/2) sets all my alarm bells ringing. She might have a flashback to the Ross incident and there's no telling how precisely she'll react. I think it's possible that she'll grab Becky and flee to one of her siblings' houses for shelter from Carol who, with her words, has suddenly been elevated to an existential treat in her traumatised mind.

Hank may be in for a painful day trying to convince Joyce that Carol isn't about to try to shoot her and Becky.

Kugai · « **Reply #2212 on:** 29 Feb 2016, 12:57 »

I wouldn't blame Joyce for that either.

Her Mother is sounding more and more like a female Ross.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2213 on:** 29 Feb 2016, 13:10 »

And maybe her dad's not as great as we thought. Damn it

Kugai · « **Reply #2214 on:** 29 Feb 2016, 13:19 »

Time will tell.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #2215 on:** 29 Feb 2016, 13:26 »

I don't see anything negative in Hank's part of that conversation. He's supporting Joyce and her decisions on who to be friends with, and trusting her to stay strong in her faith. He's also saying that the more they try to control her, the more likely she will be to do something to break free of that control. He's basically advocating for her freedom and right to choose. I'd call that pretty noble. And he's open minded and kind enough to welcome Becky into their home without treating her the way Carol does, and is even trying to accept her being a lesbian, despite what his church is telling him about being gay.

Carol is obviously just a massively controlling tool who wants to dominate her children and force them to be what she wants them to be, regardless of anything else. She has shown no kindness or compassion towards Becky... You know, two things that are supposed to be pretty high on the 'to do' list for her faith. I don't think she'll go all Ross on Joyce. But I would see her trying to pull her out of the school, and if that fails, trying to cut off all ties in a 'if you aren't going to be obedient, I cast you out' kind of way. Which would be emotionally devastating to Joyce, and pretty hard financially, as I am guessing she receives some sort of financial aid from them.

Basically, Joyce had every reason to dread this trip. And I think this weekend will show that she actually wasn't worried enough.

BenRG · « **Reply #2216 on:** 29 Feb 2016, 23:55 »

Sometimes, I hate being right. At least Joyce has Becky with her; hopefully, she'll stop Joyce from doing something stupid or even self-destructive. She's pretty much in 'fight-or-flight' mode right now; there's no telling what she may be capable of doing if life pushes her further.

Maybe this will turn into Joyce finally talking to someone about her problems and getting the help that she needs.

Kugai · « **Reply #2217 on:** 01 Mar 2016, 14:28 »

Road trip!

hedgie · « **Reply #2218 on:** 01 Mar 2016, 14:40 »

For some reason, Carol is starting to look more and more like a toe every time she says something.

Kugai · « **Reply #2219 on:** 01 Mar 2016, 14:54 »

Quote from: hedgie on 01 Mar 2016, 14:40

For some reason, Carol is starting to look more and more like a toe every time she says something.

Which is why I'm beginning to speculate she's gonna turn into a female Ross.

BenRG · « **Reply #2220 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 01:33 »

Today's strip (3/2) is interesting in that it suggests that 'When God Closes the Door' (the chapter title) has a double meaning. The obvious is the heavily-trailed and very obviously oncoming break between Joyce and her family over her changing perspective of several moral issues.

However, the name 'La Porte' (Joyce and Becky's home town) literally means 'the door'. I think that today's strip strongly suggests that Joyce and Becky, having been into the wider world, find that their home town isn't as cool and exciting to be out and about in as they thought as teenagers. They've seen a more cosmopolitan life in Bloomington and that's forever altered their view of the small town where they were born and raised.

It's possible that, when they leave at the end of this weekend, they'll have little desire to return to that small and somewhat inward-looking corner of America when they are far more interested in the wider world beyond.

Kugai · « **Reply #2221 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 13:13 »

Indeed

I'm also wondering if we're going to see a moment where Joyce puts her foot down with her mother over this - something that I don't think she'd even have contemplated before she left for Bloomington and College.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2222 on:** 03 Mar 2016, 21:33 »

Aww. Sal. This is a sadness that I'm feeling.

Kugai · « **Reply #2223 on:** 03 Mar 2016, 22:35 »

Dear Sals Mother

FUCK YOU TOO!!!

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2224 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 05:38 »

I always forget that her name is Sally. She does not seem like a Sally.

BenRG · « **Reply #2225 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 05:42 »

She isn't, really; she's been 'Sal' probably since before the Convenience Store Job.

In some ways, Linda calling Walky 'David', Sal 'Sally' and Billie 'Jennifer' is a symptom of emotional distance. She doesn't really feel affection for them, at least not to the degree where she will treat them on their own terms. Any interaction has to be on her terms with the people that she wants them to be (and, in Sal's case, not at all).

ChaoSera · « **Reply #2226 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 06:15 »

That's a long stretch to make. Neither me nor my parents call my sister by the nickname all her friends call her, that doesn't mean we don't feel affection for her.

Welu · « **Reply #2227 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 08:45 »

When it's last name based, like Walky and Billie, I find family don't tend to use it. I knew two guys who were called by friends and even some teachers by a variation of their surname but parents and siblings found it weird to call them something that was also sort of their own name.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2228 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 11:03 »

Holy fuck, didn't even notice Jennifer.

Kugai · « **Reply #2229 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 12:11 »

Oh!

Missed that Sally one when I first saw the Comic and thought Sals Mom hadn't sent her anything. Still, it's kinda depressing she sent one half the size.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2230 on:** 05 Mar 2016, 09:23 »

I suppose it must be nice that someone notices your situation is bullshit. Still makes me sad.

Kugai · « **Reply #2231 on:** 05 Mar 2016, 14:29 »

Indeed.

Still, it's at least not as sad as Sals Mom completely ignoring and forgetting Sal.

I hope it's something at least half way decent.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2232 on:** 05 Mar 2016, 21:40 »

What the fuck, Billie? Panel two, I get, but panel three is him expressing concern about someone else.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2233 on:** 05 Mar 2016, 22:23 »

I get panel three. She's still pissed about panel 2, and hr mood hasn't changed. She's a bit stressed about the idea of having to figure what to do with Becky, and that, combined with a pissy attitude over panel 2 and having being recently sorta-kinda-not-really-but-fuck-you-Ruth-dumped leads to panel three expression.

BenRG · « **Reply #2234 on:** 06 Mar 2016, 00:12 »

Not everyone reacts well to stress. The small level of stability that Billie had been trying to build up in her life has collapsed over the past twelve hours or so. The last thing she needs is Walky reminding her how this has managed to screw up not only her and Ruth's life but Becky's life too!

Kugai · « **Reply #2235 on:** 06 Mar 2016, 12:34 »

Zen And The Art Of Saying Something Right While Being Wrong At The Same Time

By David 'Walky' Walkerson

Kugai · « **Reply #2236 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 13:25 »

Just go for it girls, just go for it

hedgie · « **Reply #2237 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 13:49 »

And thus Willis ends the comic. Joyce and Becky get swallowed by a sink hole. (IIRC, that is the reason they closed it)

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2238 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 20:12 »

Hedgie, I dunno the fuck you're talking about, but it's okay, because I don't care enough to read It'sWalky!, or anytging beyond Shortpacked!

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2239 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 20:41 »

I think hedgie means the real Mount Baldy.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2240 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 20:52 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 07 Mar 2016, 20:41

I think hedgie means the real Mount Baldy.

Well, fuck if I know the difference, I'm a dude from an entirely different chunk of the country

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2241 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 20:55 »

I know bald is a geographical term meaning less than a mountain, and that Andrew's Bald (to make a joke only understood by people who've visited that specific bit of the Smokey Mountains) but that's it!

Kugai · « **Reply #2242 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 13:58 »

And Billy self guilt trips herself out of her Cookies.

Kugai · « **Reply #2243 on:** 09 Mar 2016, 15:06 »

I see Carla believes in the old Klingon proverb.

And I love how Billie still thinks of Ruth regardless of what happened.

BenRG · « **Reply #2244 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 01:57 »

Huh. I'm thinking that the 3/10 strip is telling us that we're about to be introduced to the opening spark of Amber's final and climactic major psychiatric crisis. She can't fight and she can't run. How will she react?

ChaoSera · « **Reply #2245 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 02:57 »

Who says she can't run? Grab the clothes and get out of there. She's got a reputation as the "shut-in nerd chick" anyway, nobody will think twice about that reaction.

BenRG · « **Reply #2246 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 03:09 »

Quote from: ChaoSera on 10 Mar 2016, 02:57

Who says she can't run? Grab the clothes and get out of there. She's got a reputation as the "shut-in nerd chick" anyway, nobody will think twice about that reaction.

I think that you're underestimating the power of Amber's fight-or-flight response to Sal. I don't think that she'll have enough time to collect the clothes before the crisis of being in close proximity to Sal causes a fuse to blow.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2247 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 05:04 »

Or maybe not!

Kugai · « **Reply #2248 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 12:33 »

This could go either way.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2249 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 22:21 »

Quote from: Kugai on 10 Mar 2016, 12:33

This could go either way.

Or NEITHER way, as seems to be Willis' way.

Ain't no-character happy via Willis' way.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Damn you, Willis! (Dumbing of Age) (Read 522767 times)