Topic: Damn you, Willis! (Dumbing of Age) (Read 516094 times)

cesium133 · « **Reply #2300 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 07:17 »

Quote from: BenRG on 30 Mar 2016, 05:22

I've got several thoughts arising from today's strip (3/30).
Why has Joyce never met Christi? Is it because her parents disapprove of John having married a non-WASP? Or, worse (from their perspective) is that a pet name for Christopher?

The more I think about this, the more I wonder if you might be right... it would be an interesting parallel to Billie's "boyfriend" situation...

Quote

Someone with more archive-fu on DoA would have to instruct me but I'm not sure if we've ever seen Jocelyn and Becky on-screen together; I'm just wondering if Becky had confided in her. that Jocelyn has known Becky's orientation for some time and has been encouraging her, from her own bitter experience, that it is better to come out sooner rather than later;

You can use the tag links below the comic to find people (and a + sign in the URL to search for more than one). For example: http://www.dumbingofage.com/tag/jocelyne+becky/

(to save you the click, you're right, we haven't seen Jocelyn and Becky on-screen together before this)

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #2301 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 08:20 »

I think today could be a day of revelation for Joyce... It seems like none of the Brown kids are following their parents (or at least their mother's) plans. I'm pretty sure there's something John's not telling about his marriage. I get the feeling it's as simple as she's not white or not Christian. Josh/Jocelyn still seems to be in the closet, so I get the feeling either she hasn't come to terms with being trans yet, or is hiding it because of family. I'm not sure what Becky's reaction to the high five was at first. Surprise that one of the Brown kids was happy for her to be out of the closet? Or a realization that they shared a secret? Is it something they talked about before? Probably not I'm thinking. And then there's the situation with Jordan.. Whatever that may be. archive fu didn't help me, but seems big.

cesium133 · « **Reply #2302 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 08:38 »

It's never actually been said in the comic what Jordan did. My guess is, based on Joyce's mom's reactions to things, it's probably smaller than we think it is.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2303 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 09:02 »

Wait, who is Jordan? I didn't realize Jordan wasn't Jocelyn until just now.

BenRG · « **Reply #2304 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 09:08 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 30 Mar 2016, 09:02

Wait, who is Jordan? I didn't realize Jordan wasn't Jocelyn until just now.

Jordan is an apparent already-known 'black sheep' of the Brown family. He was close enough to Jocelyn in age that they shared a bedroom way back when but something went wrong (or right, depending on your perspective). He's now considered something of a warning example to Carol and one of the reasons she wants Joyce pulled from IU is because she's afraid of her 'becoming like Jordan'.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2305 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 09:24 »

Right, that's why I thought they were talking about Jocelyn which meant they already knew. Didn't realize there was a fourth sibling.

Kugai · « **Reply #2306 on:** 30 Mar 2016, 16:37 »

Family fun and games

LeeC · « **Reply #2307 on:** 31 Mar 2016, 05:08 »

So Christi and John do missionary work...I wonder if thats a cover...

ChaoSera · « **Reply #2308 on:** 01 Apr 2016, 01:15 »

Quote from: LeeC on 31 Mar 2016, 05:08

So Christi and John do missionary work...I wonder if thats a cover...

Based on today's comic, I'm gonna say no.

BenRG · « **Reply #2309 on:** 01 Apr 2016, 01:25 »

The interaction between John and Joyce in today's comic (4/1) can be interpreted in several ways. Knowing Willis and the semi-autobiographical story that he's trying to tell, ChaoSera is probably right.

However, a possible other interpretation is that John can't help but see his sweet baby sister and be disturbed by the thought of her engaging in an act of violence. Was it really necessary? Maybe he's rebelling against is the idea that Joyce was in a situation where violence was necessary or proportionate. I know that I'd freak if my younger sister told me that she had to cold-cock a man to protect her friend from him!

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2310 on:** 01 Apr 2016, 05:08 »

That was hardly proportional, it was well short of that.

Kugai · « **Reply #2311 on:** 01 Apr 2016, 12:33 »

But it was totally unexpected from Joyce and mild by comparison to what Ross did. He deserved more.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2312 on:** 01 Apr 2016, 12:37 »

Well yeah, that's why I called it well short of proportional.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2313 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 03:47 »

Yes, John, she's entirely aware how angry she sounds. Are you aware how YOU sound? Think before you speak, John, the word vomit coming out of your mouth is rather thoughtless.

That said, Becky, no. Go through other channels to get your SSN, do not take someone else's.

BenRG · « **Reply #2314 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 05:43 »

I'm pretty sure that John is in denial. This can't have happened to people he knows. This sort of systematic oppression cannot be happening in his home-town. Such a well-respected man as Ross MacIntyre cannot be a violent criminal! There must be an explanation for this! Joyce and Becky are hysterical! Reaction on emotion! They're exaggerating and trying to blame others for Becky's impulsive desire to cut herself off from her family! Joyce, the delicate soul that she is, is over-reacting and needs to be returned home until she can calm down!

Basically, like lots of people in his circumstances, he's rejecting what happened because it would require uncomfortable self-examination about his community and culture. Instead, he's looking (even if only unconsciously) for a scapegoat. Becky's 'impulsiveness' and Joyce's 'erratic emotions' are looking like they're the target of choice for him.

Kugai · « **Reply #2315 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 14:06 »

I'd shut up at this point John, you're only digging yourself in deeper.

And shouldn't Becky be able to approach Social Security herself to gain her number?

sitnspin · « **Reply #2316 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 15:55 »

In theory she can, but her lack of documentation makes it quite difficult.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #2317 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 16:05 »

And there's often a kafkaesque loop of needing documentation from A to get document B, needing documentation from B to get document A.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #2318 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 17:54 »

When I had to get a new social security card, they needed me to tell them my social security number to verify it...

BenRG · « **Reply #2319 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 22:56 »

Dealing with an ossified, unsympathetic and apathetic government bureaucracy is never fun.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2320 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 22:57 »

aaaand, Joyce breaks. Not a surprise. John, I get you're having difficulty with things, but you seem to lack empathy.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2321 on:** 02 Apr 2016, 22:58 »

Benergy, using all the adjectives. Dude, the word 'government' on its own implies them.

Kugai · « **Reply #2322 on:** 03 Apr 2016, 14:06 »

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Joycesplosion has commenced.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2323 on:** 03 Apr 2016, 14:11 »

I'm pretty sure we haven't seen anything yet.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #2324 on:** 03 Apr 2016, 17:18 »

Oh no.. that was just the first warning hiss from the pressure tank... The explosion is a'coming.

BenRG · « **Reply #2325 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 01:31 »

It's sort of sad that this is probably the last time Joyce is going to have anything resembling a civil conversation with John. I have a feeling that this whole thing with her family is going to blow up on a huge scale and those who end up on the other side from her will refuse to ever speak to her again until she 'repents' and comes crawling back to them or something.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2326 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 03:07 »

Wow, John's just as bad as their mom. Maybe worse.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #2327 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 06:18 »

I would not say John is as bad as their mother, but he is cut from the same cloth. Here he is certainly tipping over that lip between 'victim of an oppressive system meant to control the behavior of others' and 'active participate of said system using it to try and keep others in their perceived place'. Certainly he seems to be placing the actual, violent crimes that Ross committed against his daughter, and against John's own sister on a lesser level of importance than Joyce's anger at those crimes. He's suggesting that Joyce return for 'recentering' (reprogramming) since clearly she's being influenced by outside forces in thinking that a father shouldn't be kidnapping his daughter at gunpoint because she's gay... And also seems at least uncomfortable with Becky. Their mom on the other hand is planning on forcing Joyce to return home where she can dominate her... doing the same thing Ross wanted to do with Becky. Just without the kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. Yet.

Kugai · « **Reply #2328 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 15:11 »

And fuck you too John.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #2329 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 21:05 »

Talk about a colossal asshole. (Talking about John, not Jocelyne. Just in case anyone thinks I'm on John's side with that statement.)

Method of Madness · « **Reply #2330 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 21:14 »

John's a fucking scumbag who somehow gets considerably worse with each comic.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2331 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 21:31 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 04 Apr 2016, 21:14

John's a fucking scumbag who somehow gets considerably worse with each comic.

He wasn't in Shortpacked, so I don't know about past iterations, but John in this incarnation is everything wrong with uber-religious, literalist idiots. i know John personally, I feel. I know MANY 'Johns.' Too many of them. Jocelyn, keep that ish up. Set his bigoted, narrow-minded ass straight.

Gladstone · « **Reply #2332 on:** 04 Apr 2016, 21:35 »

You're right, John. How dare college just let girls to do lesbians with each other and then get huffy when their fathers to kidnap them at gunpoint.

BenRG · « **Reply #2333 on:** 05 Apr 2016, 00:08 »

Notice that John keeps trying to re-frame the issue as being Becky's 'son' and her and Joyce's 'sense of entitlement' about this being 'without consequences'. He refuses to even acknowledge that they had wrong done to them to the point that he actually states that the whole incident was their fault!

Kugai · « **Reply #2334 on:** 05 Apr 2016, 15:37 »

And my previous statement about John still applies

Self righteous bastard.

Kugai · « **Reply #2335 on:** 06 Apr 2016, 15:47 »

Well! That was a surprise!

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2336 on:** 06 Apr 2016, 21:07 »

And writers don't get given stuff? That's accurate.

Kugai · « **Reply #2337 on:** 06 Apr 2016, 23:56 »

Starving Writer Syndrome strikes.

Kugai · « **Reply #2338 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 13:24 »

Say what??!

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2339 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 21:03 »

And so now I have a new favorite face. It happens to be Becky's.

hedgie · « **Reply #2340 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 21:03 »

I quite like Jocelyn's as well.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2341 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 21:05 »

Quote from: hedgie on 08 Apr 2016, 21:03

I quite like Jocelyn's as well.

Joyce's ain't bas. I appreciate all three final panels

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #2342 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 21:37 »

Yup. Dem faces.

BenRG · « **Reply #2343 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 23:20 »

JOYCE: "I had no intention of becoming a felon until my big sister suggested it, your honour. I blame our upbringing!"

Kugai · « **Reply #2344 on:** 08 Apr 2016, 23:34 »

And thus begins Jocelyn, Becky and Joyces criminal career.

Kugai · « **Reply #2345 on:** 10 Apr 2016, 15:22 »

Careful Joyce, your face could freeze that way

Kugai · « **Reply #2346 on:** 13 Apr 2016, 15:05 »

I missed three comics!!!

Well!! That was interesting!

chaospersonified · « **Reply #2347 on:** 13 Apr 2016, 21:04 »

Good lord, Dorothy, cursive is an anachronism. Ain't nobody can read cursive, even those few of us that can write it.

BenRG · « **Reply #2348 on:** 13 Apr 2016, 23:04 »

This is the point where Walky realises that his destiny is to ever be surrounded by determined and assertive women with powerful personalities who fully intend to make him what they want him to be!

Kugai · « **Reply #2349 on:** 14 Apr 2016, 15:45 »

It would appear that Walky is eternally damned to be surrounded by strong, assertive women that can kick his ass.

It's his curse

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Damn you, Willis! (Dumbing of Age) (Read 516094 times)