# So what's going on in Dumbing of Age? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047 "2020-03-07T06:09:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/21 "2020-05-01T15:45:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The current day in the strip started with [the January 8 strip](https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/02-to-remind-you-of-my-love/eternalbattle/). …later that same day. Any predictions for when this one day story line will get wrapped up? May? June? July? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/22 "2020-05-01T16:30:47Z")
[Willis has said June 23.](https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/blog/blanket-content-warning-for-this-new-storyline/) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/23 "2020-05-08T05:09:56Z")
Okay, I officially have no idea now. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/24 "2020-05-08T05:44:47Z")
Well, Ross just died and Mike is still Heisenberg Mike, neither living nor dead ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/25 "2020-09-23T04:13:54Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Mike is not dead. Mike is dead. Officially. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/26 "2020-09-23T04:29:01Z")
Dark Mouse-over. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/27 "2020-09-23T04:34:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Why? It seems to me that having somebody they all knew die would be exactly the kind of dramatic tragedy Willis loves. And Mike seemed to be turning into a better person recently which means he experienced character growth and can now die. Keeping him around after the character growth would mean figuring out a new role for him in the narrative. He works better as a sad memory than as a living character. Internet points for me. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/28 "2020-09-24T01:30:18Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > the rest of the comic (which Willis has said probably won’t go past the first semester) Aaaand we’re into the next semester as well. Hm. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/29 "2023-04-25T05:35:11Z")
Re-opening this thread because I’m once again confused. Specifically by the (apparently) new character who has appeared in the last three strips. She seems to have some significant issue with disjointed time perception. Is this referring to something I’m supposed to understand? Side-note: Willis always tags the characters who appear in each strip to make it easier to backtrack and catch up on them. Even the really obscure background characters. But this new character doesn’t have a tag. Is this because Willis hasn’t revealed her name yet? Or is there some other reason? ---
**Author:** ![pseudograph](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pseudograph/32/19768_2.png) [@pseudograph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudograph)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/30 "2023-04-25T09:54:26Z")
Looks like Booster, so I’m assuming their twin sister. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/31 "2023-04-25T10:55:33Z")
It’s a running gag it seems its usually done as a comedy break in between more serious storylines… it’s like the 2nd or 3rd time it’s been done the premise is Carlas being an obnoxious twit with her “everyone has to pay attention to me” bit and keeps running into boosters twin sister whos not very aware of much around her let alone carla … ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/32 "2023-04-25T17:20:27Z")
Is her behavior suppose to signify some mental condition like ADHD? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/33 "2024-07-01T06:14:51Z")
Confused once again. What is Becky talking about? Leslie’s mention of “keep using the words” makes me think that this is a discussion of transitioning. And what’s the significance of her apologizing to her dead mother? Is her comment of “I’d rather die” supposed to be a reference to committing suicide? Is there supposed to be some subtle juxtapositions between what Becky is saying and the other conversations going on in the room between Jennifer and Ruth or Carla and Charlie? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/34 "2024-09-23T04:19:18Z")
When is Willis going to release the annotated version of this webcomic? Until then, here’s my current confusion. Is the thing about people with mental issues wearing hats real? Or is it something that only exists in this webcomic? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/35 "2024-09-28T05:40:22Z")
Bumping in hopes that somebody else will at least post that I’m not the only person still reading this webcomic. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/36 "2024-10-01T14:30:54Z")
{raises hand} Yes, I read it. I’m wondering if the “heavy hat” works for concentration, or focusing. If I had headphones on with some Bach I could work longer than without. I have to find my knitted hat… My one problem is not being able to access the alt-text (title text?) on my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/37 "2024-10-01T14:53:42Z")
The alt-text for that strip was “there’s six other identical dina hats under her current dina hat”. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/38 "2024-10-01T17:43:01Z")
Thanks – eventually I get to the computer to read it. To bad android can’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/39 "2025-05-20T15:36:21Z")
Willis makes a self-deprecating joke about the pace of his story in today’s alt-text. [Joyce has found a “new” song she likes. Joe makes fun of the song being popular back in 2010.](https://www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/book-15/04-the-only-exception/hmmmmhmm/) The alt-text is “to be fair, for them it was 2010 six months ago”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047/40 "2026-06-18T17:31:29Z")
As you can see, I’m still reading this webcomic. In a shocking development, this week two characters revealed they are bisexual. (This time it’s Amber and Lucy.) This is shocking because Willis is running out of straight characters to turn gay. Here are the characters who are LGBTQ so far: Alice, Amber, Asher, Asma, Becky, Billie, Booster, Carla, Danny, Dina, Dorothy, Ethan, Jocelyne, Joyce, Leslie, Lucy, Malaya, Marcia, Mike, Robin, and Ruth. Here are the characters who are straight: Jacob, Jason, Joe, Sal, Sarah, and Walky. I think Willis has used the plot of “character who thought they were straight realizes they are LGTBQ” over twenty times. At what point should Willis’ wife be worried? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-on-in-dumbing-of-age/849047.md?page=1)