24. Sarah does not look a day over 24….because when this comic started she was at least two years older than I am and I don’t know how old she is but now she’s like at least four to five years younger than me!
She’s either 19 or 20, depending on when students in school system were allowed to start school. Because her birthday is in October, she probably had to wait until the year she turned 6 to start kindergarten. Because she’s now a sophomore in college, she’s probably 20.
She’s 20. Ruth and Billie discussed this in an earlier strip.
thejeff
Turning 20, right?
That still seems old to me. I was 19 my entire sophomore year and while I knew people who turned 20, that was later, in the spring.
I think the usual age to start school has shifted a bit later since my time though.
Seregiel
States have different cut off dates for school too. If she started in one state and moved to another half way through her education that would put her in the older group easily.
So that the many friends that both of them have managed to collect can celebrate their birth and no one needs to be left out. They can still poke out and see all the people who are happy to know them while having the safety of a place to retreat to. It’s pretty ideal really.
Hey, a question from a guy who is not ‘aware of all internet traditions’: Is there an equation for the “relatively younger age number you find flattering”?
(Age/100)+17
(Age/100)+18
(Age/100)+25
(Age+18)/2
Lowest age that if they told you they were still that age you would believe them.
Age-1
Based on your accomplishments and wisdom I would have guessed you were ten years older, based on your curiosity, energy level, memory, and agility I would have guessed you were ten years younger.
There are different types of charming. Sometimes people are charming because they’re so obviously at ease with themselves, you can’t help but feel that way, too. Some people have a rough charm, some people’s charm is more smooth. There are a lot of other examples I could mention here but the relevant one is this one: sometimes people who are chronically socially awkward for one reason or another decide that instead of feeling anxious about it, they’re just going to OWN that awkwardness and live with it the best they can. It might seem like a lot of work at first to get through a conversation with that person who stares at their own feet and blushes the whole time, but that person’s learned to make themselves blurt out “Sorry, I’m just very, very shy” at the start and if you give them even half a chance you find out that they’ve really got some cool stuff to say. (And, yes, this is a real person – it’s not me, just someone interesting I’ve met.)
The way Dina is written, I feel like she has that kind of charm.
Dina makes people feel more at ease because she puts zero pressure on others regarding social expectations. You follow the script of Appropriate Words and then sit in silence, it’s all good.
I will say this is more charming, because the other day I realized that there is actually a point where it’s not actually flattering to be told you look younger, in that my junior high teacher told me I hadn’t changed a bit.
I’m 35, and I had frequent crying jags in the middle of class back then, so the thought kind of horrified me.
Can Dina be canonically autistic? I really appreciate the representation as it stands, because I don’t see many characters who share my struggles (Dina is so relatable to me!) but I don’t recall it ever being explicitly stated, even though she shows all of the signs of it.
Reading that reminds me of the times I’ve wondered if I might have some undiagnosed form of autism. It seems like I fit some of the signs, but not others.
Sam
You don’t need to fit every sign to be autistic. As I have seen people say before, it tends to be more like a topping bar of symptoms rather than every autistic person is the exact same in symptoms. It can also overlap a lot with ADHD in terms of symptoms.
123 thoughts on “Overburdened”
Jen Aside
I hope it’s the cat’s birthday, too
BIRTHDAY CONVERGENCE
Regalli
Have we named the cat yet? If not, I suggest Pizza Cat.
vitalProximity
All the pizza that was left in the box when Sarah was surprised by Dina has magically teleported into Pizza Cat’s tummy.
(It’s a Dina-Catspiracy)
fire_daws
Garlic Bread Kitty
Slartibeast Button, BIA
I saw what you did there, Calzone Lass.
a/snow/mous/e
That’d be neat!
Doctor_Who
It’s the Triceratop. It adds +4 charisma points.
The other 96 are all Dina.
King Daniel
With that much Charisma, she must be an Epic-level Sorcerer!
…huh, that would explain the invisibility/teleportation…
a/snow/mous/e
What’s really surprising is that nobody thought of that sooner!
abysswatcher1993
Thanks goodness Dina is a good person. If someone got her triceratops hat there would be a repetition of the high charisma hat from SAO Abridged.
abysswatcher1993
Triceratops hoodie.
thejeff
Or of wearing a lizard on your head from some webcomic I can’t quite place.
anonamousethatscurriesinthedarkness
Webcomic? There are a few out there now. [SHET SHET SHET]
TV series? Can’t think of the name but the hair was always frizzy.
Bicycle Bill
Actually, wasn’t it a newspaper cartoon that first had the lizard?
Marsh Maryrose
Foxtrot, Quincy the iguana, usually perched on Jason’s head
LeslieBean4shizzle
And a smooth SAOA reference? My cup runneth over.
(and yes, I checked Joyce and Walky before Dumbing)
ValdVin
Funny, we’re just thru a “How is this somehow still charming?” arc for Walky on the other side.
No wonder those two got together in one universe.
JetstreamGW
“How is this somehow still charming” is a great book title.
Tan
Dumbing of Age Book 10: How is this somehow still charming? I do not know!
(the question and answer together are important, I think)
JetstreamGW
I think it’s better without it.
Book 10: How is This Somehow Still Charming?
It’s snarky.
Lokitsu
Except that Walky and Dina together were a train wreck.
ValdVin
Oh, yes, they were very different people who were very different types of still charming. But still…
Chaucer59
The world needs more Dinas.
Jess
Two important questions: what’s the cat’s name and whose cat is it!!
Stephen Bierce
I Been Through The Boudoir With A Cat With No Name…
Geneseepaws
That was on the First album by the Beagles, right?
vitalProximity
Two contradictory answers: 1) It’s Sarah’s cat now, b****! 2) Don’t you mean, who belongs to the cat?
ValdVin
Yeah, the cat seems to have claimed Sarah pretty successfully.
AbelUndercity
Since Willis won’t tag the cat, I hereby dub them Tag, the Cat.
Clif
No, no. It’s PizzaCat.
Kamino Neko
It looks NOTHING like Speedy or Polly.
King Daniel
#TagTheCat
hof1991
It’s The Cat who Walks Through Walls. Explains the teleportation.
Seregiel
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-10/01-birthday-pursuit/designated/
Name might be unknown if wacky hijinx are afoot.
Jess
I had completely forgotten that. Good on Becky.
Sirksome
24. Sarah does not look a day over 24….because when this comic started she was at least two years older than I am and I don’t know how old she is but now she’s like at least four to five years younger than me!
Norah
She’s either 19 or 20, depending on when students in school system were allowed to start school. Because her birthday is in October, she probably had to wait until the year she turned 6 to start kindergarten. Because she’s now a sophomore in college, she’s probably 20.
Nono
She’s 20. Ruth and Billie discussed this in an earlier strip.
thejeff
Turning 20, right?
That still seems old to me. I was 19 my entire sophomore year and while I knew people who turned 20, that was later, in the spring.
I think the usual age to start school has shifted a bit later since my time though.
Seregiel
States have different cut off dates for school too. If she started in one state and moved to another half way through her education that would put her in the older group easily.
Bagge
I really enjoy how Dina acknowledges that she navigates this social situation by following a script she doesn’t understand… yet totally nails it!
vitalProximity
Same! She is so on point. <3
Jamie
Practicing your white voice is an important part of growing up!
Delicious Taffy
Practicing your what, now? I’d look it up, but I don’t really need that pair of words, in that order, in my search history.
Clif
I suspect a spell-correct incident, but maybe not.
thejeff
It’s a traditional Eastern European style of singing. What that has to do with this, I don’t have the faintest idea. 🙂
JBento
She’s not the only one. The difference is that I keep the script in my head and I’m immensely proud of myself whenever I only fuck it up a little.
Suet
That’ll just be weird, looking older when turning older. Us? Nah, we’ll never look old.
Luck did not favor Dina when she had to be given social attributes, and thus, hi-jinx galore
Needfuldoer
Between cosmetics and plastic surgery, I bet humanity spends trillions every year on the war on aging.
Mra
Two people a pizza and a cat, that is the best party an introvert could ask for
sultryglebe
This does seem perfect for Sarah.
Felian
I’m glad the party planners gave them this quiet room to actually celebrate the way they like it. The question is, why does the other room exist 😛
Terry
So that the many friends that both of them have managed to collect can celebrate their birth and no one needs to be left out. They can still poke out and see all the people who are happy to know them while having the safety of a place to retreat to. It’s pretty ideal really.
Makkabee
Because it’s more fun for Sarah to be in a room by herself when she gets to snub a whole room full of other people to do so.
Keulen
That sounds like a pretty good party to me.
Corlanthis
It’s because you’re currently petting a (presumably) purring cat, Sarah. That’s why!
ValdVin
Hey, a question from a guy who is not ‘aware of all internet traditions’: Is there an equation for the “relatively younger age number you find flattering”?
Jamie
No, because it’s too individually subjective. The XKCD dateable age equation works because it’s calculating society’s opinion.
Clif
No. What individuals find flattering varies erratically.
TemperaryObsessor
(Age/100)+17
(Age/100)+18
(Age/100)+25
(Age+18)/2
Lowest age that if they told you they were still that age you would believe them.
Age-1
Based on your accomplishments and wisdom I would have guessed you were ten years older, based on your curiosity, energy level, memory, and agility I would have guessed you were ten years younger.
Su Xing
There are different types of charming. Sometimes people are charming because they’re so obviously at ease with themselves, you can’t help but feel that way, too. Some people have a rough charm, some people’s charm is more smooth. There are a lot of other examples I could mention here but the relevant one is this one: sometimes people who are chronically socially awkward for one reason or another decide that instead of feeling anxious about it, they’re just going to OWN that awkwardness and live with it the best they can. It might seem like a lot of work at first to get through a conversation with that person who stares at their own feet and blushes the whole time, but that person’s learned to make themselves blurt out “Sorry, I’m just very, very shy” at the start and if you give them even half a chance you find out that they’ve really got some cool stuff to say. (And, yes, this is a real person – it’s not me, just someone interesting I’ve met.)
The way Dina is written, I feel like she has that kind of charm.
Mollyscribbles
Dina makes people feel more at ease because she puts zero pressure on others regarding social expectations. You follow the script of Appropriate Words and then sit in silence, it’s all good.
Marie
Wait. She has a cat now? Kitttttttyyyyyyyyeeeeee!!1!
Mollyscribbles
The cat adopted her.
Mollyscribbles
I will say this is more charming, because the other day I realized that there is actually a point where it’s not actually flattering to be told you look younger, in that my junior high teacher told me I hadn’t changed a bit.
I’m 35, and I had frequent crying jags in the middle of class back then, so the thought kind of horrified me.
Annika
Can Dina be canonically autistic? I really appreciate the representation as it stands, because I don’t see many characters who share my struggles (Dina is so relatable to me!) but I don’t recall it ever being explicitly stated, even though she shows all of the signs of it.
Chiatroll
I thought she was.
Rabid Rabbit
Willis answered this a while ago: https://dumbingofage.tumblr.com/post/124121859452/hi-willis-community-clips-are-great-and-all-but
Keulen
Reading that reminds me of the times I’ve wondered if I might have some undiagnosed form of autism. It seems like I fit some of the signs, but not others.
Sam
You don’t need to fit every sign to be autistic. As I have seen people say before, it tends to be more like a topping bar of symptoms rather than every autistic person is the exact same in symptoms. It can also overlap a lot with ADHD in terms of symptoms.