225

Sympathy
Posted on February 17, 2014 by David M Willis
FRESHMAN FAMILY WEEKEND IS OVER END OF STORYLINE NEW ONE TOMORROW

225 thoughts on “Sympathy”

  1. Jen Aside

    WOW LONG WEEKEND

    1. Jen Aside

      also, adorablest sympathy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

      1. Leorale

        Yay Dina helps.

        1. Kyrros

          Clever girl…

          (sorry, had to be done)

        2. Aeron

          No apologies, it is the most apt response.

    2. aischylos

      DAT SMILE

    3. Throng

      Seriously- holy hell, that was a busy weekend!

  2. shadowcell

    dina is good people

    1. Tunaro

      Dina is the BEST people

      1. NCP19

        One might even say she is BESTEST people because rules of grammar be damned when it comes to Dina.

        1. Pic

          Rules of grammar? They’re more what you’d call “guidelines”.

        2. Accidental

          More like friendly suggestions.

    2. Opus the Poet

      Dina is plusgood people.

      1. Renadt

        No, she is doubleplus good people

        1. lejwocky

          She’s a real horrorshow devotchka.

        2. Sir Wafflington

          Okay, Alex, we get it

        3. Yarrr

          Dina on laced milk… that would be… something interestin’.

        4. Sir Wafflington

          I think Sal would be more fit for drinking milk-plus.

        5. Jaxx Sentinel

          nah , Dina is such plusgood that milk-plus would just add to her power

    3. Gul Garak

      Dina is better than people, Dina is good dinosaur.

  3. BlackIo

    Aw. She’s learning.

    1. Mr. Random

      Not only learning, but proper use, and intent.

      1. saltchocolate

        By George, I think she’s got it!

    2. 6Qubed

      Clever girl. :3

    3. Dranorter

      Special moves are more effective when you announce their names.

      1. Bill

        You really should announce your weapons *after* you fire them.

        1. das-g

          Lipstick-Tazer!

  4. David Herbert

    Sometimes a pat on the shoulder is just as good as a hug. Though hugs are better.

  5. Goat

    It’s nice to see Dina again.

    1. WaveRocker

      It sure is. I think we needed this

    2. Lumino

      Well, at least her hand.

      1. DEG1377

        And a small portion of her hat.

  6. NCP19

    I want a shirt with that on it. To go with the Dina hat.

  7. Kernanator

    I’m helping.

  8. addude

    Good job Dina

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Clever Girl

      1. lejwocky

        LIGHT PHYSICAL CONTACT HER!!

        1. Ragero

          When i saw your avatar…. I imagined Dale saying “This one has potential” XDDDD

  9. Triniking

    d’awww?

    1. TacosForever

      D’AWWW

      1. WaveRocker

        D’AWWWWW

        1. Zababcd

          I read that in the voice of a T-Rex.

        2. Allcool-dontcare

          I read it in nigel’s voice. D’awwwlawwgh youtube.com/watch?v=liCKrHyatVs

    2. bibulb

      TOTALLY d’awww.

    3. saltchocolate

      No question about it!

    4. ocbrad1

      Absolutely! Yay Dina!

  10. GoogerGeiger

    Dumbing of Days.

  11. Phil

    How nice. Exclamation mark.

  12. Doctor_Who

    “Thanks, Dina.”
    “Sympathy via warm smile.”
    “This actually helps.”
    “Sympathy via spooning?”
    “Uh, no, I think we’ll stop at ‘warm smile’ for now.”

    1. Yotomoe

      “Sympathy via Heavy Petting?”

      1. saltchocolate

        “Sympathy licky-style?”

        1. asmcint

          “Sympathy strapon-style?”

        2. Heavensrun

          Well that escalated quickly.

        3. Reaver

          Heavensrun that’s the best gravatar ever for that

        4. Kyrros

          Yeah, Aslan is pretty chill dude…

        5. Jen Aside

          You skipped the obvious “Sympathy via Perform a Sex” or “Sympathy via You’ll See Some Serious Clit”

        6. Leonou

          Meanwhile, Mike is giving “Sympathy via a Nickel” to mothers everywhere.

  13. Spectre

    And so ends yet another dumb day in the Dumbiverse.

    Best of luck, Amber. The dumbest is yet to come.

    1. Yotomoe

      That’s right. You’ll see Danny tomorrow.

      1. WaveRocker

        Hey, you changed your Gravatar!

        1. Yotomoe

          I wanted to decrease the likelihood that I’d be confused for a girl but increase the likelihood that I’m confused for a douche.

        2. Dante

          I wasn’t confused, I knew from the beginning you were a douche. :p Kidding of course. That is an interesting new Gravatar though, I have to admit. I keep forgetting to change mine…

        3. Drunken Nordmann

          Did other people beside me confuse you for a girl? oO

    2. 3oranges

      Tune in tomorrow – same Amazi-time, same Amazi-channel!

  14. Minder

    Well. One dumb day is just the start to your…

    DUMBING OF AGE

  15. Wonder Wig

    It was a dumbing of age weekend.

  16. The Learned Hand

    I fucking love this comic.
    I fucking love Dina.

  17. Van Dyne

    WHAT NO THE CHAPTER STARTED WITH NAKED WALKERTONS IT MUST END WITH NAKED WALKERTONS

    1. Bill

      The chapter started with a face (Joyce) and a hand (Sal’s).
      The naked Walkerton came one panel later….
      And it ends with a face (Amber) and a hand (Dina’s)
      And we had a naked Walkerton in the preceding panel.
      So there is a symmetry, sort of.

  18. Tom Speelman

    DINA WINS!!! Adorability!

    1. Doctor_Who

      “Friendship!”

  19. nothri

    Anyone wanna place a bet on the number of “Dina performs a sex” comments this strip spawns?

    1. Yotomoe

      Damnit.

      1. Doctor_Who

        Wow, and one comment later, too. That’s hilarious.

    2. MM

      Can I bet on “Dina uses light physical contact. It’s super-effective!” instead?

      1. Bill

        Dina uses ’empathy’.
        It’s super-effective.

    3. Jackson

      I was thinking something along the lines of “Dina Performs a Sympathy”, but I figured even variants were a bit overplayed by now.

  20. Yotomoe

    …
    Dina performs a sex?

    1. derick

      Dina performs a physical contact, and for a first time, it is quite heartwarming.

      1. Lou

        ^This. Although everything she does is heartwarming.

  21. DocHarleen

    Aw, very cute!

  22. Plasma Mongoose

    Dina’s has got the touch…

    1. Yotomoe

      SHE’S GOT THE POWAH!!!

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        YEAH!

    2. Rex Hondo

      Great, now I’m imagining Faz dumping Blaine out an airlock and Blaine being rebuilt by Unicron.

      1. Jay Eff

        And then New Blaine has Leonard Nimoy’s voice for the rest of the movie. But when the TV series starts up again, he suddenly sounds like the guy who ran Warner Bros. on Animaniacs.

        1. Kelly

          Who’s voiced by Eric Idle?

        2. espanolbot

          Roz.

  23. JAD

    Amber’s most perfectest roommate?

    1. BalRog gets a "D"...and PASSES!!!

      ♥♥♥♥♥♥…LOVE THIS COMMENT…♥♥♥♥♥♥

  24. Tacdud2

    Oh Dina.

  25. Teppy

    Posting for the first time just to join in the love for Dina. SO MUCH LOVE.

  26. AgentKeen

    Awwww.

    (In before the cries for ‘Dina and Amber perform a sex” >.> )

    1. AgentKeen

      Nope, never mind, Yotomoe beat me.

      1. Yotomoe

        But Nothri beat me…

        1. AgentKeen

          I noticed that after the second post. Whoo, bronze?

  27. JessWitt

    Here’s to better times ahead for Amber. May the drama llama go easy on her.

    1. Kiggy

      AMEN. BROTHA!!!!

  28. motorfirebox

    *snff* Just… just got some sand in my eye is all.

    1. Opus the Poet

      Pollen, it’s only pollen…

    2. -Sentinel-

      Liquid pride.

      1. Kyrros

        Go back to nickels and mothers… nothing to see here

  29. Rob S

    HNNG

  30. Andrew

    I Reeeealy hope thats dina

    1. Dean

      A serial killer has crept into the dorm room, and is patting Amber’s shoulder with Dina’s severed hand.

      1. AgentKeen

        And wearing her scalp since we all know that green ‘hat’ is really a part of Dina.

      2. Doctor_Who

        At least he’s reenacting that scene from Jurassic Park where Laura Dern thinks she’s been pat on the shoulder by Samuel L. Jackson, but it’s actually his severed arm.

        Dina would want to go out in a way that reminds everyone of dinosaurs.

        1. StClair

          How bad is it that I totally thought of that further up the chain?

        2. Heavensrun

          “Ray, you’re alive! And you…have both arms!?”

          “What? Sure I’ve got both arms, why wouldn’t I?”

          “Because…a black guy’s arm…It fell on me. We thought you were dead!”

          “Oh, I see. So a black arm falls on you, and you just -assume- it’s mine!”

        3. xKiv

          Dina would want to go out …
          … in a cataclysmatic rain of meteors that drives many species extinct?

  31. TacosForever

    I LOVE YOU DINA

    I am aware this is not a particularly unique sentiment.

  32. timemonkey

    Dina makes everything better.

  33. etybolik

    This is a good feel.

  34. Alan Leipzig

    Well, Mister Spock, you’re becoming more human every day.

    1. Kyrros

      Frankly, Captain… I find that remark, insulting.

  35. Salmo

    “Amber?”
    “Yes, Dina?”
    “What does ‘thumpasprung’ mean?”

  36. Pyr05

    Dina’s so thoughtful. Clever girl indeed.

  37. Jack Finch

    Wow! I had no idea so little time had passed.
    Also Dina is so right minded. Daaaw!

  38. Fuzzydaemon

    D’awwwww. So sweet. Love Amber’s smile.

  39. Lilith

    awww… I love Dina.

  40. Idon'tcarenomore

    Sweet Dina. Love her ..light touch.

  41. Idon'tcarenomore

    Dumb day. Understatement of the decade.

  42. Menocu

    Dina for the win.

  43. Deathjavu

    Thank christ that weekend is over, it seems like it lasted for months! Or four months, even!

    1. Deathjavu

      In my haste to make a joke, I vastly underestimated how long this weekend has actually been going.

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2013/comic/book-3/04-just-hangin-out-with-my-family/isee-2/

      7 months, give or take, and almost all of it horrific (though on the latter, I can hardly fault Willis for realism).

      1. David

        So to make this comic pass in realtime, we need hundred updates per day.

        At the current rate, none of this comic’s readership is likely to survive two semesters in the Dumbiverse.

        1. John

          Yeah, I’ve done that math before, and… I’ve gotten used to the idea that there are ongoing stories that I follow that I might not see finished because the author might not live long enough (e.g., Song of Ice and Fire), but the thought that I might not see them finished because I might not live long enough was new and depressing.

        2. David Willis

          If Dumbing of Age ended, it wouldn’t be tied to how old its characters are. The story doesn’t end when the characters leave college, but when the story itself ends. College is just a setting.

        3. John

          Yeah, but it looks to me – and of course I’m only guessing at where you’re going with this thing – like it’s a story that, even with the “omg all this has happened in only three weeks?” compression, I think has to have at least months of comic time in it. How long has it taken you to grow from that fundie dude who drew Roomies! to the Porn Czar that you are today? If we’re watching Joyce walk a similar path, at a real-time year per DoA week…

          So I’m figuring that you could easily draw DoA for the rest of your life if you wanted to, without doing a disservice to the story. And I’m a few years older than you are, so if DoA runs ’til three months after you kick the bucket, odds are I’m missing the last few years of it.

  44. Alex Stritar

    How’s she supposed to know that, Willis? How is she supposed to know the subtleties of sympathetic light touches when she only learned that today? Stupid unwritten rules of human contact.

    1. Nightsbridge

      A good guess?

    2. begbert2

      Wasn’t Amber giving her training? She might have mentioned this part in between strips.

  45. Flimsy

    Dina performs a sympathetic touch to strengthen the bonds between her and a random college roommate…

    I tried too hard, I’ll show myself out.

    1. Andrusi

      No, no, I think you’re onto something.

  46. Mattyos

    Dina is definitely caboose….cause everyone likes her…and she likes herself too

  47. Emoroffle

    She’s getting better at this.

  48. TemplarKnight

    D’awwwww.

  49. Darwin

    Dina: Best friend to have during the worst of times and the best of times. I wish everybody could be like Dina.

    1. HEYOUGUYZ!

      imagine that as hard as you can. Fill in the details.

      1. Deathjavu

        Society collapses because everyone is only well versed and interested in dinosaurs, as opposed to engineering, law, non-dinosaur related scientific research, farming, policing, manufacturing, medicine, etc. etc. etc.

        The human race goes extinct within ~50 years, not just because of societal collapse, but because every single living human is now female, thus preventing reproduction.

        (did I imagine it too hard?)

        1. MM

          A little. The real problem is that nobody’s quite sure when they can come out from behind the door.

        2. ninja_jesus

          You can’t study dinosaurs without science, and you can’t live on studying dinosaurs alone. So instead of society collapsing, we would see a major socio-economic shift in which human societies center itself around studying dinosaurs.

        3. Shadlyn

          Moreover, in learning the history and tragedy of the dinosaurs, the world of Dinas would recognize the importance of the environment, of keeping an eye on the sky, of preparing defenses against dangers far more pernicious than merely “each other.”

          A world of Dinas is a world of peace. Literal-minded, obsessive peace, but peace.

        4. Cybersnark

          And that “keeping an eye on the sky” would lead inevitably to an understanding of other planets, which science (via the principle of convergent evolution) suggests could be life-bearing, and which thus may contain still-living dinosaur-analogues.

          And so we begin researching means of interstellar travel, and develop a functional interplanetary civilization within a century.

        5. Bill

          Until we reach the DINOSAUR EVENT HORIZON!

        6. Deathjavu

          ‘and you can’t live on studying dinosaurs alone. ‘

          Surprisingly, that was the joke.

          Can you picture Dina as a farmer? Or a hunter-gatherer?

          It would not take long for society to collapse without food.

        7. Andrusi

          I don’t think all the humans being female would be a problem. They’ve all seen Jurassic Park, after all.

        8. Scolopendra

          Life finds a way. 😉

  50. Myrcella's Ear

    DIIIIIIINNNNAAAAAA! My precious angel finally reappears.

  51. WaveRocker

    Thank you Willis. We needed this :]

  52. Ben

    Dina, I love you. Can we be best friends… or at least good acquaintances? Really I just wanna hang out. Is that possible? You can talk about dino’s all you want.

  53. newllend

    No today was a Danny day…well more like the last phew months were Danny months. thank you Dina

    1. newllend

      (Just read willises last phew tweets) eight months ago!? The SHIT!?

  54. Kiggy

    Awwwwww ^.^

  55. Turbo Sexaphonic Delight

    Dina casts Cure Light Emotional Wounds; Amber receives +2 Sanity.

    1. Opus the Poet

      +1

  56. rachel

    BREATHE Y’ALL BREATHE

    also awwwww dina you are just so NICE omg

  57. Glynvel

    Adorbs!!! This comic is strangely powerful to me. As someone that has worked in group homes for the last 10 years and has actually had the opportunity to do pretty much exactly what Amber did for Dina the feels that this brings up for me are stronger than they probably should be. It’s always a wonderful thing when you see the kind of progress that Dina has made here, especially with her melding of dry, scientific observation with emotional first-aid. And the look on Amber’s face just makes this for me. Good job Willis.

  58. saltchocolate

    Amber, there’s your reminder that you do some things right. Good Karma? Check!

  59. Robert

    I think Dina’s Parents are still stranded in the dorm. Check behind the door.

    1. Cheryl

      lol

  60. Quinn

    DINÀAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

  61. KittyK

    And this is why Dina is best character?

    1. zana

      this is why we love her more than danny

      1. begbert2

        If Danny snuck into Amber’s room to do this it would be creepy and would not go over well.

  62. CarlaGriffin

    Awwww, they are so cute! I totally friend-ship them!

  63. Matt

    Whatever happened with Amber’s mom? I mean, besides getting sexed by Joe’s dad. It seems like Amber would have tried to get in touch with her at some point to inform her that Blaine was on campus (I mean after that whole Amazi-Girl-ing but before the bedtime), or that someone would have informed campus security and they, in turn, would have called Amber’s mom.

    I guess she took off without saying goodbye, which is weird.

    1. Heavensrun

      As I recall, Amber eventually got a call from her mom and left to go meet with her. We didn’t really get to see much or any of the meeting, but presumably things went amicably, she mentioned that her dad had showed up at their room and after spending some time together her mom left, all under the assumption that Blaine had been escorted off campus and wouldn’t be returning that weekend.

  64. Dante

    Only one word. D’awww. :3

  65. LJoL

    So many people are loving Dina so I am going to pull a Willis and make all of you scream. Just because I can.

    Fact One: Dina is being taught how to treat people the way she feels.
    Fact Two: Dina loves bones.
    Fact Three: Willis has made several jokes about the removal of body parts.
    Fact Four: All of the Dumbing of Age cast have major faults that at times have led to some people hating them. Except Dina.

    Posit: Dina will become a serial killer who buries people under her house and in her backyard so she can express her feelings for people and their bones

    D’awww indeed. 😉

    1. David

      Nice idea, but it is Joyce who’s hailing from the home town of Belle Gunness. So it is more likely one of the Browns who will end up pursuing that hobby.

      1. The Candyman

        I call Jordan.

    2. zana

      Isn’t she already a cereal killer.

      1. Opus the Poet

        Yes, Fruity Pebbles (or the generic equivalent)

    3. timemonkey

      You say that like people wouldn’t still love her.

    4. Jenny Creed

      I could see her saving the femurs of her friends and family after they die, but the way she seems to enjoy being around living people probably means she’s in no hurry to kill anyone.

      1. David

        I think that if she had a choice, she’d prefer her dinosaur skeletons to be covered by living flesh. So I don’t see why she’d carve free the human bones she likes.

  66. IncadescentFlame

    Perhaps I should discuss Ornithocheirus flight patterns to be certain she is comforted…

    1. Gamaran Sepudomyn

      New fact learned: Ornitocheirus =/= azdarchid.

      1. The Candyman

        Who said it was?

  67. Glacirus

    When things go horribly drama-tastic…the simple gestures mean the most.

  68. wynne

    OH DINA.

  69. Coco

    Dina is best room mate. ;_;

  70. Robert Stoll

    Dwaaa. Perfect ending to a really deep story line.

  71. Robin

    I didn’t realize this before, but this past story line is split between book 3 and book 4. THAT’S HOW LONG IT WAS! IT DOESN’T EVEN FIT IN A SINGLE BOOK! (Also, seven months.)

  72. Mr. Morningstar

    Aw Dina.

    Please don’t kill her again Willis

  73. Rutee

    d’awwwwww, much <3 Dina.

  74. Kyle

    It’s super effective!

  75. Doom Shepherd

    That is the only type of sympathy I can express.

  76. JeanD

    Aaannwww, cute ♥

  77. Nym

    You are getting so good at this, Dina.

  78. davidbreslin101

    “….would it help if I preened your proto-feathers in a soothing manner?”

  79. Glacirus

    This makes up for the lack of Riley with cereal.

  80. FloydFan112

    WHY ARE WE SHOUTING?

  81. Gamaran Sepudomyn

    Dina performs a feels.

    Although I’m pretty sure “Postosuchus performs a Blaine” would be the more popular comic.

    Also, THANK YOU WILLIS! Or whatever the opposite of “DAMN YOU WILLIS” would be.

    1. David

      That would be BLESS ME WASISNT.

  82. Jenny Creed

    In search of emotional intimacy and support: Dina performs a light physical contact: The next level of porn, not available on Slipshine due to absence of nudity.

    Pretty please Willis? 😀

    1. Jenny Creed

      *mutual support, dangit

    2. begbert2

      You’re already looking at it.

      1. Jenny Creed

        This is a very bare bones version of that story. I crave decompressed, lingering over-the-shoulder action, which explores the hopes and dreams of the characters involved and gets us inside their heads and shows us how the event transforms them and deepens their relationship.

        1. arank11

          Actually, “Dina Performs a Light Physical Contact” could make a fairly decent porn. It just depends where said “Light Physical Contact” is performed

  83. Richie9999

    It amazes me to look at this and realize that in the time this comic has been running, I’ve finished my senior year of college and am now a little over half way through a fifth year to finish up my degree.

  84. Chubsius

    For some reason, Dina sounds like Starfire from Teen Titans when I read this strip.

  85. acher4

    This is so! Cute!

  86. Sailorcake

    Oh Dina your learning! 😀

  87. Arkadi

    Dina’s getting the hang of it, and it’s adorkable.

  88. brute

    AWWWW :3

  89. Sambo

    That is the most D’AWWWWW moment ever!

  90. Cragalanch

    Cragalanch hates to point it out, but odds are that Billie is as of now drinking herself into a coma

    1. arank11

      Dude, you totally just Willised the “dawwwww” moment!

      1. arank11

        “Willised” (Past tense) (v) Def: To turn a funny or generally happy moment into a heapload of drama and sorrow. The appropriate response to a “Willised” moment is a cry of “Damn you Willis!” followed by an immense stream of tears. (Please let this become a thing)

  91. cmd1095

    I find it both cute and a bit funny that Dina is so bad at showing sympathy that she just came full circle into being good at it

  92. OmegaDez

    Again, this whole chapter was nothing short of amazing. Well played, Willis.

  93. The Steve

    I work midnight shifts in the back room at Wal*Mart and this was a colossally shitty week. It’s the start of my weekend and I’m so tired I can’t get to sleep and I’m mega cranky. That said, the last panel with Amber’s smile made me smile and the day doesn’t feel so bad anymore. Thank you…

  94. Tenn

    Dina makes all the bad stuff go away.

    Seriously, that last panel is so soothing, I’m just sitting here, relaxing, contemplating. Many minutes passed between this paragraph and the last.

    More minutes pass.

    This is the perfect end to a weekend so full of horrible things. This is the best anyone could do.

  95. GhostWriter

    Dina is accustomed to being booksmart and studying books to figure out the world around her, so her “How to interact with other people” book is actually working. Plus points on her being smart enough to apply the facts in said book to the situations she’s presented in real life. I can see her fleshing out into a really awesome character once she ‘graduates’ her reading material and, as any good scientist must, applies her book smarts to the world around her.

    I think her and Amber make a pretty awesome duo in that regard. Amber has all the “real world” experience (most of it bad) to educate Dina to how things are and possibly protect her from unwittingly getting into dangerous situations, and Dina has the book facts that show how things usually should be enough to possibly knock Amber out of her self-deprecating cycles and show that aspects of her life were/were done wrong because of the shittiness of other people (aka: Blaine) and that she does have a choice to feed into the cycle or not.

    1. NoHeart

      I concur

  96. WikiDreamer

    After a long day of any kind, one small act of kindness is all it takes. Thank you Dina

  97. scootwhoman

    For a comic, there definitely has been some heavy stuff going on.

    Thank you, Dina.

  98. hmmm e-yep...

    Dina must be, an Elcor, that has to be it.

  99. Vree

    Needs more angst.

  100. Fire Sidoni

    Yeah, I’m going to have to agree with a number of other people: that last panel makes a hellish week so much better. <3 Dina!

  101. kirwar4face

    “… Isn’t she a brick, Shekels?

    “Brick? She’s more than a brick, more than a thousand bricks—she’s a reptile!” – A Horse’s Tale

  102. Tufto

    This is the best DOA ever.

  103. The Magus

    Evidently when the Drama Tag was pre-pulled, all of the extra happiness and zaniness that was displaced by drama was siphoned into Dina. It’d explain how she somehow became even more adorable in the Dumbiverse….

Leave a Reply to Jenny Creed Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.