TRUST me she’s immune to influence. Well most of it anyways. Having lived a similar Christian life as Joyce, I can relate. Influence really hasn’t taken a strong hold, I’m more of the influence on others.
If what happened in the other universe is any indication, all it’s going to take is a willing guy, and she’ll be into premarital hanky-panky in a heartbeat.
There is a certain image that Religiously constrained people of this age are prone to break down and partake of everything they’ve been denied.
Of course, the distinction is whether or not they’re legitimate believers or not. Someone like Joyce doesn’t feel like she’s been oppressed or denied any joy or opportunities. It’s quite likely that she just plain does not desire what Billie has to offer.
Of course, if you don’t believe then you leave the house, find yourself free of an oppressive influence for the first time since conception, and it’s not unheard of for such a person to just flatout break loose. Enjoy all the vices and excess they’ve either never gotten to try, or just no longer need to hide. Even if they just hold a lot of doubt, haven’t ever really considered it so much as gone with the flow of it all, they’re highly susceptible to new ideas.
It’s not really a matter of being immune to to Christianity. It’s just a matter of having beliefs at all. Joyce is opposed to drinking in excess (drinking at all?) the same way Sarah is. There’s not a whole lot of risk of her being swayed the same way Billie would have her work cut out for her if she decided to try and bring Sarah into this.
Though admittedly, with Joyce’s background the way it is, who knows if she has a faith that’s nonreliant on her family or religious community or not? It’s unlikely she’s ever been put in a position to question any of this before, and heaven knows the questions are all being asked in pretty rapid succession now. We’ll see how she handles it.
False actually, it isn’t related whether to the fact they -really- believe or not, but whether they actually think the things denied to them are that important to their beliefs (rather just their parents and churches opinion) or even if their minds can be changed in that area. You can still be a christian and a drunk just like you can be one and any other vice at all. Plus of course a fair few people lose religious beliefs in university. And lots of them -were- true believers.
And college changes people in general. You can become a more liberal christian for instance and shockingly, some christians do actually drink (not that excess is necessarily required) and some of them are drunks too. Hell, you don’t neeed to be ‘sasp’ liberal even to do so, conservatives also can drink to excess for a cornicopia of reasons.
So no, a kid suddenly engaging in certain experiments does not mean they’re not true believers at all. They can still believe, it’s just they perhaps believe those beliefs don’t necessarily conflict with this behaviour.
gangler
You can still be a christian and drink, so long as you’re in a sect that allows for that. I’m assuming Joyce is not part of such a sect, simply based on the general allowances behavior wise and the “My parents didn’t let me do anything” statement.
If her doctrine allowed for her to engage in such activity then I don’t see how her religion would even be relevant.
Admittedly my statements were broad, but once again I think it’s pretty plain that I’d be refering to Christian sects that don’t drink, seeing as otherwise the religion wouldn’t be a relevant variable. Catholic man drinks in college and he’s just a man drinking, the same as any other. He didn’t drink because he was or wasn’t catholic. It was never an issue.
Random Webcomics Junkie
Even if Joyce’s beliefs DID permit alcoholic beverages, I’m sure they have some pretty strong rules about obeying the law, and the drinking age in the US is 21, not to mention the dry campus policy that’s been mentioned previously in the comic.
Joyce’s drinking, at least here and now, would almost certainly conflict with the beliefs she holds now. Just wanted to clear that up. I think she will eventually crack at least a little, but it’s unlikely that it will start by her getting wasted.
I know a bunch of kosher-keeping Jews who have absolutely no desire to ever taste a cheeseburger or anything they’ve been “denied”. Absolutely none, not a drop of curiosity to the matter. Maybe faith is a strong barrier afterall.
Lunchbox
It’s more of not knowing what it tastes like. I have a Hindu friend who’s been a vegetarian since she was small, and she hasn’t tasted a cheeseburger. She doesn’t know how good (or bad) it is, so why should she want it?
After being a vegetarian for three years, I’ve forgotten so much about the taste of meat that I’m pretty much the same in some respects.
On the topic of whether Joyce’ll ‘crack’, the phrase ‘My parents never let me do anything’ is a big clue. I doubt she’s incredibly resentful, but it sounds like she feels as if she’s missed out at times. She probably won’t go off the walls, but I’d be amazed if she doesn’t change by the end of this.
I agree. It’s the same with allergies. Even if the allergy wears off as the kid gets older (and especially if it doesn’t), they still have no desire to taste whatever it was that made them react.
My mom is allergic to chocolate and that’s fine with her, because she doesn’t like the taste of it. My cousin has no desire whatsoever to consume peanut products. His sister, however, was just recently told she can no longer have lactose or gluten. Because she grew up eating those things, she misses them.
gangler
I’m not fond of milk, with the very background you describe (allergic during childhood, grew out of it). I’ll drink milk socially, but I’d never seek out a glass of the stuff.
It would be kind of nice if Billie overheard that, took a moment to think, and began to, y’know, drink less find a real identity in life, be nicer to others…
Yeah, it’s too early in the strip for that kind of realization. We’re not going to see that until she hits rock bottom and she does something that will either nearly ruin her life or someone else’s.
Oh, yeah. Forgot about the flask. That would inform Sarah’s opinion just a wee bit.
That said, I think Joyce deserves more credit here. When you aren’t conditioned to believe that unlimited quantities of alcohol are the be-all and end-all of having a good time, it’s surprisingly easy to resist going nuts with the stuff.
Shes my second favorite next to grown up Joyce (though technically since thats in Its Walky! and not here, DoA…)! Guess shes my favorite character so far. ^ ^
She does judge fast and is bitter, but no one can blame her after all shes been through, and she definitely hit the nail on the mark in her analysis of Billie.
Agreed. She’s been through this before after all. The act she’s not afraid to call someone like Billie on their impending train wreck isn’t a bad thing. Frankly, I wish I had that kind of foresight when it comes to people.
@.@ You and me both! I’m a terrible judge of character because I’m too shy to get to know the person better and I refuse to see the bad in them unless its to such a high, high extremity and even then…s:
Discussion (115) - “Frathouse”
Chrisby
Your mom’s not immune to my penis’s influence.
Henry
For a nickel.
Roborat
In her face.
Hannover Fist
IN A CAVE, WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!!!
thomas0comer
The level of influence! IT’S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!!1
RandomPerson12
Someone’s mom is getting fucked in her face for a nickel in a cave with a box of scraps? I think I need to rewatch Iron Man…
Henry
Joyce is above the influence.
Parismio
When she’s not trying to turn ppl into jesus-loving catholics!
R
Oh no! Catholics aren’t real christians.
Parismio
wrong c-word?
calendarman27
weeelllll…i do have some christian friends who act like c-words, but they’re hardly representative of the whole faith
calendarman27
she’s high on christ
Henry
“Jesus: My anti-drug”?
calendarman27
christianity: methadone for the soul
Kira
Religion: The opiate for the masses~Karl Marx
Plasma Mongoose
Communion: Cannibalism for Catholics.
(They claim that the wafers and wine turn into Jesus’s flesh and blood every Sunday)
beeftony
And that’s not even getting into the Eucharist.
Kaolla
Religion: The opiate for the masses~Karl Marx
I guess that makes breasts my anti-drug. :3
Plasma Mongoose
At least it’s cheaper than anime, which is MY anti-drug.
G.S.Mercs
It was established that Joyce is not Catholic, but Protestant.
OmegaDez
For most americans that I know, Christians and Protestants are synonymous. If they know what a protestant it at all.
For the rest of the world, they aren’t.
Brendan
That’s not entirely fair; something like 14% of Americans are Catholic, but concentrated in the Northeast and Southwest.
1Samildanach
Joyce IS the influence.
RandomPerson12
She’s not Catholic…
Jen Aside
LALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU THINGS THAT WILL CHANGE MY WORLD VIEW!!!
Ah, Joyce.
David Herbert
Jesus gives immunisation shots to his followers. Mine tasted like strawberry.
Henry
Strawberry? Odd. Mine tasted like chocolate.
calendarman27
he just punched me in the stomach and gave me the “i’m watching you bongo” symbol….oddly enough i tasted bananas afterwords
David Herbert
That’s because he knows you don’t love him.
calendarman27
it’s not that i don’t love him, it’s just that i don’t know if i’m in love with him yet. dude just needs to give “us” time y’know?
dchorror
Appropriate, given your avatar.
I ducked out of the religion before they gave me the shot. I always imagined it’d taste like sugar.
Henry
Aww. I wanted bananas…
sarahlost36
you don’t really believe that was strawberry or chocolate you were having do you? oh sly lord, you do move in mysterious ways.
RandomPerson12
I got bacon
Rikushadow5
With his penis.
RandomPerson12
No.
daughterofthestars
Wait, I’m confused, how do you taste an immunization shot? Aren’t those given with… y’know… needles?
daughterofthestars
Woah, my icon stayed the same person but got like, a thousand times better.
Random Webcomics Junkie
Not if the immunisation comes in a shot glass.
Although it’s possible to avoid tasting it that way, too.
1Samildanach
Mine tasted like grape and almonds.
Digidestined of Trust (Tim)
TRUST me she’s immune to influence. Well most of it anyways. Having lived a similar Christian life as Joyce, I can relate. Influence really hasn’t taken a strong hold, I’m more of the influence on others.
Bekah
If what happened in the other universe is any indication, all it’s going to take is a willing guy, and she’ll be into premarital hanky-panky in a heartbeat.
gangler
There is a certain image that Religiously constrained people of this age are prone to break down and partake of everything they’ve been denied.
Of course, the distinction is whether or not they’re legitimate believers or not. Someone like Joyce doesn’t feel like she’s been oppressed or denied any joy or opportunities. It’s quite likely that she just plain does not desire what Billie has to offer.
Of course, if you don’t believe then you leave the house, find yourself free of an oppressive influence for the first time since conception, and it’s not unheard of for such a person to just flatout break loose. Enjoy all the vices and excess they’ve either never gotten to try, or just no longer need to hide. Even if they just hold a lot of doubt, haven’t ever really considered it so much as gone with the flow of it all, they’re highly susceptible to new ideas.
It’s not really a matter of being immune to to Christianity. It’s just a matter of having beliefs at all. Joyce is opposed to drinking in excess (drinking at all?) the same way Sarah is. There’s not a whole lot of risk of her being swayed the same way Billie would have her work cut out for her if she decided to try and bring Sarah into this.
Though admittedly, with Joyce’s background the way it is, who knows if she has a faith that’s nonreliant on her family or religious community or not? It’s unlikely she’s ever been put in a position to question any of this before, and heaven knows the questions are all being asked in pretty rapid succession now. We’ll see how she handles it.
Heather
False actually, it isn’t related whether to the fact they -really- believe or not, but whether they actually think the things denied to them are that important to their beliefs (rather just their parents and churches opinion) or even if their minds can be changed in that area. You can still be a christian and a drunk just like you can be one and any other vice at all. Plus of course a fair few people lose religious beliefs in university. And lots of them -were- true believers.
And college changes people in general. You can become a more liberal christian for instance and shockingly, some christians do actually drink (not that excess is necessarily required) and some of them are drunks too. Hell, you don’t neeed to be ‘sasp’ liberal even to do so, conservatives also can drink to excess for a cornicopia of reasons.
So no, a kid suddenly engaging in certain experiments does not mean they’re not true believers at all. They can still believe, it’s just they perhaps believe those beliefs don’t necessarily conflict with this behaviour.
gangler
You can still be a christian and drink, so long as you’re in a sect that allows for that. I’m assuming Joyce is not part of such a sect, simply based on the general allowances behavior wise and the “My parents didn’t let me do anything” statement.
If her doctrine allowed for her to engage in such activity then I don’t see how her religion would even be relevant.
Admittedly my statements were broad, but once again I think it’s pretty plain that I’d be refering to Christian sects that don’t drink, seeing as otherwise the religion wouldn’t be a relevant variable. Catholic man drinks in college and he’s just a man drinking, the same as any other. He didn’t drink because he was or wasn’t catholic. It was never an issue.
Random Webcomics Junkie
Even if Joyce’s beliefs DID permit alcoholic beverages, I’m sure they have some pretty strong rules about obeying the law, and the drinking age in the US is 21, not to mention the dry campus policy that’s been mentioned previously in the comic.
Joyce’s drinking, at least here and now, would almost certainly conflict with the beliefs she holds now. Just wanted to clear that up. I think she will eventually crack at least a little, but it’s unlikely that it will start by her getting wasted.
SteveCharb
I know a bunch of kosher-keeping Jews who have absolutely no desire to ever taste a cheeseburger or anything they’ve been “denied”. Absolutely none, not a drop of curiosity to the matter. Maybe faith is a strong barrier afterall.
Lunchbox
It’s more of not knowing what it tastes like. I have a Hindu friend who’s been a vegetarian since she was small, and she hasn’t tasted a cheeseburger. She doesn’t know how good (or bad) it is, so why should she want it?
After being a vegetarian for three years, I’ve forgotten so much about the taste of meat that I’m pretty much the same in some respects.
On the topic of whether Joyce’ll ‘crack’, the phrase ‘My parents never let me do anything’ is a big clue. I doubt she’s incredibly resentful, but it sounds like she feels as if she’s missed out at times. She probably won’t go off the walls, but I’d be amazed if she doesn’t change by the end of this.
daughterofthestars
I agree. It’s the same with allergies. Even if the allergy wears off as the kid gets older (and especially if it doesn’t), they still have no desire to taste whatever it was that made them react.
My mom is allergic to chocolate and that’s fine with her, because she doesn’t like the taste of it. My cousin has no desire whatsoever to consume peanut products. His sister, however, was just recently told she can no longer have lactose or gluten. Because she grew up eating those things, she misses them.
gangler
I’m not fond of milk, with the very background you describe (allergic during childhood, grew out of it). I’ll drink milk socially, but I’d never seek out a glass of the stuff.
calendarman27
yeah, in the same way superman is immune to kryptonite and amazigirl is immune to criticism: only when the writer deigns it
Sporkaganza
But Superman isn’t immune to Kryptonite…? The whole point of its invention is so he can have something he ISN’T immune to, surely?
gangler
I had to look up the wiki on kryptonite to verify that this was a thing. Blew my mind.
Ridureyu
It would be kind of nice if Billie overheard that, took a moment to think, and began to, y’know, drink less find a real identity in life, be nicer to others…
Ragnal
Naaaah, too soon. It’s only the fourth day of school. I give it six months.
Bekah
You haven’t known many alcoholics, have you.
Ridureyu
I know plenty who are on the wagon!
Cha
Now, ‘e only said ‘it would be nice’. That gives the impression of wishful thinking, but knowledge of how absolutely unlikely it is to occur.
Shift
Yeah, it’s too early in the strip for that kind of realization. We’re not going to see that until she hits rock bottom and she does something that will either nearly ruin her life or someone else’s.
Ridureyu
That sounds like a good origin story for Amazi-Girl’s chief nemesis: The Frat Lady
MM
Oh, yeah. Forgot about the flask. That would inform Sarah’s opinion just a wee bit.
That said, I think Joyce deserves more credit here. When you aren’t conditioned to believe that unlimited quantities of alcohol are the be-all and end-all of having a good time, it’s surprisingly easy to resist going nuts with the stuff.
Joebo
Hm, hadn’t considered that. Yeah, stay away from her Joyce. Unless you wanna end up pregnant like Mary.
calendarman27
the virgin mother of christ mary? or the annoying judgemental former friend of sal from Its Walky! mary?
Rikushadow5
The way she was putting herself on airs, there’s hardly a difference.
Hannover Fist
You forgot JC’s prostitute friend Mary.
Dahlia
I’m sorry, did I say I “like” Sarahs character…?
I meant to say LOVE.
I LOVE Sarahs character.
Shes my second favorite next to grown up Joyce (though technically since thats in Its Walky! and not here, DoA…)! Guess shes my favorite character so far. ^ ^
She does judge fast and is bitter, but no one can blame her after all shes been through, and she definitely hit the nail on the mark in her analysis of Billie.
Shift
Agreed. She’s been through this before after all. The act she’s not afraid to call someone like Billie on their impending train wreck isn’t a bad thing. Frankly, I wish I had that kind of foresight when it comes to people.
Dahlia
I know, right? I loved that!
@.@ You and me both! I’m a terrible judge of character because I’m too shy to get to know the person better and I refuse to see the bad in them unless its to such a high, high extremity and even then…s:
goatman95111
Gotta love Sarah. She actually is a nice person, but at the same time, I think Billie has some potential. She just needs to get her head clear.
The E-man
Agreed.
Lloyfid