204

Hurgh
Posted on June 5, 2013 by David M Willis

204 thoughts on “Hurgh”

  1. Yotomoe

    And Ruth is your divine punishment, Billie.

    1. GoldStarz

      Think you might have that backwards.

    2. timemonkey

      I thought Walky was her punishment?

      1. Doctor_Who

        You are all wrong. Mike is everyone’s punishment.

        1. timemonkey

          But this Mike has barely done anything more than be a mild inconvenience that ended up solving problems.

        2. Steven

          Just because you can’t see him doesn’t mean he isn’t responsible for everything that’s happening.

        3. Erika Hammerschmidt

          Hahahaha. Just like God.

        4. Riku

          No no, God is only responsible for the good stuff, remember?

        5. Riku

          Gravatar jackpot!

        6. TPman

          Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good. Too good…

        7. Raoullefere

          And so He descended to Earth to bang your mom. For a nickle that he didn’t need.

          Even God likes to keep score.

        8. Kai Gon

          Remember? Mike is everything you NOT want him to be.

        9. davidbreslin101

          You mean, we’ve been counting on him to really mess $~!£ up, so he…. Dear G-D, it’s Meta-Mike!

        10. Aisling

          Mike is Sithrak!

  2. Geminia999

    You know, I never understood the drunk bubbles. It isn’t like drunk people exude bubbles from their body. Though just imagine if they did.

    1. Yotomoe

      It’s cuz they burp and hic-up a lot and the bubbles represent the gas constantly leaving their body

      1. Wonder Wig

        It all started with a little drunk elephant named Dumbo…

      2. Geminia999

        But they don’t actually make bubbles, especially ones that hang around your head >_>

        1. Wack'd

          So? When you talk white balloons don’t emerge from your mouth with words in them.

        2. thecanvashat

          I think I need to see a doctor then.

        3. GoldStarz

          How frequently does this symptom arise?

        4. thecanvashat

          Weekdays.

        5. Scoops

          I think now you’re going to get it on weekends, too.

    2. Rufus Saltus

      Drunk bubbles are a part of the iconographic vocabulary of comics. It’s a symbol that conveys some meaning about the subject in a visual way that doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual appearance of the subject. It’s the same way that Sunday’s Dumbing of Age used lines to accentuate Billies’ kick. Those lines weren’t physically present in the comic, but to the reader they indicate the speed and power behind the action. The same holds true for speech and though bubbles, as Wack’d mentioned above.

      1. Wack'd

        Thanks, Mort Walker.

    3. TheBenenator

      You do not question the boozles!

    4. Kai Gon

      You’re all thinking about this:
      http://www.bugcomic.com/comics/cartoon-generated-imagery/
      right?

      1. Felix Kütt

        Now I am!

    5. Jenny Creed

      You know what makes me either annoyed or freaked out whenever I notice it in comics? Ink outlines.

  3. piemanpie24

    The alt text here is my motto whenever I get sad.

    1. Milosh

      Me too!

  4. otusasio451

    Billie…you know what you must do.

    1. ASmellyOgre

      I was hoping she’d push for option 2. But, you know, whatever.

  5. Regalli

    I know, I know I’ve let you down,

    1. David

      I’ve been a fool to myself

      1. J42

        I thought that I could

      2. Dust

        I thought that I could live for no one else

        1. otusasio451

          But now, through all the hurt and pain,

        2. Totz the Plaid

          It’s time for me to respect…

          [[Before seeing this thread, I had “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” in my head. Now I’m watching the instrumentality part of End of Eva in my brain. Damn good movie!]]

        3. Regalli

          The ones you love mean more than anything.

        4. Slipgate

          So with sadness in my heart,

        5. Melissa

          I feel the best thing I can do

        6. Totz the Plaid

          Is to end it all and leave forever

        7. Regalli

          What’s done is done, it feels so bad,

      3. Plasma Mongoose

        Now I am imagining Willis in a bathtub with slashed wrists as Komm Susser Todd plays in the background.

    2. Wensleydale

      I’ve been a fool to myself,

    3. GDwarf

      Can’t live without the trust of those you love…

      1. lejwocky

        I know we can’t forget the past..

    4. Cholma

      If “Komm, Susser Tod” is the new theme song for DoA, I think we are all in trouble.

      1. Totz the Plaid

        Relax, dude, just hug the Rei and become one with everyone.

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          Or in Ruth’s case, a naked Billie.

        2. Kernanator

          A Giant Naked Billie.

          …Now I know what I want for my birthday!

        3. Raoullefere

          Why does a “Giant Naked Billie” sound to me like a mixed drink that’s far too light on the ‘mix’ part and semi-dangerously heavy on the grain alcohol?

  6. hmrc4evr

    I just don’t see Ruth as a Hot Topic kinda gal.

    Spencers on whim maybe.

    1. Yotomoe

      She’s in college. I just assume we all shop at salvation army.

  7. Emoroffle

    Kiss her you fool!

    1. Yotomoe

      Ew. It’d taste like vomit.

      1. thecanvashat

        But also alcohol!

    2. Aras Pabedinskas

      I don’t think you’d want to kiss someone who just threw up. You’d just be tasting stomach acid and whatever they ate last.

      1. Emoroffle

        Ok, rinse her mouth out then kiss her. Hygiene you fool!

        1. HK-A6A7

          Oh God… I read that last part with Gandalf’s voice.
          First and last time I do marathon with the LotR trilogy (Extended), it’s already taking a toll in my brain.

        2. Groove

          Gandalf? Mr T! Dental hygiene, fool!

        3. Emoroffle

          But as a lovely little lady in her late twenties I’m afraid my voice would not match either. I do neither wizarding or B-level acting.

        4. HEYOUGUYZ!

          you mean T-level!

        5. Raiser

          A T is never late, nor is he early, foo’! He arrive ezzactly when he mean to!

    3. timemonkey

      Because nothing says kissable like a woman who has verbally abused you, stole and destroyed your personal property, physically assaulted you, potentially sexually assaulted you (depending on how you interpret it and how unwanted it was), is emotionally vulnerable, and just vomited.

      1. Emoroffle

        Sure bring logic and rational thinking into this. Next you would have Joyce seek adequate counseling instead of repressing her issues by dating a “safe” gay man.

        1. timemonkey

          Nah, I just can’t get behind ship’s that involve abuse. Therapy is pretty much off the table as DoA will never progress far enough into the future for therapy to actually work, so it’d end up seeming like Joyce’s problems could be solved in a session or two.

        2. Emoroffle

          That is a thorn in my side too but I think these two would do each other a lot of good if they get past Ruth’s anger issues. Ruth needs someone assertive that won’t let her steamroll every situation that would comeup in a relationship. Billie on the other hand needs someone who can get her off her old alpha bongo tendencies. Also as a lady who loves ladies, especially the redheaded ones, I’m rather biased here.

  8. Hoboturtle

    There’s the attitude that made her famous in Roomies.

    1. Luzahn

      At least here she managed to produce a more effective anger-shell.

      I have a feeling it gives +2 AC against trucks.

  9. Luzahn

    Don’t worry Billie, once Ruth recovers she will regain her Aggression. This will dispel the Gothiness.

  10. Brian Lynch

    Come on, Billie. Just give it a lil’ pinch.

  11. Geminia999

    Fly me to the moon and let us dance among the stars. (only song from evangelion I know besides a very messed up version of the theme song)

    1. Aras Pabedinskas

      “and let me play among the stars”

    2. BassBone

      That’s not from Evangelion. It’s a jazz standard.

      1. Notebooked

        It was also the outro tune for a Swedish kids’ sci-fi show!

      2. Aras Pabedinskas

        Ya, but it was sung during the end credits of the original Evangelion series. Yes, it’s originally from Jazz, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be associated with other things. In my case, the anime was my first exposure to the song, I didn’t even know it originated elsewhere for a few years.

    3. Psycho

      Remember kiddies, if you ever feel depressed, don’t listen to Evangelion’s soundtrack. The soundtrack to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann will pick you up and fill you with FIGHTING SPIRIT!!!

  12. J42

    “Quick! Get in the closet!”
    ..
    “No wait, get out of the closet!”

  13. Salty

    Of course! What better music for a sexual awakening?

    *Ode to Joy starts playing*

  14. Wack'd

    “You’re feeling depressed and worthless and you’re pretty damn drunk so I’m just gonna take this opportunity to say that I tend to insult people like you.”

    1. Yotomoe

      “While I’m at it, I should mention that I’m kicking around the idea of letting you get caught cuz I still dislike you.”

      1. ArkhamTexan

        And then an evil laugh.

  15. AndaisQ

    Billie is refreshingly honest about how casually awful she is/has been.

    1. Animal

      What’s wrong with bullying Goths? I mean, for crying out loud, two branches of the Goths, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, were responsible for the sack of Rome in 410. This led to the fall of the Western Empire and the beginning of the Dark Ages.

      The Goths led the civilized world into a thousand years of disease and ignorance. They’ve got it coming, I tell you!

      1. Volkai

        You don’t comment often enough, Animal. It’s been too long.

        1. Animal

          I’m putting kids through college. It eats up way too much of my time.

      2. Andy

        …and pretty much every medieval historian in existence wants to punch you right now.

        “Dark Ages” indeed.

      3. Roderick-King-of-Visigoths

        The hell bear! Say that to my face, not on this magic picture box and see what happens.

        1. Animal

          Sure thing, let me just tie one hand behind my back to make it a fair fight.

  16. Linkara

    Considering the Evangelion soundtrack consists of a lot of calm, beautiful music or intense action pounding music (or Fly Me to the Moon), I don’t quite think that’ll match up with the tone.

    1. Totz the Plaid

      Look up “Komm, Susser Tod” from EoE.

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      Enjoy!

      1. Regalli

        Probably the most cheerful, upbeat song about suicide ever.

        And I for one love it for that.

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          I think of “Komm, Susser Tod” as the Happy Suicide Song.

      2. Kelly

        Now that I think about it (after watching it), a Youtube of a song from the end of Evangelion juuuuust might contain spoilers in the video.

    3. brasca1

      Or watch the Rains of Castamere without being spoiled to future plot developments…. Only way I made it through that episode.

  17. Kamino Neko

    *ponders pointing out Ruth isn’t being gothic, just kind of emo*

    *decides she doesn’t need the agita of the ensuing argument*

    *posts anyway*

    1. ASmellyOgre

      *Decides that self-narration is the best form of communication*

      1. Yotomoe

        *Desires to join in on the fun*

      2. alicemacher

        *starts rationing asterisks due to online overuse*

        …

        *realizes she fails at it*

        1. AgentKeen

          -tries to be original by being different from the rest of the group-

          -is really just copying others-

        2. Totz the Plaid

          *has nothing to add, but enjoys the typing format anyway*

        3. Zababcd

          *types words between asterisks*

        4. N0083rP00F

          Types * asterisks * between * words * just * to * be * ironic

        5. Volkai

          *

        6. CC

          **********************************************************************

        7. Kernanator

          XXX!

          Am I doing this right?

        8. M. Pomme

          * * *** * * ***
          * * * * * * *
          *** ** * * * *
          * * * * * * *
          * * *** *** *** ***

    2. John

      Maybe this is what goths are like in Indiana? Or maybe just in Billie’s world?

      (If you’re really a goth, where were you when we sacked Rome?)

      1. Totz the Plaid

        Visigoths are best goths.

        1. Makkabee

          No, Ostrogoths rule!

        2. Plasma Mongoose

          Don’t forget about the loligoths!

        3. Valdrax

          Iä! Iä! Ioligoth! Ph’nglui Mglw’ nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn desu.

        4. davidbreslin101

          I cracked up at “desu.” “Cthulhu-chan fhtagn!”

      2. itches

        Look, for the last time, I slept in. You miss one little sacking and you seem to keep paying for it forever.

    3. timemonkey

      *points out a LOT of wannabe goths really just wore black and acted emo leaving the rest of us to associate the two groups forever*

      1. Totz the Plaid

        *adds that to some extent that also describes the Cure’s Robert Smith…*

    4. shietka

      *Joins in a year-and-a-half later to point out that Billie is probably not the kind of person who would know the difference.*

  18. lejwocky

    |: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 😐

  19. Kernanator

    Now it’s time, I fear to tell I’ve been holding it back so long

  20. arjay2813

    i read the tags as “bullie, ruth”

    i wasn’t going to post this, until i saw kamino neko’s post but that made me

    1. AgentKeen

      Y’know, Bille as ‘Bullie’ wouldn’t be too shabby as an Amazi-Girl villain. I mean, she did just break down a door, so it works both ways.

      1. Yotomoe

        Ruthless and her sidekick Bullie.

        1. xain

          come on Ruth would be her partner in crime not her sidekick

        2. Notebooked

          I still think of her as the Beerleader in costumed gear, but now I’m imagining arrogant-aristocratic top-of-the-food-chain CEO Jennifer Bullingsworth and her partner in crime (or beefy bodyguard? Just for the shades and suit) Ruth Lesse. By day, she’s a small-business-crushing CEO who rules with an iron fist…by night, that fist is gloved and clutching a beer can! Donning her pom-poms of power, she becomes the Beerleader!

        3. AgentKeen

          She can be one of those villains that goes through a couple different names, evolving from the Bullie, crusher of geeks, to the Beerleader, lush dictator of the less popular/attractive.

        4. Notebooked

          Ooh, yes. Villain upgrade! With her like-minded followers, she lays siege to the popular class.

        5. Morgauxo

          No, after these events she is downgraded to sidekick

        6. Raoullefere

          Billie does seem to have the kick part down, Note sure about the ‘side,’ though.

        7. Raoullefere

          *Not sure* and it’s time to go to bead early and come in at the tail-end of another of these discussions/riffs/what-have-you’s tomorrow night. I’ll be glad to get back to regular schedule of late nights and occasional insomnia.

  21. Brando

    Come sweet Death could only inspire someone to want to cut.

    1. Totz the Plaid

      END OF EVANGELION SPOILER WARNING!!!

      I dunno. It’s a good song, and if you pay attention to the plot of that part of the movie, and its context, Instrumentality is more of a harmonic coming together of everyone into one giant hive-mind. It ends hate and war and everything through a universal understanding.

      I mean, I wouldn’t want to live through the build-up to it or let go of my individuality, but it’s really a bittersweet ending to the series more than anything else. (Also, Lilith!Rei/Kaworu gave Shinji the choice, and because of him, anyone who wants to separate from the seas of LCL and return to being an individual can. That’s what Asuka did, after all…)

      1. Totz the Plaid

        Also, I totally have “Komm, Susser Tod” from EoE on a mix I made back in 2011 right between Tim Minchin’s “Dark Side” and Cee Lo’s “Fuck You”.

        1. Somebody

          I always associate it with Mario because of a Walrus Guy Youtube Poop.

  22. Plasma Mongoose

    While I can kinda see Ruth as Asuka, Billie is more like the Anti-Shinji.

    1. Totz the Plaid

      I think Billie more fits the Misato role, honestly.

      That made me realize that the least emotional character in this comic is Dina.

      DINA would be Rei.

      I’m not sure whether I love that idea or hate it.

      Joe would be Toji, of course, or maybe Kaji.
      Galasso seems the best match for Gendo.
      Not sure who would be Fuyutsuki… Jason, maybe?
      It’s a bit of a stretch, but I think Dorothy would be the best match for Ritsuko.
      That would, of course, make Joyce into DoE’s Maya. (DoE = Dumbing of Evangelion, natch.)
      If we match Joe with Toji, then Danny would be Kensuke, but that’s a bit of a stretch…

      Still…

      DINA = REI.

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        Now I want to see naked Dinas in a dinaquarium.

      2. Cybersnark

        Or, to invert that, Rei would be Dina.

        I am now reimagining Evangelion to include an adorkable dinosaur-fangirl.

        Thank you.

  23. Kernanator

    “I’ve never had any cherished dreams or ambitions. I don’t aspire to any future profession or career. So far, in the first fourteen years of my life, things have always happened as they had to. And things will probably continue the same way. That’s why I’ve never really cared whether I got into an accident or something and died.”

  24. FinalOwen

    One of my favourite things about Komm Susser Tod (other than it being an amazing song) is that the singer also did some pretty decent duets of Rocky Horror songs with Richard O’Brien. Oh, the nerdy glee when I found that out.

    Just as a result of typing this out, I’m now imagining Ruth as Magenta and Billie as Columbia.

    1. Totz the Plaid

      Sadly, the new version sucks. They should’ve just remixed the one from EoE instead of writing an overly busy new arrangement…

  25. Somebody

    Goth and emo aren’t the same thing.

    1. Yotomoe

      All dorks look the same to Billie. “If you’re not a chearleader or a jock, you can suck my —“

      1. dethtoll

        … lollipop?

      2. Notebooked

        Dock?

      3. Plasma Mongoose

        Plushie Spock?

    2. I am not a geek

      So you know the difference between goth and emo eh? Well you best be careful because I hear that Billie also likes to pick on nerds.

  26. Uniqueantique

    Kernantor if you are quoting something ok. But if you are stating that you are 14 and never had any cherished dreams or ambitions, may I say to you that most 14 years do not have either. And most 14 year olds don’t think about not caring if they die in an accident or something.

    1. David

      Kernanator did put it in quotes.

    2. Plasma Mongoose

      As far as I am aware, Kerny is a college student in his early 20s, Communications Major IIRC.

    3. Kernanator

      It’s from the Evangelion manga. It is literally the first thing Shinji says.

      1. TPman

        Wow. What a riveting way to introduce a likeable and relatable character!

        1. Plasma Mongoose

          Shinji was emo before emo was a thing.

        2. Totz the Plaid

          “Mustn’t run away… mustn’t run away…”

        3. xain

          on the other hand now you have the rebuild movies where shinji starts 3rd impact by being too awesome

        4. Cybersnark

          To be fair, Shinji is (marginally) more awesome in the manga than he was in the original series.

          And he was obviously much more stable in Angelic Days, which came out before the Rebuild.

          It’s like he’s gradually morphing into Kamina with each new iteration. . .

        5. Kernanator

          He’s also more sarcastic in the manga, but trades it off with being more apathetic and more of a dick.

          He’s also slightly more stable than in the anime, at least until SPOILERS the Dummy Plug kills Touji. Which, to be fair, would probably mess anybody up.

  27. bunivasal

    Welp, Billie, you tried. Now leave.

  28. KiddofSteel

    “Winter is coming.”

  29. Valdrax

    Personally, I’d go with Grave of the Fireflies on repeat in the DVD player.

  30. Scott

    Omg! Poor thing. I just want to give Ruth a big hug (while keeping the majority of my body out of puke range). =[

  31. GoogerGeiger

    I prefer drunk bubbles over the red blushy face they do in them Japanese cartoons.

    1. Kamino Neko

      But alcohol flush is a real thing. Wikipedia link. Much more common among Asians than others, but a real thing.

  32. Zaxares

    Oh great… Now I have the opening song to NGE stuck in my head. >.< DAMN YOU, WILLIS!

    1. N0083rP00F

      A Cruel Angel’s Thesis was on my various music players / systems I have owned over the years when I was really heavily into Anime.

  33. Notebooked

    Man. Heavy.
    I really like Billie’s expression in the last panel — is she worried about Ruth and just saying something to get a reaction? Does she genuinely think these emotions are unwarranted or worth making fun of? Is she being made uncomfortable by the sheer level of depression displayed here?
    Does Billie hide her own emotions a bit? Or at least, I’ve never seen her being sad over something. At most uneasy. She either transmutes it into anger or pushes it down, and the “used to bully goth kids in high school” bit seems to be be in line with her alleged shallow image. Not displaying undesirable emotion.

    1. Chrissy

      I think that Billie is trying to motivate Ruth to take action. I’ve been in a very similar situation before, as Billie. You need to get the drunk person as awake as possible, and Ruth (as we know) responds with anger pretty well.

  34. Shaows

    So Billie is the Cheerleader Dom to Ruth’s Goth Sub? I like where this is going.

  35. Jimmy

    I guess I’m a closet goth because I love Evangelion!

    1. Kim

      Everyone does 😉

  36. ArkhamTexan

    Whenever I would lock myself in a room with the Eva soundtrack, it was pretty much Misato’s happy drinking music and, thus, happy would occur. So… I don’t think that counts… I can’t even get Evangelion right.

  37. OmegaDez

    I’ve been reading DoA for three years for something like this to happen. I hope this story arc doesn’t stop too quickly…

  38. Seraph

    …and with that, Billie loses every scrap of sympathy I ever had for her. She deserves everything that has happened to her since she arrived at college, and no good things in her life ever.

    Hey, Willis, you should have let us know this sooner, back when she was getting her karma, so we could have enjoyed it and not wasted pity on a bully (and no, the fact she was a self-important snob didn’t necessarily make it clear that she was a bully).

    1. Volkai

      Fun fact, Seraph. In life you will find out that the people you know may have done less than ideal things in their pasts.

      1. Reepicheep-chan

        Man, were you not aware that high school bullying is an irredeemable sin? According to the internets being bullied in high school always results in life-crippling PTSD and all bullies are heartless, soulless monsters fully responsible for all their horrible, unforgivable actions, even (especially) the children.

        1. Seraph

          Pretty much, yeah.

        2. Seraph

          If you think it’s funny, I’ll just start posting links to kids who were bullied to suicide in lieu of further replies. See how much of a laff riot that is.

        3. Reepicheep-chan

          Srsly, highschoolers are stupid and impressionable, most people who were bullies either picked it up from example or peer pressure or both. Or they were just scared of being bullied themselves. I think you could stand to be less judgemental of *children*

        4. Seraph

          Your dismissiveness only makes me angrier. I will discuss this with people who take it seriously.

        5. laila

          I am with you on school bullying being real, serious and scarring and I don’t think that anybody here would seriously try and argue against that. Especially not given how many of us here are likely to be former high-school – or local equivalent – nerds.

          This?

          She deserves everything that has happened to her since she arrived at college, and no good things in her life ever.

          This is where you cross the line into being kind of a dick yourself, because considering what Billie’s been through since starting college? You’re basically saying that being a former bully makes you fair game for bullying – because Ruth has been bullying her, and Billie not being a little angel herself doesn’t make that somehow less true now – and not from thoughtless kids, either, but from other young adults. And because she was an unpleasant teenager, she apparently doesn’t deserve it to let up, ever.

          Brr.

          Kids do stupid and shitty things to one another, yes, but the idea that stupid and shitty acts committed as a child mean that you deserve absolutely nothing good to happen to you for the rest of your goddamn life? All forty or fifty years of it? Because at no point have you grown or changed or gotten over who you were in high school? That’s not only a ludicrous overreaction – people mature, it’s kind of what we do – it’s a ridiculous oversimplification. Not all bullying ends in suicide, not all bullies are doing it simply for shits and giggles, and kids and teenagers – even nice kids and nice teenagers – aren’t exactly models of empathy.

          I was bullied in secondary school, by kids who probably thought that what they were doing was no big deal because everyone knew I was a weirdo and anyway, it was only a bit of a laugh. At the same time I also bullied another kid, a year younger than me and also deeply socially awkward, precisely because I was being bullied. I saw him as partly responsible for what was happening to me, so I acted out. Of course I was being an unreasonable little bongo: it wasn’t his fault our parents had strong-armed us into walking in together after I moved house, and it certainly wasn’t his fault that my classmates decided this meant I was dating him and also a lesbian (go figure). I wanted him to leave me alone because it would at least be one less thing for them to use against me, and could think of no other way to do it than by treating him horribly. Because I was twelve, and twelve-year-olds are stupid.

          I’m now in my thirties. I feel terrible about the knowledge I hurt him, though it wasn’t until many years later that I even realized I’d done it. Even when, four or five years later, he told a school assembly about his experiences with bullying I only grew upset because it brought back memories of being bullied myself. I was one of the nice kids, and I was still deeply selfish. It took me a shamefully long time to realize that, for him, I was one of the bullies. Now? I wish to God I knew how to track him down and apologize for it. But believe me, the whole situation is a lot more complicated than ‘bullies are evil and totally irredeemable’, and if you really can’t see that then frankly I’m glad you’re only friends with angels.

        6. Seraph

          Actually, Reepicheepchan is arguing against that, and if s/he was the only one who responded, there would be more flaming rage here today.

          Your story, however, I find moving. One of the primary sources of my anger is the idea that bullies grow up and, like Reepicheepchan, dismiss it as just something stupid that kids do, and blithely move on with their lives without a stray thought to the scars they left on their victims.

          And angels? No. But what I can forgive is entirely dependent on whether or not their victims have forgiven them yet. If they don’t have any victims, we don’t have any issues.

        7. Seraph

          Having re-read your story, I wanted to make something clear. This:

          Kids do stupid and shitty things to one another, yes, but the idea that stupid and shitty acts committed as a child mean that you deserve absolutely nothing good to happen to you for the rest of your goddamn life? All forty or fifty years of it? Because at no point have you grown or changed or gotten over who you were in high school? That’s not only a ludicrous overreaction – people mature, it’s kind of what we do – it’s a ridiculous oversimplification. Not all bullying ends in suicide, not all bullies are doing it simply for shits and giggles, and kids and teenagers – even nice kids and nice teenagers – aren’t exactly models of empathy.

          …is actually the kind of thing that makes me angrier. The fact that you’ve grown and changed and matured doesn’t mean you get to just leave behind the evil things you did.

          This:

          I’m now in my thirties. I feel terrible about the knowledge I hurt him, though it wasn’t until many years later that I even realized I’d done it. Even when, four or five years later, he told a school assembly about his experiences with bullying I only grew upset because it brought back memories of being bullied myself. I was one of the nice kids, and I was still deeply selfish. It took me a shamefully long time to realize that, for him, I was one of the bullies. Now? I wish to God I knew how to track him down and apologize for it.

          Is what matters. If your growing and changing and maturing leads you to realize that what you did was horrible, and to try to set it right if you can, then it actually counts for something.

      2. Seraph

        …and some of those things would cause me to drop them like a red-hot dime. This is one of them.

    2. Crumplepunch

      Hah, yeah, you’re right, self-important snobs suck.

      1. Seraph

        “Self-important” I’ll give you. “Snob” implies a certain degree of haughtiness that’s incompatible with snarling rage.

    3. Kernanator

      Speaking as a former bullied kid, I want to make it clear that I hate bullying, and know first hand how dangerous and destructive it can be.

      That said, Seraph, your post disturbs me. You are advocating that, because Billie did bad things to other people, she deserves to be bullied herself. Do you not see the problem? In advocating such a position, you become as bad as the bullies themselves.

      1. Crumplepunch

        I absolutely agree with you, but I am compelled to say:

        “No, Seraph. You are the bullies.”

        1. Seraph

          You need more than nastiness to be a bully. You need power. Does it look like I’m in charge here?

        2. Crumplepunch

          Well, at least I can rest contented with you admitting the nastiness.

      2. Seraph

        It does legitimize Ruth’s bullying, doesn’t it? Which conflicts with the base postulate that bullies are bad people…dammit. I wish her karma had come some other way.

    4. begbert2

      I must say, the jocks/cheerleaders/elites must have been off their game at my high school, because I never once heard about a single suicide. Nor in middle school, either. Nor did the levels of bullying I experienced as a prime grade-A nerd lead me to kill myself, so far as I know.

      I have no doubt that there have been cases where high school bullying led to suicides. But I find myself wondering if there aren’t levels of bullying that are mean and unjust but not “take her out back and burn her alive”-worthy.

      I also find it hard to believe that Billie bothered to associate with the Goths enough to bully them as much as she claims.

      1. Seraph

        *Shrug* I take her at her word.

  39. Volkai

    I have a sneaking suspicion today’s strip will be the closest DoA Book 3 will get to mirroring Roomies!

    http://www.bringbackroomies.com/comic/killed-any-conversation/

    So let’s see, looks like Billie’s doing a better job than Danny did so far.
    In that the entire conversation does not appear to have ended on the same page it started.

  40. Andy

    Am I the only one who thinks there’s no way for Ruth to avoid getting into trouble here? I mean, there’s high-proof alcohol leaking out from under her door and there’s empty bottles littering her floor. Even if they hide under the bed, I can’t imagine those will go unnoticed. Especially not if the door is broken and won’t close anymore.

    1. showler

      If they throw the bottles in the closet and hide themselves, they should be okay. The fire department will only be looking for fires and people who didn’t evacuate. After that they should have some time to clean up before anyone inspects.

      1. Aydr

        and they’re gonna replace the door how…?

  41. Osaru Sensei

    … Dammit Ruth, why does your pukeface look so gorram attractive.

    I demand pictures of a healthy, non-glassed Ruth!

    1. Li

      It’s not. 🙂

  42. Shariku Onikage

    Goth kids. They deserve it!

  43. Tarkada

    go with refrain its the better soundtrack for eva

  44. AliaPie

    Aww Ruth nooo. <3

  45. Chris

    WELP HERE WE GO AGAIN

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