119

People meter
Posted on November 19, 2019 by David M Willis

119 thoughts on “People meter”

  1. Jen Aside

    love makes you do inane things sometimes

    like leave a room with a cat in it

    the cat isn’t even poopin’

    1. JetstreamGW

      Pretty sure the cat is just fuckin’ off somewhere away from Sarah. Because cat.

      1. ktbear

        See that cat coming in the window? It’s only got one eye.

      2. Kensou

        Cat defies Sarah’s outlook on fair trades.

        1. Deanatay

          Confirmed cat is libertarian, does not believe in trade agreements.

        2. Clif

          All cats are libertarians?

        3. thejeff

          Like to think of themselves as proud and independent, but are happy to curl up in front of the heater or eat the free food supplied to them (or spurn it, if it’s not to their taste at the moment). Yeah, it kind of checks out, doesn’t it.

    2. plasticwrap

      lol inane or insane? I guess both

  2. Andr3wtime

    THIS CONCEPT OF WUV CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!

  3. BBCC

    Awwwwww, Dina! <3

    I gotta say though, cat + empty room + love is pretty great.

    1. Clif

      Dina may not naturally get everything, but she gets what’s important.

  4. ValdVin

    “They’re out there for free pizza”?

    I thought I was cynical.

    1. Yumi

      If I didn’t care about the people, I don’t think I’d go to a birthday party just for $5 pizza.

      Fancy pizza, maybe.

      1. not someone else

        I sure as hell would most days. These are college students.

        Then again, this is far enough off-campus that several of them would have to drive, which makes it not technically free.

        1. JetstreamGW

          But, I mean, it’s literally $5 pizza. Like, $5 for an entire pizza. 😛

        2. Yumi

          When I was in college, if you lived in the dorms you had to had to have a meal plan, all of which were unlimited dining, so low-quality food as a motivator wasn’t as effective.

        3. Marsh Maryrose

          At IU, first-year students are required to buy a meal plan. Details are not offered but the official IU:RPS page seems to imply that the lowest-cost plan does not offer three meals every day, and that the highest-cost plan offers more calories than the medium-cost plan. Of course they don’t anything about quality, but college students.

          I’m honestly a little more surprise by the fact that these partygoers are going like half a mile off campus for free pizza on a Monday night.

        4. plasticwrap

          quality lmao that’s a good one. I wonder if my old college has expanded the vegetarian options in the last 10 years…

        5. ValdVin

          Well, that brings us back to whether it’s Galasso’s, or “free candidate-provided” grade pizza.

        6. thejeff

          Galasso’s employee discount pizza.

          Where the discount is basically what you can get out the door with.

        7. zee

          Wait What? Meal plan? At my university you’re responsible for your own food. As long as you pay your hall fees and turn up at/participate in hall events you can starve for all they care lmao

        8. thejeff

          It’s not that far off campus. Not for active college kids. Google maps suggests about a mile and half. Which is a little farther than I’d walk everyday across campus when I was in college – probably multiple times. Of course, we had a more sprawling campus than IU, but still.

    2. Nono

      I mean, I can’t imagine Mandy and Grace are there for Sarah and Dina.

      And this is a school where Walky will go to a LGBT meeting for free pizza.

      1. Hazel

        They are young and short on cash. Of course they would go to a party for pizza! There might even be cake!

      2. ValdVin

        Walky “Free Gay Pizza Smart” Walkerton’s response behavior is not what I’d consider median.

        1. Proxiehunter

          Walky who eats 8,000 pizzas a day is an outlier and should not have been counted.

        2. Needfuldoer

          Only 8,000? Damn, he needs to buy some more grandmas.

      3. Reltzik

        Mandy and Grace were conspiring with Dina and Becky to keep Becky hidden from Ruth. I think that makes them friends enough.

        1. thejeff

          Some of them are probably there because they like Joyce or Becky – who are actually doing the inviting, not so much the more reclusive Dina and Sarah. Or because they like someone else who’s going.

    3. Beef

      Probably not 100% wrong though, lots of people out there hardly interact with them (not that I blame them on account of Sarah and Dina not being very social), it seems like Becky just invited everybody on their floor and they showed up because party

    4. plasticwrap

      yo, free pizza is free pizza, people are practically GUARANTEED to show up for that. As for the “no one wants to see me,” IMO that’s a combination of narcissistic self-loathing and exaggeration. But on the other hand, I she’s probably right.

    5. Keulen

      Some of them are probably there for the free pizza, and at least one because she heard it was a joint party. But I’m sure at least a few are there because they like Dina and Sarah.

  5. Stephen Bierce

    *”All Right Now” reprises on the stereo*

    1. Stephen Bierce

      As for the cat’s name, I have to, in full disclosure, mention that it resembles Rather Manor’s current cat, Feathers DelToasterpastry.

      1. Geneseepaws

        Currently hearing Tina Turner’s “what’s Love Got to Do With It?” In me head. I’m so incredibly happy for Dina and Becky.

    2. Keulen

      I’m thinking What Is Love by Haddaway seems fitting for the last two panels.

  6. Bagge

    Bah, humbugh!

    1. Jhon

      Do you want pizza or not?

  7. Josh Spicer

    Wait THERE’S A CAT?!

    Fuck the party I’ll take the cat. You already nabbed a pizza box so you’re golden.

  8. Solenoid

    I’ve got only one thing to say today. Catbutt. That is all.

    1. Geneseepaws

      Seconded.

  9. Chaucer59

    And the cat flashes its butt-hole in approval.

    1. Alan in DC

      I wish I had a pencil sharpener that looked like that cat. All my bro’s would be dying laughing, and all potential girlfriends would be horrified.

      1. Liquid Len

        I do have one (well, it’s black, so not exactly like THAT cat). You stick a pencil in its butt to sharpen it and it meows. A horrible wailing meow!

        1. Flareonflare

          I NEED ONE NOW

          That is brilliant

  10. Hazel

    Dina seems really self-assured in this strip! …please nothing happen to shatter that.

    1. ktbear

      Yea, theres no way Willis would feel obliged to mess this up, right? RIGHT??

      1. Reltzik

        Of course Willis wouldn’t feel obliged to mess it up.

        ….

        He’d do it for the sheer sadistic pleasure, instead.

        1. ktbear

          Good point. I feel better already.

  11. Delicious Taffy

    Awwww, she said the L-word.

    1. LeslieBean4shizzle

      Is the comment system actively trying to prevent me from making a Scott Pilgrim/Showtime reference?

      1. LeslieBean4shizzle

        Fine comment program. Be that way. I’ll just make it even better.
        AHEM.

        Ah. Young Lesbians. Is anything more beautiful?

    2. Bagge

      Liaoningosaurus?

  12. Reltzik

    Yahbut, who’s the trade unfair towards?

    1. Delicious Taffy

      Mostly me, if we’re being honest.

    2. Jhon

      Why does it have to be a trade?

  13. LeslieBean4shizzle

    … I said a thing.
    It didn’t appear.
    I tried saying it again.
    The comment thingy said I already said that.
    … confused.

    1. Reltzik

      Isn’t it wonderful how easy technology makes our lives?

      1. Clif

        How easy it makes our lives what?

    2. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Glitch in the Matrix. Watch out for Agents.

  14. Suet

    Yeah, what a sucker…

    There’s no dog with that cat. There’s always a dog in a truly good college party

  15. FLUFFYWOLF

    …am I the only one who thinks something really bad is going to happen either at this party or on campus?

    1. Rabid Rabbit

      Let’s see. The evil duo are having their sitcom stay in the motel, but are both planning to come after their daughters. And the chapter’s title includes the word “Pursuit.”

      I think you’ve got some pretty solid grounds for suspecting that.

    2. C.

      Definitely before the end of the book.

      1. lightsabermario

        Wait. Are you telling me that there is a MONSTER at the end of this book?

        1. Clif

          There is a monster at the end of every book.

  16. Wixvhen

    I just realized that our christian girl is at a party run by a democrat candidate supporter, for her lesbian girlfriend, while she has strong feelings for an african american who will probably show up, of a different denomination, and her father is looking to hunt her down with a man who is slowly becoming literally satan trying to galvanize her father even more. And is probably on social media chomping at the bit to find THIS EXACT SITUATION.

    1. Yumi

      Are you mixing up Joyce and Becky’s dads? Or switching who you’re referring to with “she/her” part way through your comment?

      1. Jay

        Becky has a new dad

    2. CJ

      Becky supports a GOP candidate.

      1. thejeff

        Becky works for a GOP candidate. It’s not clear she actually supports her.

        1. Clif

          An important distinction.

  17. Reltzik

    Ugh.

    Room with cat, or room with people.

    Room with cat, or room with people.

    …. dammit, I’m torn between my allergies and my introversion.

  18. 1 2 2 50 in Roman numerals

    Im torn between calling the cat “ambpurr” and “ameowzi-girl”

    1. Jen Aside

      It could easily be a male cat (and since Mike had one the same colour, I’m inclined to believe he got a male one as it would be more aggressive (like Mike))

      Also you passed up “Amazi-purrl”??

      1. ValdVin

        It’s likely to be a male. Orange or orange and white cats are males at a rate of 6 to 1 or 7 to 1.

  19. Marsh Maryrose

    Halloween has already passed but:

    She was a two-eyed three-horned walking green people meter

    1. Opus the Poet

      They haven’t reached All Hallows’ Eve in-comic yet. I don’t recall the actual date but they’re only to mid-October now.

      1. plasticwrap

        oh SHIT the eve of all hallowed souls better be fucking EPIC in DoA

    2. Bicycle Bill

      …a two-eyed three-horned walking green(ish) people me(e)<ter

      Marsh, go to your room.

      1. Marsh Maryrose

        I thought of “people greeter” about one ohnosecond after I hit post.

        Anyway, I’m a homebody, so I’m usually in my room anyway.

        Dennis Leary has a bit something like, “We don’t send our kids to their rooms when they’re bad, that’s where they have all their good stuff. We go to their rooms and make them stay in the living room.”

  20. Tacos

    Welp Sarah, looks like that cat is about to leave cuz well -cat.

    1. BenRG

      Sarah had plenty of opportunity to focus her entire being on the cat but she chose to pay attention to the other two-legs instead. Cats notice things like this and they neither forgive nor forget… unless you have skritches and treats.

  21. Pocky

    I can’t help but feel like my happiest moments involve love. . . and pizza.

  22. Opus the Poet

    Pizza is good, yuri is good, yuri and free pizza is best.

  23. CJ

    Exit the cat on cue.

    1. Needfuldoer

      Leaving nothing but an asterisk behind.

  24. maxh

    That sounds pretty gay.

  25. BenRG

    Now, that isn’t true, Sarah. I can’t believe that Joyce is there for the free pizza (especially given her food neuroses). I’m wondering if this is the point where Sarah realises that, yes, Joyce has become her sister in lots of ways and, as annoying as she can be, she owes it to her to at least acknowledge her.

    1. He Who Abides

      She already knows that about Joyce. I mean, Joyce was willing to fake hating Halloween just so Sarah could decorate without being outed as someone who enjoys things, so she’d better already know that.

      1. thejeff

        That kind of thing is why I think Sarah’s approach here is at least partly performative. She’s deeply invested in her misanthrope persona and going out to the party would break that.
        Which isn’t to say that she’s not introverted – having the room to retreat to is definitely a good thing, but I think she’d like to socialize a bit more than that.
        I suspect we’ll see her find an excuse to come out of the room before this party’s over, grumbling all the way. And likely after the fact an acknowledgement that she enjoyed it – even if only to herself (and us.)

        1. HMH

          She’s just trying to protect herself from being attacked. She tried to be genuinely kind to somebody one time, and became a pariah for it – despite the fact she probably saved that person’s life – all because her peer group didn’t respect or substantiate her particular expression of kindness.

          She’s certainly being somewhat extreme, to write off all human interaction, off of one instance of it backfiring upon her, even though she knows she did the right thing; but, she’s young, and she’s in this place where she is very alone, and so she’s feeling radically defensive, while also denying herself the true introspection into those feelings out of anger, and out of doubt. The self-imposed ultimatum is easier than actually grappling with her complex feelings, especially given that she’s focused on the part of her college experience which she’s convinced is the “really important” part.

          She’s guarded because she’s the type of person who gets hurt when she’s not, and she doesn’t want to be hurt. So, in a sense, it is performative, but she’s performing as much for herself as for everyone else. Her maladroit adoption of misanthropy is an over-correction in the service of bandaging over wounds inherent to human connection, and thus, to vulnerability.

        2. BBCC

          Sarah was already a misanthrope before Dana, though not as much.

        3. thejeff

          Yeah, that’s largely what I see as why and she’s definitely had those tendencies all along.

          I just think she’s torn between wanting to let Joyce drag her out of her shell to interact with others and wanting to stay isolated. She’s probably afraid that if she does lose the part of the misanthropic persona that’s a facade, that she won’t be allowed to retreat when she needs to. Of course, you’d never get her to publicly admit that, since it’s her defense. We only get the occasional glimpse beneath, like so many characters here.

        4. TemperaryObsessor

          It sort of feels more like Sarah was convinced to leave her shell once and it turned out she needed it with them. Now she’s even more attached to her shell.

  26. Thomas

    “Love” has provided the people AND the quiet, empty room. There’s not a choice here, Sarah.

    1. Zaxares

      Sure there is! You look for someone you love who’s just as happy to be alone in the quiet empty room with you. 😉

      1. Thomas

        That’s what I was getting at. Sarah can have both Love AND the quiet, empty room, since one has been provided by the other.

  27. He Who Abides

    What is “love”?

    1. Slartibeast Button, BIA

      Something made up by poets who think things exist just because they like the idea.

    2. showler

      Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more.

      1. He Who Abides

        Yes, showler, this was the answer I was looking for.

    3. BenRG

      The ancient Greeks actually had four separate words for it, each with its own definition.

      * Eros – Romantic and sexual attraction;
      * Storge – The bond between close friends, people you like and want to be with;
      * Fillia – The bond between family members;
      * Agape – The conscious choice to care for someone and do right by them.

      1. CJ

        Isn’t it written as ‚Philia‘ and some sort of mental/spiritual love, without anything to do with family?

  28. Keith

    What’s love got to do with it? I don’t people, I am not a people person. I would save one dog and let humanity die out…still have to have people. Dogs are better company than people.

    1. Mra

      Only one dog?

  29. Mike

    Cat butt alert!

  30. Deanatay

    *scrolled straight to bottom of comments section to post this, without reading anything*

    This whole comment page is gonna be about the cat butthole, isn’t it?

    ISN’T >*< IT?

    1. Zechariah Judy

      That’s certainly what I was coming to comment on.

  31. Rabisch

    Pizza or cat? THIS is the true hard choice!

  32. Cmd1095

    Dina best girl

  33. Julius Cooper

    I would think the cat butt makes it a much easier choice!

  34. Julius Cooper

    Note, I’m not judging which side of the door you come down on. :-p

  35. abysswatcher1993

    Love is worth a lot. I already have many video games, and delicious food is accessible with enough money. The love of a woman, the love of humanity, the love of celebration like Halloween and Christmas, the love of a pet, the love you give for others to make you feel human. Seriously, I would throw out a box of cheap pizza if it means I can return home for Christmas after a stressful last semester at college.

  36. Ferret

    Ladied and gentlemen, the difference between “introvert” anf “antisocial.”

    1. abysswatcher1993

      Dina has problems related to her sensoring input and can’t deal with too much happening at once. It’s just the way she was born. Sarah on the other hand is jaded and angry because of many bad things that happened to her, and think people are asshole by default because of the small sample of people she has met in college.

  37. DarkoNeko

    …the cat is leaving when Dina is

  38. Ellegos

    I see this ending with the ole’ Tokyo Sayonara.

  39. J. Corkey Custer

    Sometimes this strip shocks me with how good it can be.

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