259

Routine
Posted on July 14, 2015 by David M Willis

259 thoughts on “Routine”

  1. Jen Aside

    and Dina isn’t being sarcastic or anything

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      The truth is the truth after all.

      1. gkheyf

        she got it in one! props to her

        1. Cholma

          Sarah just got TRUTHEDâ„¢.

        2. Chinoy Industries, Ltd.

          You read “Dilbert” on Sunday, didn’t you.

        3. Cholma

          I can neither confirm nor deny such a claim.

      2. DudeMyDadOwnsADealership

        Afraid so. Sarah has got severe passive-aggressive issues she just casually dumps on everyone she speaks to.

    2. Freezer

      The worst slams are always the ones that come from people who legit weren’t trying to be snarky.

    3. Boojum

      Dina needs to learn more history, owning people like that is wrong!

    4. TomHCinMI

      Dina doesn’t know how to be sarcastic or ironic or anything like that.

  2. Catullus

    THE HOODIE IS HERE!

    1. Doctor_Who

      As foretold! Willis be praised!

      1. WolfLann

        Remember seeing it in the comments a while back and I WANT ONE!!!

        1. thebombzen

          Called it đŸ˜€

  3. Mr. Random

    Even Dina knows the art of sass.

    1. Dean

      That was not sass, but the straightest of talk.

      1. Volkai

        Can’t it be both?

        1. Charlie

          I agree, I’m pretty sure it was both.

      2. BenRG

        Agreed; I’m not sure that Dina knows what sass is beyond a certain academic level. She’s just told Sarah what, to her, is a perfectly factual statement. I’m just not sure that your average human is capable of handling Truth on that level!

        1. Shade

          Sass is not just what you say, but how you say it, and she seems to have spent enough time around Sarah to approximate the appropriate facial expression. And the tone of voice, but since this is a webcomic, I’m imagining that. And it is good.

          Being truthful simply amplifies the power of one’s sass. She’s learning, clever girl.

  4. Plasma Mongoose

    Dina explains it all!

    1. Doctor_Who

      Na na na na na! Just do it!

    2. Volkai

      I would watch this.

    3. Tenn

      “Hi, Amber.”

      *twaaaannnnnnnnng*

  5. Kitty

    but where can I get a Tricera-top?!

  6. Nono

    Did… did Sarah just ask another person to sit next to her?

    Miracles of miracles

  7. Michael Steamweed

    This Dina-saur can SNAP! đŸ™‚

  8. Lucina

    i have been waiting for this hoodie and also i want it

    1. Doctor_Who

      Please tell me it’s a real thing, or at least inspired by one.

      1. Jen Aside

        I was sad that Google’s top hits are merely a dinosaur RIDE.

        I can’t afford to go to amusement parks anymore =<

    2. agentksilver

      I’ve found something similar on etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/dinosaur_hoodie

      1. Lucina

        none of them are Tricera-Topâ„¢s, though. they’re all weird spiny theropods.

      2. Leorale

        eBay has some, too, if you search for ‘dinosaur hoodie’ or ‘dragon hoodie’. You will need to add the epic bored-eyes yourself but it’s an excellent start.

        Here’s a sexier midriff version for Becky:
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/XS-Seafoam-Holographic-Crop-Dragon-Hoodie-Set-with-Mid-Rise-Shorts-Festival-Rave-/231614789360?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ed5136f0

        1. Leorale

          Oh hey I found it! But it’s $163.
          https://www.etsy.com/listing/99556629/triceratops-dinosaur-hoodie-costume?ref=shop_home_active_5&ga_search_query=dinosaur

        2. gka

          sexy dinosaur hoodie

          cannot unsee

          /gouges out eyes

        3. Cobra

          You missed the one with “cheeky” hotpants.

          *Tries to imagine Dina in croptop dino hoodie and cheeky hotpants*

          Nope… doesn’t work.

        4. Smashwidget

          I could see Becky wearing that.

      3. Opus the Poet

        this one is better

        https://www.etsy.com/listing/99556629/triceratops-dinosaur-hoodie-costume?ref=market

    3. Mollyscribbles

      It is not socially awkward to wear a thing when a heard of others are wearing a similar style.

      . . . there would need to be different designs so each individual would have recognizable markings. Helps the social order.

  9. otusasio451

    Personally, I prefer a nice Velociraptop, but to each their own.

    1. Chris Phoenix

      You mean a VelociWrap?

      1. otusasio451

        …You come up with the names, I’ll come up with the designs. We get someone to make them, and WE WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE. EVERYONE will be wearing Hoodrosaurus! LET’S DO THIS.

        1. Jason

          I got the brains, you got the looks….let’s make lots of money.

        2. Stephen R. Bierce

          There’s a lot of Opportunities if you know where to take them, you know.

        3. Deanatay

          There’s a lot of opportunities, if there aren’t you can make them, make or break them

        4. 3oranges

          What would go well with some parasauroloafers?

        5. otusasio451

          An Anatotie, I’d think.

          Seriously, I want this to happen so bad.

        6. curiousg

          An ankletosaurus?

        7. Boojum

          Can I get the DeinoNachos concession?

  10. Rebecca

    This is making me love Dina even more and I didn’t know that was possible. Also I need that hoodie.

  11. Watson The Snail

    Well, we found our new Slipshine comic. Finding out if Dina is a Tricera-top, or a Tricera-bottom.

    1. Plasma Mongoose

      Somehow I see Dina as a top, it just seems right somehow.

    2. Michael Steamweed

      Dina is a scientist and will require hypothesizing, testing, and repetition. Science demands no less!

    3. Tekkactus

      You’re a bad person and I love you.

      1. zach

        Science saw this coming.

        1. A Scientist

          But I did not.

          Such is the way of the world.

    4. timemonkey

      Personally I’m a Versa-raptor.

  12. madock345

    Please tell me you actually sell Tricera-Tops.

    Also, damn dina, that was sick.

    1. Rebecca

      If ANYONE sells these, please tell us. I NEEEEEEEEED IT.

  13. Alice Macher

    Sarah has just been DINAed. *Z-snap*

    1. RavenRyy

      You said the words I was struggling to say. Kudos!

  14. OwenSohmer

    I’m disappointed Tricera-Tops isn’t a real thing I can have

  15. timemonkey

    The entire cast should just take turns sitting with Sarah at lunch so she can explain how eeach of them is fucked up.

    1. madock345

      With that kind of setup, She’d make a surprisingly great talkshow hostess.

    2. Doctor_Who

      That’s what the comments section is for. You wanna put us out of a job?

      1. Opus the Poet

        You getting paid for this gig?

        1. gkheyf

          you’re not? i assumed we were all 6-figure here

        2. Tacos

          Wait. Y’all are getting paid? Someone must be screwing me over. Who do I got to talk about this? Accounting? Human Resources?

        3. gkheyf

          human resources?? you’re looking for the soylent factory next door

        4. JessWitt

          Commenters! Soylent green is commenters!

        5. DarkVeghetta

          It all makes sense now!

        6. Doctor_Who

          Sure. What do you think that sweet Patreon money goes toward? It’s just us, Taco Bell, and a shelf full of Hot Shots.

        7. begbert2

          Though most of it goes to the Hot Shots.

        8. HMRC4EVR

          I thought it went to lavishing Maggie with untold riches? The finest silks and spices from the Far East and exotic cars (painted like Hot Shot) to drive around in!

        9. Roborat

          I thought is was so Sir Willis could buy up every transformer evar. Not just each model, but every. single. transformer. ever. made.

        10. Opus the Poet

          What about the Arby’s?

        11. Rutee

          What ABOUT the Arby’s? It’s not like it matters.

        12. Tenn

          Of course not. Nothing matters. Everything is meaningless. Might as well eat at Arby’s.

    3. Blackdrazon

      And then, at the end of the sequence, Sarah sits next to Sarah.

      1. Cephalo the Pod

        “I’m from the future. Don’t say anything to Dorothy on November 15.”

    4. Halloween Jack

      Sarah has become Lady Darkseid, in constant search for the Anti-Fun Equation.

      SARAH IS.

  16. John

    I’m with Sarah in panel four, honestly.

    1. Tomas

      Nice try, Sarah, but we can tell this is a sock puppet account.

      1. podian

        The avatar kinda gave her away.

    2. Halloween Jack

      Yeah, “John.”

  17. otusasio451

    So, I’ve decided to make a brand of hoodies called Hoodrosaurus. Anyone want in on this?

    P.S. No, I haven’t, but if anyone ELSE wants to do it and include me, I’M IN. I’m a good idea and design man. Plus, I love me some dinosaurs.

    1. MeghanTheWorldEater

      I’ll be the partner that gets all the money despite having contributed nothing.

      1. Dean

        And I’ll be the one who gets upset with you over nothing and badmouths you all over the internet.

        1. Someone

          And I’ll be the fat guy who releases all the hoodies

        2. gkheyf

          and i’ll be the wet blanket that points out that funding or lack of consumer interest are no longer the main issues preventing this product from becoming a reality. the biggest hurdle will be recruiting someone capable of working out the logistics of a practical 3d article of clothing that holds its form and doesn’t flop over

        3. MeghanTheWorldEater

          underwire?….but it’s a hood…overwire?

        4. Roborat

          Simple, inflatable. I will take my reward in shares.

        5. Someone

          The current hoodies no longer interest the public, we must create a new cooler hoodie!

        6. gkheyf

          a cooler-hoodie?? that may be just the product that the alcoholic college student market has been waiting for! billie can totally fund us!!!

        7. Tacos

          I don’t know about a cooler-hoodie but I think I remember that there is an article of clothing that is a cooler for your alcohol that you use to sneak alcohol with you to places.

        8. Dean

          A guy I used to work with would fill four hip flasks with liquor and tuck them into his socks. Worked every time.

        9. otusasio451

          We can (almost) make hearts with a printer. WE CAN MAKE A DINOSAUR HOODIE.

        10. Julez

          Batting would work on the horns. The ridge could have boning in it, or be lined inside with a stiffer material. As for a cooler-hoodie, easy enough to sew in some internal pockets lined with the insulated grocery bag material.

        11. Kryss LaBryn

          You can use plastic cross-stitch sheets for the ridge. Bonus: cheap and washable! I use it in my stomachers for my 18th Century dresses. With a slight vertical curve to it you can hold 18″ with sandwiching material both sides upright, no problem.

  18. Packy

    I, for one, am glad Willis put Dina in an outfit three times harder to draw.

    1. otusasio451

      We all are. We ALL are.

  19. Foxhack

    Infantilizing.

    Guess Sarah’s never heard of kigurumi pajamas.

    1. Foxhack

      Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if Dina had a set somewhere.

  20. Law

    Sell me the dang hoodie willis!

    1. Cephalo the Pod

      Damn hood, Willis!

  21. Opus the Poet

    well, it isn’t a thing in our universe, yet.

  22. caesaria82

    OMG new Dina costume! And such an epic one! And Dina confidence and sarcasm and sticking up for herself and yesssssss. You go, girl!

    And I love how Sarah is such a complex character that I sometimes adore her and sometimes get really mad at her (like here), so yay for multi-dimensional, fleshed-out characters (especially female characters, but everyone in DoA is like this, really) that feel super real and human and relatable. I just love this strip a lot, in case you can’t tell lmao.

    1. Barf Ninjason

      Totally. Sarah is exactly the kind of person who I would usually hate (she is so relentlessly discouraging!) conceptually but then be like “well, okay, at least you’re honest) in person. Very realistic.

      1. caesaria82

        Right? I was just thinking that, I totally know a person like Sarah. Heck, I can *be* Sarah occasionally. I think most people can. That’s what I love about her as a character.

        1. claudewicked

          In my experience, people in Sarah’s archetype hate eachother more than anyone else.

  23. Nena

    Willis, are you going to make the dinosaur hat and hoodie available at your shop? I bet you will sell a lot of those. =)

    1. Someone

      Things Willis must sell:

      Sals biker gloves

      Dina’s hat

      Joyce’s monkey master pajamas

      Dina’s hoodie

      1. gkheyf

        the biker gloves would be the easiest to buy/relabel/mark-up cuz they’re a fairly generic product

        1. Someone

          Ooh and the monkey master toy

        2. Opus the Poet

          Don’t forget the Head Alien bong http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/05-saturdays-all-right-for-slighting/bong/

    2. Tenn

      I think he actually made a few dinosaur hats some years ago. No mass production, though.

  24. Kraken

    Sarah thought they were hat/head covering sisters. đŸ˜›

    Also, yay for Sarah friendship and Dina sarcasm!

    1. gkheyf

      they did both take the elevator that’s only for people wearing hats

  25. Tacos

    Wait, is the hoodie an actual article of clothing that we can buy? Because I would buy it and wear the hell out of it.

    1. Opus the Poet

      I have a feeling someone is going to make a few just to see what the market is like.

      1. Tacos

        Welp, apparently they do exist but are super expensive.

  26. Leorale

    Dina continues being amazing and taking no guff for her differences. In a triceratop. Yes.

    1. caesaria82

      This is gonna be like the creepiest comment ever, but your avatar was in my dream the other night. Just randomly flashing by. Goes to show how much this comment section lives in my subconcious lmao.

      /sorry for being a creep xD

  27. Plasma Mongoose

    Sarah does have a point though, if Dina doesn’t want people to mistake for an early teen, that hoodie isn’t exactly the best thing to wear.

    1. brasca1

      True, but her approach tends to alienate more people than win arguments which is something an aspiring lawyer should know. Too often the lawyer who can level with the jury is the one that wins the case even if their client is guilty as hell.

    2. Tacos

      I dunno. I can see it as a conversation starter. I mean if I saw somebody wearing a hoodie like that I’d probably go, “Oh cool. That person must like dinosaurs. Imma go over there and talk to them about dinosaurs.”

      1. MeghanTheWorldEater

        I’d say the same thing, and then just sit there awkwardly thinking about doing it cause I’m a social coward.

    3. Yumi

      At the same time, it is similar to things I have seen people in college wear.
      Only cooler.

    4. chris73

      Exactly, its not fair for people to think of Dina as a young teen but if you look and dress like a young teen then thats what peoples first impression of you will be

      1. Plasma Mongoose

        It’s hard to tell if Dina has a young looking face but her height and build lends itself to making her look like a person in her early teens.

        1. Tacos

          Some of us are just immortal time lords. The only reason I don’t get carded anymore is because I grew a beard.

        2. Roborat

          So, what, you cut a hole in the bag?

      2. Lucina

        Yeah, but as with the cereal thing, is it necessarily her fault for doing what she enjoys, and having her age judged by that?

    5. Someone

      We’ll given that people where pajamas to class in college, I don’t think anyone gives a crap about Dina’s hoodie, besides the fact that it is amazing

    6. caesaria82

      I think in a perfect world people could wear whatever the hell they wanted to wear (as long as it’s not offensive or appropriation) and it would not one bit detract from their credibility as a person and from their personality and intelligence and all of that.
      Sadly, we do not live in a perfect world and people (mostly women) get judged for what they wear ALL THE TIME and you can’t really win w/ how you dress in society, so you do have a point. A sad point, but a point.
      I hope eventually this changes though and people just stop giving a crap about how people look and what people wear, unless to give a compliment or encourage or celebrate someone. Less negativity about superficial crap, people!

  28. Carms

    Is Sarah MORE abrasive than usual? I thought she’d topped out on non-farcical-troll abrasiveness.

    Sarand paper

    1. saki

      She’s probably in a bad mood because of her fight with Joyce. =/

    2. SonicBlueRanger

      Nah I’d say she’s he normal amount of abrasive.

  29. JessWitt

    Jura-sick burn, Dina.

    1. Kitty O'Possum

      Yeaaaaaah B)

  30. NinjaNick

    That hoodie is made of cotton, polyester, and awesomeness.

  31. gkheyf

    that was pretty great-aceous!

    …i concede

  32. StClair

    But they are!
    (wrong, I mean.)

  33. Eddie Dale

    Did Dina just roast?

  34. Bagge

    TriceraTop(TM) – soon in a convention center close to you. Who will be the best Dina cosplayer ever?

    Translated from Sarah-speak: Sorry about being a jerk yesterday. Do you want to be my friend, I want to be your friend… thanks for tolerating me.

    1. Bagge

      Also: I like the way you dress.

  35. Tomas

    Sarah is such a mom.

    “No daughter of mine is going out dressed like that.”

    1. Bagge

      “You want to go to WHAT kind of party? Will there be BOYS?”

  36. kelly

    “why don’t i put dina in an outfit that’s three times harder to draw”

    Three reasons. 1) It’s fucking adorable. 2) It’s fucking awesome. 3) She’s peacocking for Becky.

    1. Bagge

      3) …OMG, that makes so much sense!

  37. Em

    Damn Sarah has no chill.

    Let Dina be Dina, come on. It’s not her problem that other people infantalize her, it’s the problem of the people doing it. You KNOW that Dina is a grown ass adult, and you make the conscious choice of treating her like a child. That seems a whole lot like your own problem.

    Also, way to drag this girl, and then be like “oh i’m glad you’re sitting with me, it’s so refreshing to not have joyce sit with me!” this is probably the last time Dina will sit with you. C’mon Sarah. Quit it.

  38. Katrika

    You know what’s infantilizing? Trying to tell a grown woman how to dress and act.
    That being said, I know Sarah means the best here. It’s still pretty insulting.

    1. Arkantos

      True, but when you’re being a twat about helping, it’s almost as bad as not helping.

  39. wil

    I mean, it’s no worse than what most other college kids wear. But also, at some point, you can’t blame people for thinking you’re a kid if you dress like one and also growl at people.

    But Dina is cool, so.

  40. KP

    Who do I have to kill for a Tricera-Top? Or a print of Becky w/ Dina in said Tricera-top?

    1. Deanatay

      Um… it’s only been a banner on the site for a couple of weeks, suppose you might have missed it…
      http://www.dumbingofage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sdcc2015bigbanner.png

  41. PlaneSite

    Probably going to catch major flak for this, but that last line is approximately how I feel about Amandla Stenberg right about now.

    1. Cephalo the Pod

      Should I know who that is?

  42. Kraken

    Noticing her prey has replaced the head covering of the possible apex predator, tyrannosaurus rex, replacing it with that of the still formidable but arguably less imposing triceratops, Sarah (sarcasmus loneris) lures her in with the promise of a safe location to eat. Sensing the aforementioned weakness, loneris is compelled to attack, using barbed words pointed at Dina’s (dinosaurum enthusum) seemingly exposed emotional blind spots. Unexpectedly, nature has provided enthusum with a natural chitinous shell of logic on those seemingly defenseless areas and Dina deftly rebuffs the assault. The deadly dance occurs over scant seconds, but contains a variety of complex offensive and defensive maneuvers. With the outcome revealed, loneris attempts to save face and avoid retaliation by extending a pleasant olive branch. However, enthusum, high on adrenaline from the exchange as well as confidence from her succesful defense, fires back a concluding sharp phrase, establishing a new dynamic. An unsteady peace settles over the feeding grounds…

    1. Tacos

      Heh, I read this entirely in Attenborough’s voice.

      1. Narf

        Oh my god, that works so well!

      2. HMRC4EVR

        Weird. I keep defaulting to William Conrad as my in head narriator.

      3. Opus the Poet

        Steve Irwin FTW, Crikey!

  43. Professor Fate

    Heh! You go, Dina. Be your own person and to hell with everyone who doesn’t like it. Individuality is a virtue, conformity is a failing.

    Good ol’ Sarah, making friends wherever she goes. She’s a sad sack in a way. Humorless, excessively principled, bitter, antagonistic, she’ll make a fine lawyer.

    1. chris73

      You forgot also looking out for Joyces best interests and the only one of her friends to actually have her back when she was drugged

    2. Majere

      Some degree of conformity is pretty much a cornerstone of functional society. Heck, the reason Sarah is so relentlessly unpleasant is because she doesn’t conform to standards of politeness.

  44. Bagge

    Hey, here is an idea, why not put ALL characters in hard to draw outfits and make it a costume party episode…

    1. MeghanTheWorldEater

      Yours truly is a cruel mind.

    2. John

      Halloween’s coming up! …in several years!

      1. DarkoNeko

        By the time halloween comes Willis’ twins will have graduated from drawing school and do it for them (or not)

  45. Rowen Morland

    How many more times harder will it be to make when all your readers demand Tricera Tops.

  46. Torra

    Sarah, you might be trying to help, but really, the first two things you said were pretty insulting/derogatory so cmon, theres kind of a reason youre sitting by yourself. I love Dina telling it how it is. Looking forward to seeing her thoughts around all the other characters in this arc!

  47. BenRG

    I wonder if Dina, at least in this chapter, is DMW’s self-insert by which he tells the characters how it is in a way that he could not plausibly do otherwise?

  48. Jazz Hands

    “You look like a twelve-year-old,” said the girl dressed like Lizzie McGuire.

  49. podian

    I thought dinosaurs didn’t breathe fire, but then Dina burned Sarah here…

  50. Majere

    Well, maybe people should try not being constantly wrong then?

  51. read all over

    But has Sarah been wrong about other’s decisions being wrong?

    1. Majere

      Sarah is like an incredibly bitter and jaded Cassandra.

      1. Li

        So, exactly like Cassandra would have been if she were an actual person?

        1. read all over

          I actually thought of that while at work and how messed up that is. I’m sure Cassandra would have been bitter after awhile of no one listening.

  52. Megatron

    I constantly criticize others and I have no problems getting the rabble to sit next to me when I desire their adoration.

    1. HMRC4EVR

      They’re just glad you’re not Galvatron yet

  53. DarkoNeko

    Sarah does make a pretty good point, but no one’s forced to sit beside someone so disagreeable all the time ^^;

  54. Kaunisenkeli

    Can’t argue with you there, Dina.

  55. Jack Faire

    And with that Sarah is being one of the worst kind of adults. “No fashion for adults got stuck 50 years ago you can’t keep dressing like you did as a child even though there is literally no reason not to.”

    I mean seriously unless your job requires a certain dress code why toss out your whole wardrobe and go buy clothes at the stores your parents shop at once you graduate high school? I didn’t grow up in the 1950s so why should I dress like I did. Seriously think about it adult fashion really hasn’t changed much since then. It’s like all of a sudden everyone decided to lock in adult fashions and that anyone dressing like they did when younger than 18 is being “juvenile” why?

    I wear hoodies and wristbands. That’s how I dressed when I was 15 and that’s how I dress at 34 and no it’s not “trying to be a teen” because most of my daughter’s friends don’t dress like I do. They have their own sense of style born of their own time that doesn’t have jack to do with mine.

    I am a writer so why dress in a suit and tie, slacks and a dress shirt, insert more dress clothes here. I don’t like them and they are uncomfortable. And no they never made me feel more grown up. Quite the opposite those clothes always made me feel like a child playing dress up. I distrust anyone my age who looks uncomfortable in their clothes if you keep tugging at your tie guess what you hate it.

    And wearing casual dresses and pretending your dressed up yeah not fooling me. You’re dressed casual so don’t give me shit for doing the same.

    1. Kryss LaBryn

      The two really interesting thing about clothing for adults and kids, historically speaking, is that, first off, until very recently (within the past 100 years), kids, once old enough to walk, just wore smaller version of adult outfits; the concept of separate fashions for people old enough to walk but younger than 18 is a very recent fad and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go away again at some point, or else just expand into “everyone just wear whatever the hell you want,” which brings me to my second point.

      The other thing is the way fashions are expected to change for people over a certain age. Seriously, once you hit, what, fifty? Sixty? Suddenly (if you’re a woman) you “have” to cut your hair short (when was the last time you saw a woman with grey or white hair that was even shoulder-length?). I don’t know why it is but I’m not going to cut off my own butt-length hair just because I hit a certain age. I may do for some other reason, but “too old for hair” won’t be one of them.

      I’ve only seen a couple women with long grey hair but every one I’ve met has been awesome.

      Back in the day, though (like up through the 18th, early 19th centuries), when you were young and unmarried you’d wear the current fashions. However, once you were married, you just… kept wearing what had been the fashion when you were younger. So you see these awesome portraits of older women in their seventies, wearing clothes that had been fashionable fifty years earlier, because why change? You’ve got a full wardrobe; if it still fits then changing fashions just because when you no longer need to attract a spouse is kind of excessive, and probably considered vain or something.

      Which means there’s a historical basis for kids dressing like adults (but not for having their own separate fashions); and also one for dressing the way you did when you were younger for as long as you like. And there isn’t one for fashions aimed at particular age groups like kids or older adults.

      So, as long as it fits (and is appropriate for work/school when you’re there), wear whatever the hell you like; history will bear you out. đŸ˜€

      1. Mada

        I go contra dancing a few times a month, and at every dance (ages range from 2 to 90 at these things) there’s this little old woman who’s maybe five feet tall and has completely white hair that she wears in a braid and it goes down to her knees.

        Also her husband wears a kilt.

    2. chisci

      I understand where you’re coming from, I agree mostly, but in this case it seems to be exactly that Dina reads “like a child playing dress up” to Sarah -who, as another commenter commented, is dressed rather Disney Channel-chic, y’know?

  56. J42

    I’m shocked these comments don’t yet have a flame war over Triceratops actually being a juvenile form of the actual species, Torosaurus.
    That’s right, Cera from land before time doesn’t exist. Suck it, inaccurate paleontologists.

    1. Bagge

      Does that make it a TorosauruTop(TM) or a ToroTop(TM)?

    2. JĂ£o

      Well, since the name Triceratops is older, the adult Toro was renamed Tricera, if I remember it correctly.

      1. Kamino Neko

        That would require the theory to be generally accepted – which it is not.

      2. 3oranges

        As Kamino Neko says, it’s mostly just the few people who argue they are the same. But yes, if they were right, it’s Triceratops that would be the name for both.

        Even if it was the other way, though, how do you go from Triceratops being only juveniles to saying a baby Triceratops doesn’t exist? Aside from Cera obviously not existing because she’s a cartoon, and one not really striving for accuracy.

  57. Asper

    Dina looks so much cuter with the whole jacket thing. Question though David is it an actual thing or did u just made it up?

  58. Stranger

    Dont worry Dina, Sarah is just angry because for all her hard work, college just amounts to 4 years of adult high school, and she will be flushed out with everyone else into an oversaturated job market where her degree will mean about as much as a liberal arts diploma, no matter what she studies.

    1. Kryss LaBryn

      –Although, if she joins the Canadian military, having a degree (in anything) will allow her to join as an officer instead of a grunt. Slightly higher pay grade.

      Mind you, if you want to enlist as an officer and don’t have a degree, they’ll support you while you go get it, provided you serve for I think four years after (they even pay your room and board). Pretty sweet deal.

    2. Luzahn

      Well, she’s doing pre-law, so it’s not as bleak as all that. Sarah’s just a grump.

      1. Opus the Poet

        Still bleak. http://gothamist.com/2015/07/13/brooklyn_law_school_sorry.php

        “Brooklyn Law School Will Pay Back Some Tuition To Graduates Who Can’t Find Jobs”

        The law school has a 15% placement rate for graduates.

  59. Les

    She might not say much but Dina is pretty observant (and candid)…

  60. Spencer

    I really hate to admit it, but I’d probably be like Sarah in this instance. I’d like to think I’m a more open and accepting person but I probably would say the same thing to people under the guise of giving them some mature advice.

  61. saki

    However hard the costume is to draw, it is totally worth it! Dina looks amazingly adorable in it!

    1. saki

      As far as Sarah goes… If this was my very first time seeing her, I’d probably hate her a little. But it’s not, so I know that she’s probably in a bad mood because of her fight with Joyce, and well she’s always had a hard time giving advice without sounding at least a little snarky or superior. I think she genuinely meant to give Dina some advice, but given the context, failed to do it in a nice and appropriate manner. *sigh*

      1. DarkoNeko

        Took her a few panels to sttle down. I like what how she’s in the last panel once the defences are a bit lower.

  62. Li

    Sarah’s point is valid but limited by context.

    By which I mean, Dina has been infantilized by people who know her. Joyce was the worst offender at the party; and it is absolutely not like Joyce ever actually thought Dina was physically twelve. SARAH knows she’s not physically twelve and still made the comments.

    So it’s not really an issue with Dina theoretically inviting confusion, not from the people whose attitudes were most recently hurtful. Everyone at that party who infantilized her knew she was college-aged and did it anyway.

    Also Sarah seems pretty willing to grant JOYCE bodily autonomy despite her spending freshman weekend entirely in adult sized merchandise for a kid’s show that looked like pajamas. While she’s had objections to the Becky situation so far, “Joyce is so naive that she’s basically twelve so stop being creepy” was not among them.

    And then there’s Raidah, who thought Dina was 12 for maybe ten seconds but mostly took her for a mentally disabled adult. Which I don’t think had anything to do with the way Dina was dressed at the time.

    Which up until now was jeans, a t-shirt, and a fuzzy hat with animal eyes. The number of adults who own fuzzy felt hats with anime faces on them, especially in college, is surely high enough that it shouldn’t be assumed to be children’s attire.

    TL;DR: despite Sarah’s implication, the people who have been infantilizing Dina have not generally been at all confused about how old she is. As such, changing the way she dresses is a solution for a different problem than the one Dina has.

    1. Li

      I mean obviously there’s Riley. But it’s emphatically not about how Dina dresses, it’s about who she is, and it’s not cool to tell people to make treating someone as an adult human conditional like this.

      But also adding: while I think Sarah’s totally wrong, I certainly don’t hate her here. I just think she’s totally wrong đŸ˜€

      1. Fish

        I see Sarah’s point here too (and also don’t hate her, even though I also think she’s multiple layers of wrong). If you are unwilling to play the game and provide a constant stream of adult social cues, people are going to treat you as a child especially if you are:

        * short
        * female
        * neuroatypical

        In fact, if you’re one of those things, you’ve got to be fairly careful to never provide “I am a child” cues because it will reinforce how people already want to see you (i.e. confirmation bias).

        Which is ass, because the problem, as you say, is in the heads of the people who are seeking confirmation bias, not in Dina being herself.

        But, even though Sarah has a point that Dina can’t control the heads of all those other people, but she can control her own behavior, Dina has a much better point: She didn’t ask for any advice from Sarah along these lines. Just sitting next to Sarah should not be consenting to be criticized and nit picked. Just because something is true doesn’t mean you should say it.

        1. perlhaqr

          I don’t hate Sarah either, but now I might be just a little in love with Dina. đŸ˜€

        2. Edupoet81

          Short, female, neuroatypical. Check, check, and check over here. At thirty-four, I’m nearly twice Dina’s age, and that age gap will grow as I continue to age, and Dina remains at the age of eighteen indefinitely.
          In any case, I have often been told that I seem *much* younger than my chronological age. I do try to play the game to some extent. I suck at the game, and find myself a target and scapegoat far too often. Still, I am the person I am, and can’t forcibly mold myself into a person more compatible with society as it now stands. I know this from long experience. Thus, “advice” such as Sarah’s is really frustrating and unhelpful.
          I actually like Sarah as a character. That doesn’t mean I always agree with the way she chooses to handle things. I applaud Dina for standing up to Sarah here.
          Incidentally, I love that hoodie.

  63. Abigail

    I can’t find this hoodie. I want it to be real. :/

  64. DarkoNeko

    A bit off topic, but… it’s our (France’s) national day today and Ruth would probably appreciate this.

    1. HMRC4EVR

      Congratulations! Are presents part of this celebration? If so, I’d like subtitled seasons of Code Lyoko: Evolution please?

  65. Fish

    OH SNAP!!

    You go Dina! You be your blunt badass self!!

  66. JBento

    It’s really quite fantastic – every time I think I couldn’t possibly like Dina more, stuff like this happens.

    Also, Tricera-tops in the store or we riot!

  67. Boomer Gonzales

    OOOO!

    Harsh burn in the nice panel.

  68. Deanatay

    In the old tradition of nursery rhymes, I’m officially nick-naming Dina ‘Little Green Dino Hood’. Little Red Riding Hood’s got serious competition.

  69. Mr. Morningstar

    Wow Sarah.

    That was kinda uncalled for.

  70. Regalli

    And Dina continues to be most relatable character to me. Complete with “no you’re not allowed to wear the clothes you find comfortable.”

  71. les-be-friends dinosaurs

    All i can think is Dina and Sarah doing that bit from DBZA

    Sarah: is that sarcasm?
    Dina: im sorry i don’t think i can comprehend sarcasm.
    Sarah:…im proud of you.

  72. Crumplepunch

    That is some good Dina sass.

  73. Fabricati_Diem_Pvn

    Screw you, Sarah, that outfit is cute as fuck.

  74. AustKyzor

    Dina reminds me a lot of my brother.

    He has… speech issues. Most people would just assume he’s dumb just because his brain needs a little more time to make his mouth move, and often he goes in a loop. But if you ignore that, and snap your fingers whenever he starts looping, you find that he’s extremely intelligent – like, he could give doctors a run for their money.

    He’s also really funny, and a sarcastic little shit. Fortunately, so are the people who were patient enough to give him a chance to talk in the first place

  75. dreadedseamonster

    Dina has a point here. If Sarah didn’t constantly criticize everyone for the most harmless of behaviors and take moral superiority in all situations she’d probably be ore likable.

    1. chris73

      Shes generally not wrong and she was the one that saved Joyce from potentially being raped because she had a very good idea of what was going to happen and was handy with a baseball bat so, for me, her positives far out weigh her negatives

      1. Sophran

        It is still completely understandable why no one would like her or want to be her friend, though.

        1. chris73

          Seriously? When I look for friendship one of the things I look for is if they’ll have my back

          Sarah would be top of my list for people from this cast I’d make friends with

  76. m2iCodeJockey

    It may be three times the difficulty but, it’s freakin cute, none-the-less…

  77. Bicycle Bill

    Not at all related to today’s DoA strip — but y’know, way back in the beginning of DoA Willis admitted that it was somewhat autobiographical — and we all thought he meant that the character of JOYCE was his surrogate.

    However, after seeing the strip posted today on “It’s Walky” — and reading Willis’s comment about it — maybe it’s time to reconsider that thought.

    1. timemonkey

      Dude, pretty much all the characters are some part Willis’ psyche. Joyce just most represents his thought process at that age.

      1. Someone

        I sure as hell hope Blaine doesnt represent any part of Willis psyche

        1. Rowen Morland

          Ghost of Willis dystopian future?

  78. Charles RB

    OHHHHH!!!

  79. CptNerd

    Unintentional burn.

    1. aroree

      I don’t think it was unintentional. Look at her eyebrows. She meant that they exact way it sounds. A reproof.

  80. Angie

    I can perfectly imagine Dina actually including saying Trademark in that sentence. It makes me giggle.

    1. Bagge

      Me too, and it’s also something Joyce could do when she’s in fan mode

  81. JA

    TRICERATOPS HOODIES.

    Make them a thing!

  82. Arianod

    Snarkosaurus Viridians c:

  83. Roborat

    Dina should get together with Vanessa of Something Positive.

  84. MLBlue

    Halloween costume? Im thinking she wouldnt like cosplayers… Seriously though, thats the best top ever.

  85. Ashley

    I like sassy Dina.

  86. CommentSpawn

    Now Dina and Sarah can bond over talking about the many ways in which Joyce is wrong:

    Dina: “She’s wrong about evolution.”
    Sarah: “She’s wrong about people.”
    Together: “Yay.”

  87. MichaelHaneline

    So did Dina actually say “TM” after “Tricera-Top”?

  88. Brady Kj

    I already explained this to Willis years ago.

    T. rex

    Not T-Rex

    Period, no hyphen. And if possible, italicize it or underline it.

    T. rex is an abbreviation for a scientific term with a very specific format.
    Writing it any other way would be like saying you’re an H-Sapiens named D-Willis, who’s a fan of Mr-T. It makes no sense.

    1. David M Willis

      t-rex

    2. Kelly

      yes

    3. halcyon1234

      T-Rex vs. T. rex: It isn’t David’s mistake. It’s just Sarah’s accent.

    4. 3oranges

      T. rex could equally well mean the leech Tyrannobdella rex, the ant Tyrannomyrmex rex, the rat Tachyoryctes rex, or the snail Tropidoptera rex.

      The common name T-Rex on the other hand is more specific. đŸ˜‰

      1. Brady Kj

        I’m surprised you didn’t include [i]Tachyoryctes rex[/i], the king mole rat.

        And while you may argue that “T-Rex” is more specific, it is nothing more than a misspelling.

        1. Brady Kj

          PS, how do you get italics on this page? Do you have to have magic powers?

  89. Brady Kj

    When writing about dinosaurs, always think “WWDD: What would Dina do?”

  90. feli

    There we have two of the most honest characters in this comic, sitting together, telling each other what they could do better to fit into society. Nice đŸ˜€
    Also … I think I’m part Sara, part Becky. Yay me.

  91. Tunasammich

    Sarah is totally my favorite character but I cackled. Very team Dina on this one XD

  92. Subtle Anagram

    Thank you for giving it those eyes, Dave! I haven’t gotten my hopes up just yet, but this is one of the most promising developments in a while.

  93. TomHCinMI

    How long will it take for the penny to drop for Sarah? Dina’s comment is right on.

  94. Samae

    DRAGGED

  95. Koms

    This reminded me of Try Sarah’s Tops

  96. Eric Honaker

    I’m so disappointed that the Tricera-Top isn’t a real thing.

  97. Abigail

    I FOUND THE HOODIE, but it looks like it was already sold or something, and made back in 2011:

    https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/296769_226488824076185_1959760156_n.jpg?oh=767a03cc1888b7adeb5e31bcde019def&oe=5652BC31

  98. BrokenEye, True False Prophet

    Did Dina actually pronounce the “®” out loud? How do you pronounce “®”, anyhow?

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