135

Polite
Posted on April 16, 2020 by David M Willis

135 thoughts on “Polite”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    like, sure, it beats crying uncontrollably just from watching a fairly average JPop anime song depicting people just having a good time together, because when will people get to do THAT again

    as a f’rinstance

    1. vlademir1

      My money is currently on people being able to safely gather in small groups by August and big events to safely return by October, both at the latest.

      1. thejeff

        I could see small groups by August. Large events shouldn’t be until we have a vaccine, which could easily be late 2021.
        Mind you, we probably will open up prematurely, leading to a second wave and locking down again to deal with that.

        1. elebenty

          That’s what I’m expecting, as well.

          You know how we count the seconds between the lightning and thunder? The lightning is between Easter and that gridlock stunt. The thunder will be a (hopefully small) uptick. We just don’t know if it will be one week or two from now.

          Providing the states have the means to test, of course.

    2. AndieStardust

      Oh man, I cried uncontrollably rewatching that video too, mostly because I’m interested in the characters and they all really needed that but you’re very right too.
      I’m not a big crowds person but I do miss going out with friends and my SO. And I know a lot of others can’t be stuck inside this long. We’ll get through it

      1. Ana Chronistic

        I mean, yeah, I was super happy for them, but I also felt this guilty pang, like, I almost wanted kids and now I definitely won’t have any (without possibly dying for real) and I won’t get to really experience Eri’s joy unless I get a similarly broken child* and idk if I can deal with feels like that but also just the jealousy of their hard-earned happiness

        it’s a lot to deal with =(

        *I’m absolutely not available for babysitting in the normal fashion, and any other way I “acquire” a child would be through less-than-ideal means

  2. BBCC

    I like Walky trying to keep himself together.

    Sarah doesn’t but I do.

    1. abysswatcher1993

      Walky has been more in control than Sarah. She has been screaming in all this arc while everyone is trying to escape or feel guilt and pain.

      1. Abbe_Faria

        I have to admire his commitment to not be traumatized by this, also his honesty I mean he knows he should be freaking out but is preferring to rely on his favorite coping mechanism.

      2. CC

        I mean… those are pretty natural reactions to being in a potentially (and likely) fatal situation

        1. Deanatay

          Honestly, I prefer horror with occasional breaks for humor over unrelenting horror.

      3. Yumi

        Maybe I don’t understand your comment, because where do we see Sarah screaming?

  3. JetstreamGW

    Sarah, different people deal with trauma in different, possibly stupid ways.

    1. clif

      Different people deal with trauma in different stupid ways. — fixed that for you.

      1. RedCat

        Hey there are good ways that aren’t stupid, but there aren’t many available in this scene.

        1. clif

          There are good ways. In my experience almost nobody uses them. Certainly not myself.

  4. Stephen Bierce

    “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.”–attributed to Lucille Ball

    1. Stephen Bierce

      *looks* It was probably much older than her.

    2. Pablo360

      “Dying is easy, son. Comedy’s harder.” — George Washington, probably

      1. abacuswizard

        Aristophanes, I think.

      2. Oak Rover

        ‘Quotes found on the internet are seldom reliable’ — Louis Pasteur

        1. SillyGoose

          Also “87% of figures quoted are made up on the spot”. — me

        2. khn0

          “Can you just hand me the salt?” Karl Marx

      3. abysswatcher1993

        Things just happen. What the heck?

  5. Madock345

    I really want to know who made that “not polite to tie people up” comment. Sounds like Walky maybe?

    1. Nono

      Possibly Sarah. Sounds like a pretty normal barb from her.

      1. woobie

        I second the Walky guess.

        1. clif

          My guess would be Joyce. Dina is the only one I feel safe ruling out though, though Ethen isn’t likely.

        2. Sarah

          I second this guess because the bubble comes from Ross’s left side, with Joyce being the most likely to sass him back for what he said.

      2. Someone

        I don’t think it’s Sarah, if only because she closes it out sorta-telling-off Walky for being sassy.

        I assumed it was Dorothy with her “You know you’re the patsy, right?” points as follow-up.

        1. Geneseepaws

          Ahh, ah’ b’lieve you have that correct. In my head I heard it as Dorothy immediate on first read.

    2. Meagan

      I think it could be Dorothy and that the dots in front of her statement in the next panel are implying that it is a continuation of her speaking.

    3. SuperFroakie82

      It’s Schrodinger’s speech bubble, it’s from every possible character at the same time.

  6. showler

    Be funny if Ross answered “I have no neck and I look like a toe. What disguise do you think would work?”

    1. Yumi

      Ross disguises himself as a finger.

    2. Lawzlo

      …A bucket on his head? …With eyeholes cut in it, like the original Red Tornado?

      1. Jeff K!

        I am here for this quality Ma Hunkel content!

        1. abacuswizard

          (I mean, Steve Rogers probably *would* understand that reference, so…)

        2. abacuswizard

          [ SteveRogersUnderstoodThatReference.gif ]

      2. clif

        Do they still sell Forbish man costumes?

        https://i.pinimg.com/564x/58/31/e8/5831e83aec6c195a910c0cbfdaf76bf4.jpg

        1. Jhon

          Sell? The whole point of that costume is that it was improvised with materials at hand.

    3. bryy

      I find it hilarious that Ross actually answered in a way that tells that he fully is aware he is being set up.

      1. Ron again

        Agreed. Like “I know they’ll TRY but God will protect me.”

    4. DudeMyDadOwnsaDealership

      Be funnier if someone pointed out that a bunch of improvised domino masks are hardly going to fool anyone beyond people who can’t identify someone’s face without seeing the bare skin around their eyes.

      Then again, this is less about getting away with anything and more about dragging family down with you….For Blaine, anyway.
      Ross is just agreeing and going along with Blaine as long as he gets told what he wants to hear and is made to feel like he’s more than along for the ride. Then there’s the jocks who just wanted revenge for getting beat up by Amazigirl and ooh! Money! They better hope no one informs law enforcement that they were connected to this thing, or at least that they are high enough on the MIP scale of their college’s already beloved winning team….

  7. bryy

    Your faith is raising your eyebrows, Ross.

  8. Newllend(henryvolt)

    I don’t think Dina has mastered sarcasm yet, she’s like Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. Only better because she actually has mastered the art of staying still perfectly well enough to not be noticed.

    1. abysswatcher1993

      Becky: “Hi Dina!”
      Dina: *Throws potatoe chips and grunts.*

    2. Meep

      I’m not sure she’s being sarcastic. Her hands are bound in front with the roll of tape still attached, as if the person were in a rush. I think she did tell the truth and is relying on the whole “I’m relying on your incredibility to cover the fact I’m being honest” thing to hide whatever her real plan is.

      That or someone just tied her up really shitily.

      1. Khyrin

        I’m 100% sure that Dina taped herself up.

  9. DinaWho

    Am I the only person who’s not sure who it is responding to Ross in panel 3?

    1. JessWitt

      I’d like to know who that is too.

    2. JessWitt

      At second glance I wanna say it’s Joyce based on the direction of the speech bubble from Toedad’s perspective?

    3. Keulen

      I’m guessing Joyce but I can’t be sure.

    4. DrWattson

      I kind of assumed it was Dorothy since she’s the one speaking in the next panel and that line begins with an ellipsis.

      1. nobilis

        I think so, too.

    5. Marsh Maryrose

      I’m assuming it’s Walky. It’s something snarky that he would say, and also:

      Joyce is too furious, Dorothy is too composed, Sarah is aware of him being a white person with the threat of violence over her, Ethan is too stomped on at the moment, and Dina’s choice of words would be very different.

      1. RedCat

        I came to the same conclusion mostly because Walky often has the un/intentionally funniest answers.
        Dina takes the cake on this page, though, if you don’t know her this has to sound very sarcastic.

    6. JBento

      I’m goign with Sarah as the most personality-appropriate snark-responder.

  10. BlackScarabZ

    “Joking about it is the only way of opening my mouth without screaming.” – Walky in this strip

  11. tim gueguen

    There’s probably at least one dictionary out there that has a picture of Ross next to the entry for gullible.

  12. Sirksome

    Blaine’s beeln identified though. At least 3 people know who he is now. None of which have any incentive to be quiet about it when this is over.

    1. Matthew E Davis

      You presume they will still live when this is over.

      1. Sirksome

        If he was planning on killing everyone what is the point of wearing a mask to hide his identity? That shouldn’t matter if everyone who could id you is supposed to be dead. Plus killing them all would bring way more heat on him then his mob ties would probably be willing to cover up.

        1. Geneseepaws

          Because wearing a mask lets people know you are a Super. It’s a fashion statement! Soon everyone will have one,… and when everyone is a Super, no one will be.

        2. Needfuldoer

          Blaine’s mask is for Blaine, nobody else.

          https://www.dumbingofage.com/2020/comic/book-10/02-to-remind-you-of-my-love/scoffed/

        3. Sirksome

          Then why are the hired goons wearing masks? Do they also need to be freed from constraints and responsibilities? I really doubt Blaine cares about their personal hangups.

        4. mzgarland

          “YOUR NOT SPESHUL! I CAN WEAR A MASK TOO!”
          -Hired Goons

          They seem like the petty sort.

        5. thejeff

          Supervillain henchmen often wear masks. He’s playing to the trope.

        6. Wizard

          You’re not a proper super villain if your henchmen don’t have matching, themed costumes.

        7. Jhon

          I’ve skipped shaving for a week. And behind this mask, No one will know! BWAHAHAHA!

  13. Ghastly

    They couldn’t find a mask wide enough at Party City on such short notice.

  14. FLUFFY

    Well, I can’t argue with Walky there.

  15. Foxhack

    Is Joyce secretly a werecat or something? And I totally think that’s her replying in panel 3.

    1. Azhrei Vep

      … Okay, color my intrigued: What would lead you to ask about whether or not Joyce is a feline therianthrope?

      1. Foxhack

        Glowing center of eyes.

  16. synnerman

    Oh, Toedad is totally planning to kill Becky and then himself to “save” her.

    1. ktbear

      There is biblical precidence for this. Well, for saving people then killing them so they can’t backslide at least. The Jews captured a city, converted the population, circumcised the men, then killed them all so they’d go straight to heaven.

      1. Ron again

        But… But… That would mean everyone doing the killing did so out if the wrong reasons… The logic is flawed.

      2. thejeff

        Source for that? The Israelites didn’t really think in terms of “go to heaven”, at least at that stage. At least as I understand Old Testament Judaism.

      3. David M Willis

        (content warning)

        If we’re talking about the same story, that’s not really how it happened. A dude from a neighboring civilization raped Dinah, daughter of Jacob, and that dude was all “hey actually I liked this person I assaulted, can I marry her” and Jacob’s folks were all…… yes…. but you gotta cut off your foreskins first, and they were like “…. okay,” and they did, and while the town was hurting, Jacob’s folks murdered all the dudes. Kind of a different angle, there. Nothing about “going to heaven,” which as far as I’m aware, is not really part of Jewish doctrine.

    2. PB

      Oh hell maybe

    3. mzgarland

      Or goad Blaine into murdering him/them.

      1. Foxhack

        Suicide by cop.

  17. Mra

    Dina could still free herself in the position she is in.

  18. Bagge

    Dorothy is doing a good job looking for a way to change the situation to their advantage.

  19. Reltzik

    “I mean, why so-”

    “Walky, if you say ‘Why so serious’ in this context, I SWEAR that, duct taped hands or no, I will END you one vertebra at a time.”

  20. ian livs

    Honestly I tend to respond to scary situations by cracking ill-timed jokes, so… *shrugs*

  21. jeffepp

    We know what he has planned for himself and Becky. The same as before.

  22. Bagge

    So, who snarked in panel 3? Was it Dina or Walky?

    Either way, I’m here for it!

    1. Needfuldoer

      Probably Dorothy, since her speech bubble looks like a continuation.

      It could also be Dina, since just like her bubble it’s a statement of fact that’s also heavily sarcastic.

      1. thejeff

        Dina wouldn’t have had the “yeah well” in there. And probably not the contraction.

        And while Dorothy’s speech bubble looks like a continuation, it doesn’t read like it’s following on from the snarky comment.

    2. JBento

      Oh come on, that comment has “Sarah” written all over it.

      1. BBCC

        I figured it was Joyce.

  23. NinjaNick

    Too bad nobody’s laughing, Walky. Not even the evil ones.

  24. Dr. T

    I could not help but to notice that in panel 2 many characters look as though they are barely suppressing smiles. I also notice that Dina’s hands are the only visible ones. Has she untied people already?

    1. Ron again

      Everyone has their gands tied behind their back except Dina. That explains only her hands being visible.

    2. Sam

      That could also be a trauma thing. I’ve watched a few interesting videos by a doctor on Youtube and a common thing he has found is that smiling is a common self defense mechanism. That a lot of people will smile when in pain, particularly emotional pain, until you actually call them on it and ask why they are smiling.

  25. BenRG

    The point is that he’s a fanatic who thinks that it is somehow possible to pray away 25 to life in the slammer.

  26. abysswatcher1993

    A sweet dinosaur girl outsmarted the religious fanatic. Also, it’s interesting and sad how everyone has been reacting: Ethan is on the verge of crying because of what happened to Mike; Joyce is channeling her inner Makoto Niijima and could hulk out at any moment; Dorothy is trying to stay rational and find a way to escape in a realistic way; Sarah has been constantly screaming and shouting with some cynical rants (and occasional rational complains about racism and corruption); Walky has been trying to be like Deadpool as a copying mechanism since he is aware he can’t do anything besides staying positive to avoid despair; Amber/AG is questioning her actions because of what Blaine did, and she can’t think clearly because of all the guilt; Dina has been calm during all this and has control over the situation, allowing her to help in a subtle way.

    1. RacingTurtle

      Sarah has not been “constantly screaming and shouting”, wtf? She screamed and/or shouted once, at the beginning of their captivity, when she was looking for Joyce. I double-checked. You make her sound like Kate Capshaw in Temple of Doom or something.

    2. Diane

      The only reason Dina is “calm” is because she has no idea what’s going on, and doesn’t comprehend the danger they’re in. This is default Dina. Maybe I’m wrong, and she’s pretending she doesn’t comprehend the danger, but based on past interactions with people, I don’t believe Dina can be aware without detailed explaination. She may not even know what’s going on (the whole Amber is kidnapping Becky), it hasn’t exactly been explained on screen. Maybe it was explained off screen, but we won’t know until future updates.

      1. Jhon

        ‘This must be some odd college thing nobody has bothered to explain to me. I’ll just follow along.’

  27. Daniel M Ball

    here’s a sick twist that would never happen; Ross is going to be the one to get them out alive and intact, and identify Blaine and his cronies. Why? Because for once in his damned life, the Holy Spirit will actually move him and he’ll realize what a NON christian thing he’s involved with. It ain’t gonna happen, Willis doesn’t work that way, but eh, with all the other idle speculations out there, a heel/face turn from the religious fanatic, driven BY their religious fanaticism? would be kinda different.
    It would also drive everyone in the comments batshit f’ing nuts and probably tank the readership. (which is why it is THE least likely event to happen.)

    1. Opus the Poet

      I dunno about tanking the readership, most of the people seem to be pretty heavily invested in the story. And TBH it is a possibility that hasn’t been discussed too much (I think you’re the first), and is one of the few scenarios that doesn’t involve one or more main cast members getting on a bus for home because too injured to continue school for the year, or dying in the crossfire. I’m still not sure about Mike coming back to the dorm.

    2. Needfuldoer

      The comment section will probably be miles long and glow from the white hot rage of a million “DAMN YOU WILLIS”-es, regardless of how this plays out.

      1. Daniel M Ball

        Some of that is going to happen, but…the concept I floated would completely tank the readership. Why? It doesn’t fit the narrative they actually believe in. think about how people reacted to the series finale of “Lost”-those people were ALSO heavily invested, or the reaction to the season 8 finale of ‘Game of Thrones’. if Willis deviates too much from the core values expressed in his comment section, he’ll lose readers. Simply put, the belief/narrative in the comment section (which I suspect strongly indicates the readership as a whole) is that people like Ross never recognize their own misdeeds, don’t take responsibility, and are some stripe of alignment “Dupe-stupid-evil” at an irredeemable level. Why? because he’s a Redneck Stereotype character, meant to be a macguffin and an easily flicked straw man to make the readership feel more righteous. Giving the man depth, self-awareness, or even an epiphany violates the contract with the chosen demographic.
        Ergo, Ross will blunder on blindly and without redemption as a one-dimensional villain figure, “Henchman to the right”. further, having him MAKE that kind of connection would move him from paper target to something like an actual character. we already HAVE our token Christian good-person in she-with-the-triangle-smile, aka Joyce. so narratively, that move would also be a broken move.

        1. thejeff

          First of all, bullshit. We’ve got plenty of Christian Good People. Joyce is just the one that particular conflict revolves around – and she’s likely losing her faith. Becky is Christian. Jacob is Christian. Both have featured heavily in arcs about that religion. Other characters are also at least nominally Christian. Some have been seen seen going to church at least on occasion. Hank is a Christian bigot who’s been seen changing his beliefs in response to his daughter’s crisis – to much applause from the commentariat.

          It’s possible we’ll get a redemption scene from Ross, but as it stands I would rebel. Not because of the “core values of the comment section”, but because it doesn’t work narratively. The groundwork for him changing hasn’t been done. The conflict here is kind of tangential to his awful beliefs. I could see him turning on Blaine and even helping the other kids escape – but continuing his attempt to reclaim Becky, rather than having an epiphany an becoming a supportive father. That would actually create some nuance, while holding to his core.

          Beyond that, the concept you floated isn’t going to happen because this is Willis’s story and he’s not writing it to cater to the core values of the comments section, but rather we’re here because of the core values he brings to the story. He knows the dark underside of Christian fundamentalism better than most of us, certainly better than me, because he grew up with them. He’s not going to write a story where the abusive bigoted fundamentalist parent is moved by the Holy Spirit to see how he’s really not being Christian because that’s not his lived experience.

        2. RacingTurtle

          Bravissimo, thejeff.

  28. Psi Baka Onna

    Has anyone else noticed that Ethan has had tears in his eyes through all this? Poor baby is having a serious PTSD attack from the last time he was held hostage. I think that’s reason enough to punch out Ross on it’s own.

    1. RedCat

      I choose to think that it is because his head it very comfy on Joyce’s lap but you’re (probably) right. 🙁

    2. timemonkey

      Or it could be from Blaine kicking and then stepping on him.

    3. thejeff

      Or because he’s the one left who actually cares about Mike and he just learned he’s comatose in the hospital – probably.

      1. anonymsly

        I think it’s the Mike thing. That’s when the tears started.

  29. RedCat

    How is Dorothy so composed? I’d be VERY scared.

    1. Romanticide

      Dorothy has probably passed by the panic mode already and she is now in quiet panic…

    2. Bagge

      She is very Solution Oriented.

      …good thing she already has a therapist

      1. Geneseepaws

        Lotta folks gonna be in therapy with some 80 Proof theorems when they hit the books back in the dorms. Better than “7 1/2% Solution”, I guess?… Real therapy needed all around.

    3. Regalli

      Banking the trauma until it can be safely processed later is also an option! (We’ve seen it from Becky as well, last time she was a hostage, and I’m guessing there’s going to be a lot of emotional crashing once everyone’s safe regardless.)

  30. Author X

    Yeah that’s the thing about defence mechanisms, they tend to pop up when you’re having a bad time, whether they’re appropriate or not.

  31. Rabid Rabbit

    Interesting choice, Dotty. Ross is all “Be polite to your elders,” and you’re calling him “Ross,” not “Mr. MacIntyre.” I know the negotiator’s handbook says “Establish a rapport and talk to them like you’re friends,” but is that really the wisest way to go at this point?

  32. Booker

    I actually laughed at that single raised eyebrow in the first panel like Ross is seriously trying to get his brains line gear turning to comprehend the extra child.

  33. Rabisch

    He’s happy to sacrifice himself for the cause.

  34. Skeptible

    This is why religion scares me. When you lose touch with reality, all bets are off.

  35. Falcon

    The way Ross is drawn makes him look like he’s got a lopsided smile.

  36. PB

    Ross’s expression in panel 5 is bothering me.

  37. Warclam

    Huh. You know, it’s been obvious for years that this toe is completely insane, but this page just drove home how incredibly stupid he is, too.

  38. Injuryman

    Now I know we like to insult Toedad, but you have to give him this. He’s perceptive enough to notice Dina even when she’s not raptoring him in the face, which is more than you can say for a lot of characters.

  39. melon

    oh…i reached the last comic strip….i was not prepared for that i started reading this comic three days ago

  40. melon

    hey jake, math pdh who i met during my first year, we went on one date to see fantastic beast, if you read this thank you for getting me hocken on this comic

  41. temperaryobsessor

    There are two ways of taking his phrase either he thinks that he’s willing to suffer any consequences if he can protect Becky from herself and just possibly he will cooperate with the police now that he knows the type of man he’s working with. This is dumb but internally consistent.
    Or he thinks God is willing to protect him from the consequences of his actions if he believes hard enough but not that God will protect Becky without having him compromise his morals by working with a Blane if he believes hard enough. This is dumber.

  42. Jhon

    Ross dismisses Dina’s truthful response as sarcasm. LOL
    So Dina did not provide the duct tape, and she is -not- lurking behind a nearby door ready to support Amazi-Girl. Dang.

    1. thejeff

      She’s Dina. She is behind all the doors. At once.

      But yeah, I wouldn’t believe Dina either. That’s ridiculous.

  43. Sombrero

    Ross ‘Toedad’ McIntyre, a.k.a Dead Man Walking

  44. Antonio Tyler

    Ross is gonna kill Blaine.

  45. whatevsman

    ngl, thought ross was gonna be more of asshole to dina.

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