Whatever the case may be with how Danny subserviated himself to Dorothy, the fact is she only broke up with him days ago on a relationship that had been years long.
I’ve had a serious relationship split after much less time than that, and all of my real friends who weren’t buttheads were willing to actually listen to me a bit.
This strip is done for comedic effect, but I assure you Joe in no way speaks for all of us, least of us those who actually remember what Danny went through days ago in-story universe and remember what it means or what it feels like. It’s been four years since my relationship broke apart but I could still tell you the day it happened even if I have gotten over it since.
It’s funny because for us, it’s been over a year, but for Danny and Joe, it’s been less than a week. So while for us, it’s like “Gawd Danny, it’s been a year, shut up about the relationship you were in for 4 years or whatever.” but for Joe, it’s like “Dude. New pussy.”
Joe doesn’t want to hear your angst, besides, Danny maybe have blabbed on about his feelings on Dotty off-screen a few times already and Joe doesn’t want to hear it again.
I swear, I was one of the few people at college who liked to keep my dorm room neat. Everyone else’s rooms were always messy. I got a single room in my junior year after I got sick of living with messy roommates.
So, Danny admits that his excuse was bullshit, in order to cover up his difficulty with moving on. He is also angsting like crazy. I wouldn’t want to listen to it any more than Joe does, but I wouldn’t just walk out, then text him saying “Bored” after it. Joe may be a good wingman, but he’s not really a good friend.
Is it possible that Joe knows Danny so well that he left their room in the previous comic and predicted what Danny was going to say then gave the preemptive text in the hall. Thus making Danny the one who all caught up with his “problems” and not even noticing that he was the only one in the room.
After yesterday’s comic, I would have expected to see an interesting confrontation between Danny and Joe here. It certainly would have helped to flesh out these two characters a bit more, and what’s more, further encouraged the reader to form his own opinion on the dilemma (moral and behavioral) we’re presented with here.
Instead, we just get Joe acting like a total assbag. If he was angry with Danny constantly pitying himself, why doesn’t he tell him face-to-face? I mean, why would you treat your best friend like this? I’m aware that today’s comic is played for laughs, but it’s kind of an anti-climax.
Who says he’s angry at Danny? Occasionally frustrated with his idiocy, but I’m not seeing any anger here. I’m seeing…Bored. Not with Danny personally, but rather his Wangsty McWangstmeister act, which Joe doubtlessly *has* seen before, many times. Plus Joe has no comprehension of this mysterious “not ready for sex” thing so Danny is just basically saying “blah blah blah.” Were I Joe, I’d want to leave too; misguided politeness would oblige me to stay, but that would be wrong of me and just make me a wangst enabler.
And I *certainly* wouldn’t have a confrontation with Danny; that would just be dickish. I mean, which are we talking about: “Danny, you should stop being celibate, that’s lame”, or “Danny, you should stop expressing your unmanly feelings; because I don’t care”? Um, yeah. The only debate here was about Danny’s false excuses; about his wangst there is nothing to say. And Men(tm) don’t talk about that stuff anyway, particularly not while sober and in daylight. So yeah.
But there is a silver lining – we readers will form our own opinions anyway, even without the help. And we’ll post those opinions (and memes). We’re good at that.
…Except it only took Danny a few seconds to admit that what he said before wasn’t totally true, thus invalidating all of Joe’s arguments. So he didn’t “win” anything.
Admitting the other person is right doesn’t invalidate anything, and he wouldn’t have admitted it without Joe’s counterargument. And getting the other person to admit wrongness when they otherwise wouldn’t is the essence of debate victory.
You just didn’t recognize it because in real life, nobody ever admits they were wrong.
Yes, okay. If all they cared about was winning instead of actually making a point, then Joe won the debate.
Danny confessing that the thing they were arguing about is untrue, however, made all of Joe’s arguments about why it didn’t make sense irrelevant. Joe wasn’t even trying to point out that what Danny was saying was illogical and therefore untrue, he was trying to point out that Danny’s reasoning made no sense–which doesn’t matter if it wasn’t *real*.
All you people saying “My god Danny needs to get over it” and “he is angsting so hard” are the reason why the APA is diagnosing grief as a “disorder” now.
I dunno, on the other hand it’s not like we got to actually see his long and involving relationship with Dorothy. The two just came on stage, played their parts of “girl who obviously is going to dump him” and “guy who is so dopey and oblivious he *deserves* to get dumped” to the hilt, and then she surprised nobody by dumping him as expected. Sure they’d been dating for, um, a while prior to that point, but we never actually saw any of it; all we saw of his relationship was it summarily ending. So it’s hard for us to empathize with the assumed close relationship he maybe had.
It’s been stated that it was a few years. I agree that we didn’t see any of the closeness before-hand but I don’t feel like that diminishes how hard it is to get over it.
He was dumped in this last week, sure, technically, whatever. Still, I doubt they had any kind of loving relationship since graduation if not prom. Danny doesn’t love Dorothy; he loves the idea of being with someone in a long, committed relationship.
My point is, while what Joe did was kind of a dickish move, Dorothy did it on a much grander scale, and while we may all have stuck around and listened, everyone but Mike would be thinking what Joe just did (exit – stage left). Mike would use this moment to point out that this excuse is bullshit too. He did panic and chicken out, and he did use some weird projection to stop, but it had as much to do with Dorothy as why he flirted in the first place.
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oh dat Twitter
I think Joe texted him. Would Danny’s phone “Beepbeep” if Joe hadn’t @mentioned him?
Pretty sure if you’re have unlimited text and/or are an idiot, you can enable notices from people you follow.
But sure, text. I wouldn’t know, personally, ’cause I’m cheap and $20 per three months of service is actually more than I use my phone as it is.
Actually That’s the look of an android text and reply screen, atlest for HTC. From the look of it an HTC post EVO styled phone.
The “Add text…” input hint below his thumb is also a dead giveaway.
(It’s the same screen on Samsung phones running Android, as well.)
Joe is the worst wingman ever.
Of all time.
i like how you have a billie avatar while saying this
Not his fault. Somebody put wangst in his way.
I nominate wangst the best blend of the month.
TV Tropes!
RvB for the win!
I think Joe in this strip speaks for all of us whenever Danny opens his mouth and starts mewling about Dorothy.
It’s a bit frightening when Joe is the reasonable and sympathetic characters, but there you go.
Why would you think Joe speaks for ‘all of us’?
Whatever the case may be with how Danny subserviated himself to Dorothy, the fact is she only broke up with him days ago on a relationship that had been years long.
I’ve had a serious relationship split after much less time than that, and all of my real friends who weren’t buttheads were willing to actually listen to me a bit.
This strip is done for comedic effect, but I assure you Joe in no way speaks for all of us, least of us those who actually remember what Danny went through days ago in-story universe and remember what it means or what it feels like. It’s been four years since my relationship broke apart but I could still tell you the day it happened even if I have gotten over it since.
too boring, didn’t read
It’s funny because for us, it’s been over a year, but for Danny and Joe, it’s been less than a week. So while for us, it’s like “Gawd Danny, it’s been a year, shut up about the relationship you were in for 4 years or whatever.” but for Joe, it’s like “Dude. New pussy.”
What a dick!
That’s what your mom said.
…about little Joe.
…after she accepted the nickel.
… with his penis.
… for journalism.
9 months before you were born
…in the conservatory.
Maggie avatar FTW!
in the FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!
I like the whiplash from his semi-wise commentary in the previous comic to this.
That’s how I’d have handled it anyway.
And that’s what *your* mom said.
Joe might be the best wingman, but he’s not a great friend to have feelings around.
Joe doesn’t want to hear your angst, besides, Danny maybe have blabbed on about his feelings on Dotty off-screen a few times already and Joe doesn’t want to hear it again.
Ooh, cutest avatar yet! Another original?
Joe, if you’re gonna do Batman impersonations, the guy doesn’t announce the conversation’s done after the fact. He’s just GONE. =/
i think the text was the distraction needed to make his batman-like escape.
http://www.shortpacked.com/2005/comic/book-2-pulls-the-drama-tag/05-faztivus/gordon/
No Batman announces that he’s Batman after the fact
Obviously Joe must be Amazi-Girl
Ain’t texting wonderful?
Wow, that whole bed and the space under it look pretty cool. All well-drawn and shit.
That’s the first thing that came to mind after reading the strip.
The fire alarm is the detail that impressed me.
Yeah Danny, rocking dat android phone.
My grav thinks that the iPhone is better. 😀
Android? That’s a friggin’ Handspring Visor or something!
It’s got all the Android buttons at the bottom.
Specifically it looks like a light blue HTC EVO.
Wow…that bedroom’s a lot more organized than my college dorm…
They’ve only been there for like two weeks I think.
Dude, it took me two DAYS to make my dorm look like a tornado went through it.
Are you kidding? THERE’S A BOOK ON THE FLOOR.
Still, it’s way tidier than most guys I knew.
I swear, I was one of the few people at college who liked to keep my dorm room neat. Everyone else’s rooms were always messy. I got a single room in my junior year after I got sick of living with messy roommates.
Joe’s phone icon looks like it came from Roomies!
i gotta use that
I absolutely plan to.
What’s more surprising: the fact that Joe left, or that Danny needed that text to realize it?
That question implies that either is surprising.
Wow, Joe’s such an ass! I really hope he gets his comeuppance later in the comic!
Something of Joes will be “coming up”, we just don’t know what yet.
It’s not a hard guess.
I’m with Joe on this one. Danny’s tipping a 9.6 out of 10 on the Bore-The-Shit-Outtame-O-Meter.
Anyone else think Joe went to track down Billie now that he knows she’s frustrated?
I know I was thinking it. 😀
Joe is essentially Barney Stinson.
Except he doesnt kill animals with a belch and is in physically fit shape.
Wait I might not have gotten who you were talking about right.
I was thinking of Barney Gumble. My bad.
Upon reassessment and looking up the given name I would say that you are correct.
So many smiling Mikes. I’m scared!
You better watch out or ill give you a gift basket. *raargh*
Only without the suits or smooth abilities
Whew! Looks like the anomalous dickishness levels have reverted to normal. The world makes sense again.
Ah! So Joe is the magician in Joe’s pants!
I think I love Joe.
Joe said what he had to say and left. He’s likely heard Danny’s story before. Can’t really blame Joe on this one. And…he’s probably gone hunting.
Yeah, I don’t have any “your nickel for a FAAAACE’s mom” jokes. Just popped in to say this one REALLY made me laugh. Thanks! 😀
Joe’s a dick. I mean a penis. I mean a weiner. I give up…
I believe you’re talking about Little Joe.
Joe says what we’re all thinking.
I wasn’t. :/
So, Danny admits that his excuse was bullshit, in order to cover up his difficulty with moving on. He is also angsting like crazy. I wouldn’t want to listen to it any more than Joe does, but I wouldn’t just walk out, then text him saying “Bored” after it. Joe may be a good wingman, but he’s not really a good friend.
You didnt know that by the time they mentioned the hooker incident?
To be fair, it’s been a no more than a week since he got dumped by his high school sweetheart. Nobody gets over a serious relationship that quickly.
I know, which is why I’m still sympathetic to Danny and think that Joe is an ass. To us, it may be a year, but to him, it was only a week ago.
That’s Joe being Joe.
Honestly, this is a pretty cheap gag. Must’ve been an off day 🙁
Astonishingly, it wasn’t until right now that I noticed the resemblance between Joe and Rayne Summers.
It’s okay. I don’t hate Joe. He’s better written.
I propose that Joe is Amazi-Girl, based on his Batman-like disappearance powers.
Nonsense! Amazi-Girl is clearly Mike. Who else likes to punch people that much?
TESTIFY, JOE!
Is it possible that Joe knows Danny so well that he left their room in the previous comic and predicted what Danny was going to say then gave the preemptive text in the hall. Thus making Danny the one who all caught up with his “problems” and not even noticing that he was the only one in the room.
He appears in every single panel in the prior comment, so odds are low.
And Danny does appear to have overlooked Joe leaving…
Prior comic. Sigh.
i am so glad i will never have to stay at a dormitory… hopefully.
I wonder how long Joe waited before bailing.
How Rude! Danny to interrupt your conversation with Joe to answer a text, shocking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XViXch8BuT4
Remember kids, always know what’s around and behind your target.
Can’t blame Danny, at least he’s being honest. But Joe isn’t exactly someone I’d want to share my feelings with.
That’s fair; he doesn’t want you to share your feelings with him.
Joe’s holding a class this Saturday. “Great Friends 101”.
After yesterday’s comic, I would have expected to see an interesting confrontation between Danny and Joe here. It certainly would have helped to flesh out these two characters a bit more, and what’s more, further encouraged the reader to form his own opinion on the dilemma (moral and behavioral) we’re presented with here.
Instead, we just get Joe acting like a total assbag. If he was angry with Danny constantly pitying himself, why doesn’t he tell him face-to-face? I mean, why would you treat your best friend like this? I’m aware that today’s comic is played for laughs, but it’s kind of an anti-climax.
Who says he’s angry at Danny? Occasionally frustrated with his idiocy, but I’m not seeing any anger here. I’m seeing…Bored. Not with Danny personally, but rather his Wangsty McWangstmeister act, which Joe doubtlessly *has* seen before, many times. Plus Joe has no comprehension of this mysterious “not ready for sex” thing so Danny is just basically saying “blah blah blah.” Were I Joe, I’d want to leave too; misguided politeness would oblige me to stay, but that would be wrong of me and just make me a wangst enabler.
And I *certainly* wouldn’t have a confrontation with Danny; that would just be dickish. I mean, which are we talking about: “Danny, you should stop being celibate, that’s lame”, or “Danny, you should stop expressing your unmanly feelings; because I don’t care”? Um, yeah. The only debate here was about Danny’s false excuses; about his wangst there is nothing to say. And Men(tm) don’t talk about that stuff anyway, particularly not while sober and in daylight. So yeah.
But there is a silver lining – we readers will form our own opinions anyway, even without the help. And we’ll post those opinions (and memes). We’re good at that.
Especially the memes.
This is totally Joe. Once he’d won the argument, why stick around for the angsting? Sometimes you have to be insensitive to be sensitive.
…Except it only took Danny a few seconds to admit that what he said before wasn’t totally true, thus invalidating all of Joe’s arguments. So he didn’t “win” anything.
Admitting the other person is right doesn’t invalidate anything, and he wouldn’t have admitted it without Joe’s counterargument. And getting the other person to admit wrongness when they otherwise wouldn’t is the essence of debate victory.
You just didn’t recognize it because in real life, nobody ever admits they were wrong.
Yes, okay. If all they cared about was winning instead of actually making a point, then Joe won the debate.
Danny confessing that the thing they were arguing about is untrue, however, made all of Joe’s arguments about why it didn’t make sense irrelevant. Joe wasn’t even trying to point out that what Danny was saying was illogical and therefore untrue, he was trying to point out that Danny’s reasoning made no sense–which doesn’t matter if it wasn’t *real*.
tl; dl
I may be outta line here, but Danny’s quickly turning into the most unlikable character in this series so far.
Sure, to us it feels like it’s been months, but he actually only got dumped a few days ago! Cut the man some slack.
And how many months has it been IRL since he’s even shown up?
Desktop computer. In a dorm. Willis is old man
Or Danny likes to play high performance games and is a college kid without a lot of money.
Somehow I missed this. Not everyone’s capable of affording good laptops.
All you people saying “My god Danny needs to get over it” and “he is angsting so hard” are the reason why the APA is diagnosing grief as a “disorder” now.
I dunno, on the other hand it’s not like we got to actually see his long and involving relationship with Dorothy. The two just came on stage, played their parts of “girl who obviously is going to dump him” and “guy who is so dopey and oblivious he *deserves* to get dumped” to the hilt, and then she surprised nobody by dumping him as expected. Sure they’d been dating for, um, a while prior to that point, but we never actually saw any of it; all we saw of his relationship was it summarily ending. So it’s hard for us to empathize with the assumed close relationship he maybe had.
It’s been stated that it was a few years. I agree that we didn’t see any of the closeness before-hand but I don’t feel like that diminishes how hard it is to get over it.
He was dumped in this last week, sure, technically, whatever. Still, I doubt they had any kind of loving relationship since graduation if not prom. Danny doesn’t love Dorothy; he loves the idea of being with someone in a long, committed relationship.
My point is, while what Joe did was kind of a dickish move, Dorothy did it on a much grander scale, and while we may all have stuck around and listened, everyone but Mike would be thinking what Joe just did (exit – stage left). Mike would use this moment to point out that this excuse is bullshit too. He did panic and chicken out, and he did use some weird projection to stop, but it had as much to do with Dorothy as why he flirted in the first place.
Danny must be taking theater classes because he currently looks like he is dressed as a stage hand.
Heh, I didn’t notice that; is that emo-wear?
Meanwhile, as can be heard through Amber’s bedroom wall…
Oh, Danny-boy
the pipes, the pipes are calling
from glen to glen
and down the mountainside….
Hang in there, Amber. He’ll be back.