Since you were addressing Armistead, I won't mention that I took no offence at all. Nor will I say that I wasn't commenting on the compliment itself, I was commenting on the fact that he thought I was serious about being too old to care.
It's like when I say "Some people are born stupid. I've had to work hard my whole life to get this way...and I'm proud of the job I've done." Most people laugh at that, but every now and then someone says "Don't say that! You're not stupid!"
At that point I always feel compelled to say "You do realize I was joking?"
But I didn't say that either, since you weren't talking to me.
Which means I didn't suddenly turn serious now, because I didn't say anything.
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“Never do anything you can't take back.”
—Rocky Russo
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