# Is it rude to indicate that you made the thing you were just complimented on? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435 "2013-10-16T21:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@CLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLee)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/21 "2013-10-17T02:57:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Ok ok, show us a damn picture of the socks you made already!! 🙂 Yeah! I love stuff like that. I’m always amazed that people still pursue hobbies that are intensive and time consuming and not at all cost effective when one takes imports into account. Artists deserve a little praise, especially when the art is done solely for the artist’s use and entertainment rather than the almighty buck. I’d be happy to hear that you did it yourself 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/22 "2013-10-17T03:11:15Z")
[These](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p4/rhiannon8404/Hypnosis.jpg) are the socks I was wearing today. They’re my favorite of all the ones I’ve made. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/23 "2013-10-17T03:16:05Z")
Sure, why not. My advice though is act as though it happens all the time instead of gushing, be humble. Nobody really wants to know the details of anyone else’s hobby. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/24 "2013-10-17T03:16:23Z")
Those are wowzers, nice work! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/25 "2013-10-17T03:42:43Z")
Love them! Anyone would be delighted and amazed to learn you made them yourself, I should think. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/26 "2013-10-17T03:51:24Z")
What’s the pattern? Is it on Ravelry? And they are great socks! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/27 "2013-10-17T03:58:04Z")
Those really are nice socks! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/28 "2013-10-17T04:06:29Z")
Thanks, Everyone. The pattern is a lot easier than it looks, which is one of the reasons it’s my favorite. > [@kayT](#): > > What’s the pattern? Is it on Ravelry? > And they are great socks! The pattern is Hypnosis by Janel Laidman from her book [_The Eclectic Sole_](http://www.rustlingleafpress.com/publications.html). It is not available for free, as far as I can tell. If you are a sock knitter and you love fantastic designs, this is the book for you. I have made 9 pairs of socks using 7 different patterns from this book. I also have _The Enchanted Sole_, but I haven’t knit any of the patterns yet. I’m on Ravelry, too. Same user name as here. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/29 "2013-10-17T04:15:46Z")
I would certainly be proud to say I made something like that, beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/30 "2013-10-17T05:50:00Z")
Nothing I create is wearable. But if someone’s in my house and compliments something hanging on a wall, I’d say something like “Oh, my father made that. And over here is something my mother made. And I made those two things hanging there.” We could go through the entire house this way. There’s very little on my walls that wasn’t made by one of us, and it would be very strange not to mention this. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/31 "2013-10-17T09:30:47Z")
I was wondering who goes around complimenting other people’s socks, but now I’ve seen them I understand why. Very cool! And if I told you they were nice socks and you said “That means a lot to me because I made them myself”, I would be more impressed and not think you were braggy at all. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/32 "2013-10-17T09:36:05Z")
There’s nothing wrong with bragging, if done in good humor. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/33 "2013-10-17T10:39:32Z")
So when someone walks out of the office toilet, and the next person going in gags from the noxious fumes, is it rude to say “I made that!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/34 "2013-10-17T10:55:21Z")
It’s not rude at all. It also gives us an opportunity to ask you to make us a pair! 🙂 Those are great looking socks. I’d buy several. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/35 "2013-10-17T12:19:45Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Thanks, Everyone. The pattern is a lot easier than it looks, which is one of the reasons it’s my favorite. > > The pattern is Hypnosis by Janel Laidman from her book [_The Eclectic Sole_](http://www.rustlingleafpress.com/publications.html). It is not available for free, as far as I can tell. If you are a sock knitter and you love fantastic designs, this is the book for you. I have made 9 pairs of socks using 7 different patterns from this book. I also have _The Enchanted Sole_, but I haven’t knit any of the patterns yet. > > I’m on Ravelry, too. Same user name as here. Thanks; I’ll look for the book. I love making socks. I’m also the same name on Ravelry. Any other sock knitters on here? Maybe we need a SDMB group on Ravelry. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/36 "2013-10-17T12:54:20Z")
So what’s the proper response when someone says “Your girlfriend is pretty”? "“Thanks, I… um… _made her myself??_” Those are some cool socks BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/37 "2013-10-17T13:10:06Z")
OP: Not rude. It makes you more interesting, especially if it’s something the complimenter would have no way of knowing. People get in the habit of locking people into the role of the person they _see_, and failing to understand that person has a history and other interests. Think about how weird it was when, as a kid, you saw your teacher at the store doing normal people things. It’s tots cool to learn something unexpected about someone–makes you feel less alone on the planet. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > “Thanks! I had some underpaid, overworked Chinese ladies make it for me then ship it over here!” 🙂 I actually say, “…I had it imported from The Far East.” just to make shit sound exotic. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/38 "2013-10-17T13:28:08Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > So what’s the proper response when someone says “Your girlfriend is pretty”? “I sure can pick 'em!” ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/39 "2013-10-17T13:49:50Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > For example, I’m wearing a pair of socks that I knit myself and someone tells me how cool my socks are. Am I allowed to say, “Thanks, I made them” or is that rude? IMO, not even in the slightest. Now if you saw me just looking at your socks, and then decided to comment on how you made them, that would more fall in line with bragging or boasting, because you’re preempting things. It’s nice when your work is recognized, especially if its a more obscure interest. If I spent the time noticing and complimenting your socks, and you pointed out that you actually made them, you’d be likely to capture more of my interest. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435/40 "2013-10-17T14:01:11Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > So what’s the proper response when someone says “Your girlfriend is pretty”? > "“Thanks, I… um… _made her myself??_” > [@Alessan](#): > > “I sure can pick 'em!” “Thanks. For a hundred bucks, she can be your girlfriend for the night.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-indicate-that-you-made-the-thing-you-were-just-complimented-on/671435.md?page=3)