It's still awkward when he does it. I don't know if you've ever been in the room, but trust me, beyond cringe-inducing and closer to 'when can I punch him in the face?'

[ A simple shrug, and a genuine smile. It's nice to hear someone say that he's not an idiot, although he wasn't fishing for the affirmation.]

It's just a joke, the idiot thing. Like how I could call the uncharmed ones blind and deaf, but that's not giving the blind and the deaf enough credit. But I'm always an acceptable target, because I never mind.