The world would be a better place if we did. By the way I AM a southern elder. Your parents should be proud of the way that you carry yourself.

Yeah I'm willing to buy some also.

As a common courtesy rule, if I don't know enough about the subject or the person concerned, I will at least give them the benefit of the doubt. In that case I will at the most, as you suggest, say nothing.

They're cute!

Alex,

Nice flies! Great work. You are a truly talented young man with a keen understanding of what it means to be a gentleman. Keep up the good work.

I've had my share of abusive responses on this site. You will find during the course of your life that there are people who will belittle you as a way to make up for their own short comings, especially if they feel challenged by your ability or knowledge. Such comment only amounts to the idle casting of stones. A craftsman is typically his own worst critic, that is the way it should be. That is what gives you the drive to do better and truly become a master of your craft.

Don't let negative comments from those who are envious of your talent ruin your day or discourage you from your craft. Sour grapes never make a good wine!

All I can say is you do some great work, very realistic and it shows that you take pride in your work.

I am a graphic artist and painter, I have designed my own lures as well and people will always try and make a negative comment if they really like it, but are too selfish to compliment your work.

Take the negative as a positive, in most cases they really like the work, but they don't want to say it.

Kinda like when you are younger and you find a girl you like, most of the time you act like a jerk until you mature a bit and learn how to talk to women.

All of us who enter these gates have something in common...an appreciation for wildlife, hunting, fishing, target-shooting. I'm disappointed by those who don't exercise courtesy and mutual respect. There's not an individual, man or woman, on these forums from whom I can't learn something, and I won't learn it unless they write it. For those who find it difficult to admit that others have skills or experiences worth reading about, they've come here with the wrong attitude. I have noticed that some with a negative attitude don't last long because their input is ignored or they receive enough negative feedback to feel unwelcomed. That's not a footprint I'd want to leave.

Well stated, Edward J. "Courtesy and mutual respect." These are qualities we should all shoot for.

and to comment on your original post, i think some people are just jealous of what they never could do or be and they are negative to other people about it. i have met alot of people like that in the past couple years. they get mad at things that they can't do, and instead of approaching from a learning standpoint and tryin to get help or guidance they are just jerks about it then never get anywhere with it. i look at your crawfish fly and think "that is somethin i will never be able to create, but thank god someone can because that is gonna make some guys some very happy anglers and bring smiles to alot of faces".

If we treated each other like we want to be treated then maybe the gun laws would't be such an issue, but that is another subject. Maybe we should treat others like we would treat our grandmother, as you said with manners and respect. Glad to see there are many others out there with this same view!

Everyone here gave good advice, the people knocking you are just jealous.

First of all you said the key word, "KID"!
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. These kids don’t know Snit from Shinola!

May I add to Sir Edward J. Palumbo, we have a verity of individuals with knowledge, talents and the ability to do things that sound impossible to do. They compare their inadequate, lack of education and ignorance in the subject at hand to use themselves as the model to judge others.