Is nothing to do with being tough. You might as well ban stuff like Dilbert references as well if you get so upset at comedy that references stereotypes of engineers.
[edit] I was also not being backhanded in the first place. You are allowed to include jokes in complements and you do not have to show some sort of undue reverence for people whose work you appreciate when you point out that you like what they do.
Your comments are simply misdirection of blame by cutting me down instead of the original knot expert you started with. The problem, as you see it, isn't that you ascribed a negative to the engineers (cropping out mars, focusing on knots, OCD attentiveness to sock drawers), but rather, you attempt to frame it as a simple lack of humor on behalf of external observers.
The problem with this analysis is that while Dilbert is funny (and fake), you were demeaning (of real people), and your defense uses the same subtly demeaning tone as your original comment.
Speaking as someone whose really likes topology, and who has been around boats their whole life, I suspect that you have not got the first fucking clue what I think regarding people who obsess about knots.
Also, I would rather you didn't attempt to try and act as some sort of translator for me, as you appear to be a complete and utter dick.
[edit] I was also not being backhanded in the first place. You are allowed to include jokes in complements and you do not have to show some sort of undue reverence for people whose work you appreciate when you point out that you like what they do.