The Cool Jacket Dilemma

I have recently encountered what I like to call the "Cool Jacket Dilemma". See, there are many problems one must face when one owns a cool jacket. Leaving aside for a moment the "you could totally get jumped and have your jacket stolen if it's cool enough" issue, the main problem for me is in social situations. So let's say someone buys you a cool jacket. You know, like for one of those gift-giving holidays, like Arbor Day. When you get that present, you're allowed to say "Oh, this is a cool jacket!" In fact, the person who got it for you wouldn't have done that if they didn't think it was a cool jacket. Unless they hated you or something. So then you have to confirm the fact that it is, indeed, a cool jacket, and that you appreciate it. So far, so good.

But let's say, later on, someone ELSE sees your cool jacket, and they say "Hey, cool jacket!" Well what do you do? You can't say "Yeah, I know!" or you'll look really full of yourself, right?That would just be wrong. So you thank them. You know, as if you made the cool jacket yourself and are glad that someone else appreciates it. That makes perfect sense to me.

So there are different times when it's okay to admit that the jacket you have is cool. Of course, if your jacket ISN'T cool, you have a whole other set of problems. Now, when you GET the jacket, you still have to lie and say that it's a cool jacket. Otherwise, you'll look ungrateful. Can't have that. If you ever actually wear your not-cool jacket, hopefully no one will say anything about it, and you can just ignore everyone. If people start CRITICIZING your jacket, well, I think you know what to do. That's right, nunchuks. Etiquette is hard.