The fact that Byerly sees it otherwise is made clear by his immediate response. "You're not making a strong case for him not being an idiot." Though he does add - "In certain parts of Ferelden, he would be killed for that comment about Rat Red. Which, I know, sounds like some dreadful rumor they spread about us in the North, but it's actually true - There was a case where a Blackhaller determined that a man had been excessively provoked by another man insulting his dog, and the murder was considered justified."