[quote=@Dark Cloud]
I didn't do anything to even the odds as that would have reflected negatively on my part, and the roll was simply how it went.
[/quote]

Except that's exactly what you did, and you're right. It does reflect poorly on you.

[quote=@TGM]
Can we not [i]rule lawyer[/i] in a casual game with an obviously lax DM. That'd be nice.
[/quote]

I wouldn't have an issue with it, except this is the second time now this 'casual DM' has ruled against letting dice decide, in a dice game, the outcome of actions my character takes. Being lax with the rules is one thing. Actively nerfing my character because he doesn't like how I'm playing him is something I take personal offence to.