I also do this, but it's never really occurred to me to be more serious in social contexts, only in my personal life. In social contexts, I sometimes worry not

I also do this, but it's never really occurred to me to be more serious in social contexts, only in my personal life. In social contexts, I sometimes worry not about being serious, but as some others mentioned, perhaps taking sarcasm or observational humour to such an absurd level that I later reflect on it and feel bad because I might have come across in a mean-spirited way, when really I'm just trying to get people to laugh at absurd things. I'll sometimes pre-emptively apologize if I feel like I've taken some line of joking way too far while drinking or something, and emphasize the genuine bits that I intended to highlight through humour, but that might have been lost though attention-seeking. I think I sometimes get away with more than I should, and if I pressed some of my friends, they'd probably agree that I'm a habitual line-stepper. In general, I'm okay with this, but I do want to dial it back a bit, because I don't want to embarrass anyone I'm with or discourage people from inviting me out, but overall it's hard to tell if this effect has happened or if I'm in a bubble, or if I'm just over-thinking things. Regarding tech specifically, it's not something to be serious about. There are so many laughably serious or "passionate" people who think they're changing the world with Javascript or whatever, but it's just such an inane delusion that I'd just roll with it and accept who you are, but take feedback to heart if someone says you really disrupt their day in some form. Code can have real consequences, but if you have some level of pride in the quality of work you do, then whether you're overtly serious about it or not is only important in-so-much as people believe you're joking. I'd add that sometimes I do feel myself consistently joking too much, or being too much of an ass, too aggressive etc.. and not letting any real social conversation happen, or I make light of everything instead of just some things, and in those moments I know it's time for a vacation, because I'm probably projecting my stress and insecurities on others or into the world, and it's time for a break, because I've probably been taking work too seriously, unironically, for too long, and not enjoying life, consequently sucking the joy out of things for others, and that makes me feel bad. I stop being able to read the room, read others' reactions, and say whatever bullshit is on my mind, and that can be unintentionally hurtful.