Do coworkers make jokes out of another coworker's strengths?

[Anonymous]

For example, while I am using a microscope, coworker tells me "don't break the tool". This annoys me as I take my job very seriously and have a very strong desire to do a good job. I have confronted another person who has done this, and they have apologized saying it is a joke, you wouldn't break the tool. But, I don't understand it. To me, the people doing it like to get a rise out of me. People know that I can be a bit insecure/anxious. I never smile/laugh when people say those things to me (has happened multiple times, but for other tools too - for example, for another tool that was down, someone said did you break the tool again?), so why repeatedly 'joke' about things like this? I don't understand the humor. To me, they get some satisfaction from trying to make me feel a bit uncomfortable/insecure. I am also a bit of a perfectionist. I would really appreciate input from different perspectives on this...

[Oliverlogan263]

Man, that's really annoying what some of the guys at work are doing. Picking on each other is one thing, but implying you're not good at your job or gonna break stuff is crossing a line, especially cuz you take it so seriously.

Next time someone cracks one of those "jokes", I'd just politely but firmly shut it down. Like "come on dude, lay off with that. It's not helping anyone." If they try to play it off as just messing around, don't argue, just say something like "well it doesn't come across that way to me, so save it."

You could also try talking to the guys one-on-one when it's chill. Tell them you know they're just trying to bust balls or whatever, but this specific stuff bothers you cuz of your own anxieties. Good friends will get it and back off if they know it's actually bugging you.

And if it keeps up after that, maybe go to the supervisor. Not in a tattling way, just say you've asked them to stop privately and they won't, so you need help to make it stop for real. A talking-to from the boss usually does the trick.

Don't let em get to you too much man. You know you're good at your job so their words don't mean anything. Just stand up for yourself in a calm way and it'll work out. Hope it all smooths over for ya!

[Anonymous]

In a way I can see where you’re coming from, but maybe you should lighten up a bit. For them, saying ‘don’t break the tool’ is a running joke, not designated specifically to you but amongst them entirely. Because you are so serious, it is probably their way of getting you to open up or feel part of the group. Rather than take offense, why not find a funny rebuttal or a different joke entirely.

[FunkyMonkee]

Yes! It happened to me a number of times! Just because I prefer to bust ass at work while they laze around expecting to get paid for doing nothing all day! Guess which one of us the bosses liked!