Is being called "goofy" a good or bad thing?

[Anonymous]

i am a quiet guy but when I loosen up I make a lot of jokes. I know I make people laugh, they call me goofy...is this good or bad? I like making people laugh but when people say this I think it's kind of an insult. am I taking myself too seriously by thinking it's an insult or is it just another way of saying someone is funny?

[Anonymous]

Honestly man, I hate when people call me "goofy", and all variations of it. I've always been kinda shy and quiet, so when uni came around I figured I'd be more outgoing and social. I joked around a bit and I enjoy my sarcasm and such but now most of my group sees me as a joker. It's hard to be taken seriously, and on the occasion that I do need to talk about something then nobody really wants to hear it.

Anyways there's nothing wrong with making people laugh, but sometimes you've got to tone it down so you aren't seen as the "goofy" one.

[Asker]

dude...this is exactly my problem which is why I made this question. I was always the goofy one then I toned it down (actually I got rid of it entirely) and now people think I take myself way too seriously. it's like I am either all in or out with it and can't balance it out, people think I'm either a clown or I'm trying to be a "tough guy". I can't seem to have a balance of both lol.

my case is opposite of yours though, in grade school I was a total clown but now in college I got rid of that,

[Opinion Owner]

It's a pretty crazy social balancing act, huh? What's working for me is that I've dialed down my jokey behavior and I've decided to share random snippets of personal detail to a few people I'd like to stay close with. Hopefully they can see that I'm serious enough when I need to be, I mean when it comes to exams or my work then I'm 100% focused. You sound like you would be the same...

Best wishes mate, I guess try a different balance with different people and see what they respond to?

[Niko-r]

I call the guy I like goofy all the time, I think he's so sweet and funny, when I call him goofy it's a term of endearment, not an insult. I like how cute and laid back he can be. Just don't worry about it!

[Anonymous]

It's good