If someone is always joking with others, but not with you, what could that mean?

Are you one to joke much?

Try breaking the ice with some humor of your own. Maybe you come across as super serious and this person is unsure as to whether you are open to casual joking around.
I am a very humorous type but tone down my irreverent ways around those that present as serious and uptight.

@longgone…I have tried to joke with him on occasion, but without much success. When we talk, he often shares about how stressed he is at work (I work with him). Needless to say, I don’t try to joke with him then because it wouldn’t seem appropriate.

Lately his stress is through the roof, and he doesn’t have much time to talk, but I know things are getting to him more and more.

@Coloma…I have tried that (see above), but with not much success. I would worry that he doesn’t see me as a friend who he can lighten up with, except that he shares a lot with me.

Is it possible he sees you as a mentor, in a way? Someone he needs to talk over problems with, and, thus, be serious?

I only joke when I’m comfortable, but many joke when they are feeling un comfortable, as a way of relieving pressure.

I don’t think he sees me as a mentor. ..he is senior management and I am more of a administrative assistant (not under him).

Interesting about the comfort level comment…I will sometimes joke when I feel the situation is awkward. This happened just yesterday. ..with him.

If he is senior management, and you are an administrative assistant, he may feel it’s inappropriate to joke with you in that manner. He may be joking with others on his level and/or his staff.

Here’s another theory: If he is sharing intimate details of his life with you, is it possible that maybe he likes you and that’s why he has serious conversations with you but more lackadaisical with others?

That’s true @jca…about the joking. You mean he likes me as a person/friend, I assume…

I meant person friend OR maybe something more.

No…that can’t be (the second one, not the friend thing). He’s married. And it’s generally work stuff he shares.

OK, @yankeetooter, so then my guess is he does not feel joking with you (which is something that others will see) is appropriate.

I guess. ..one can joke in appropriate ways, though.

It means you are a fun sponge.

A funge? No, seriously, I am not.

Maybe he realizes you have a crush on him and doesn’t want to encourage you.

Yeah…maybe, but then why does he open up to me so often?

Does he? Or are you imagining it? You said he’s under stress. Perhaps he can’t go to his peers because he feels they’d judge him for venting about his workload or the pressure he’s under? Perhaps talking to you about it is safe?

I think you’re looking for evidence that there’s more to this than just friendly chat.You said you’d like there to be more on the other thread. I think I’d be very careful not to push this further than he means it to go. He’s married. End of story.

I’m sure that’s the only reason he does so.

He may be so stressed that he just needs someone to talk and vent to, but he may sense that you have a crush on him, so that’s where he’s chosen to draw the line. If he thinks joking around might encourage you even more, he’s chosen to not even give you the option of misunderstanding his behavior – which you absolutely need to respect.

Oh, I didn’t know there was another thread where other details were mentioned that were not mentioned here. Thank you for that, @Earthbound_Misfit.

Maybe he is enjoying that he knows that you have a crush on him, so he is doing the “little intimate chat” thing with you for his ego.

Who knows?

Relevant: Here’s the other thread that @Earthbound_Misfit was referring to.
http://www.fluther.com/174406/why-would-someone-act-one-way-toward-you-when-its-just/

May be he think you would not like it or some people do joke with only those who also make jokes as such people don’t take any joke seriously so it is on a safer side that they don’t get hurt by any jokes.
I would suggest why don’t you take an initiative instead waiting for him.

I’ve joked with him before, but I’m coming to see that he is a pretty serious guy. He even made a statement today to that effect.