I don't know the personalities of anyone involved in this ordeal and that makes the whole thing difficult to judge. If this is a case of the workplace sociopath, I pity all involved. In my own experiences working with manipulative people, they typically find a narrative to support their abusive behaviors and when these people are called on for those actions, they either act surprised or hurt and often both. This person is hurt by being called things like "naive" because it is reflective of their own incompetence. Certainly "optimistic" is a better way of putting it because it means all of the "good intentions" were squandered by everyone else who just didn't get it. The manipulator shouldn't have to suffer the consequences, since it is his/her trust that has been betrayed. You see, all along, the manipulator was trying to be the good guy. The one making the office better, "more fun", it was always good intentions but the other people either misunderstood or just want to spoil it for the rest of us.

I sincerely hope no one has to work with this personality type but I am willing to bet most everyone has seen this bad faith behavior in action. You know the office bully who, when called out for pushing a person around says in some form, "come on, can't you take a joke?" Isn't it odd how this same person never calls the thing a joke when he or she gets what is wanted out of the same behavior?

"I was totally joking when I said I needed you to work over the weekend or else. Seesch. Lighten up." I can assure you, I have never heard of a single person getting a monday apology email for putting in that weekend work from this sort of office "practical joker."

So it is not too surprising to see HR departments and lawyers finding themselves implementing "PC" policies and "buzz kill" practices as a means of mitigating these sorts of power abusive strategies since the bully is ultimately going to act the victim of misunderstood intentions when asked in any form to stop.

Isn't it odd how the biggest tragedy for this personality type is having to admit how their actions might have hurt others?