sometimes you need to give up committing to the bit when someone genuinely can’t tell if it’s a bit or not and is getting distressed about it :/ sorry
sometimes all u need to do is take one second to say “(yeah this is a bit)” if someone is genuinely asking because they genuinely can’t tell, and then you can continue with the bit. i just feel like refusing to acknowledge someone saying “i cant tell if youre joking or not” and you just continue, or even say, “im not joking” then you’re not being very funny, you’re just being kind of mean, i think.
obviously there is nuance to this and if you know someone really well sometimes going in harder on the bit will make them get that it’s a bit and that’s fine if you know them. but just be mindful, yknow? not everyone can pick up on stuff like that, and pushing harder on a bit by saying “im serious” when someone asks if you’re joking or not can be harmful in some situations.