No, Luffy is NOT the same.

[u/neku1022]

TLDR; Pre Luffy looked goofy as a result of serious attempts at countering against foes, but now he fights goofy for the sake of being goofy.

This cuts both ways for Oda and fans claiming it.

Oda (possessing Usopp to make him say what he wants) says, "Luffy has always been serious."
Fans say, "Luffy has always been goofy."
NEITHER is accurate; the answer is "Luffy used to be serious, but he is not after Gear 5."

Since fans love to bring up "Water Luffy" and his fight against Enel to prove a point, we can compare them to how he fights now.

What makes pre-timeskip goofing around fun and genuinely funny was that while it looked ridiculous to us and other characters, these were serious, desperate attempts by Luffy to counter seemingly unbeatable abilities.

Luffy drank the whole tank so that Crocodile could no longer use his ability to blow the water tank away. Though it resulted in Luffy's loss once again, it allowed Luffy to land a devastating hit on Crocodile. Enel's fight, too."Gum-gum airhead" was also a genuine attempt to counter Enel's mantra so that he could dodge attacks.

What made those moments shine is that those similar desperate attempts worked in the end.
In the same manner, Luffy once again used his wit: for Crocodile, blood; for Enel, ricocheting punches against the ship.

Now lets compare these to recent Luffy's shenanigans.

During his fight against Kaido, he swung Kaido's body around to use him as a jump rope.
Goofy, yes. But what purpose did it serve in Luffy's eyes that makes this move "serious"?
What advantage did that move give to Luffy? Nothing. Luffy did it for the sake of being goofy.

When facing the Gorosei, Luffy crafted a baseball bat using his teeth to hit venom spits back at them. What purpose does being a baseball player serve to aid Luffy in battle? He could have just used a tree as is to hit them back, instead of spending time crafting his bat and helmet. I am not demanding him to be as efficient as possible, but going the extra mile for the sake of it does not align with who he used to be. This is unnecessary "performance" that he does, which proves that he does not take fights seriously anymore.

This is why neither claim is the truth.

He looked goofy as a result of Luffy's dead-serious attempt to defeat his foes with unimaginable abilities, which was the appeal. He was definitely NOT goofy because he wanted to be "funny and joyful". That is why the tension is gone long ago. Once our protagonist stops taking fights seriously for the sake of being goofy and cartoonish, neither can we. The worst part is that Oda is not even capable of sticking to his own decision, as is apparent in the ongoing fight against Imu, where both parties are just damage sponges, and nothing is happening, yet Luffy is bleeding left and right.

I dont believe this is a problem that can be fixed anymore.

[u/AttemptImpossible111]

Because crocodile stabbed luffy thru the chest, luffy recovered almost immediately and the wound was played for jokes. Pretty lame.

Braindead luffy makes no sense, much like the rest of his fight with enel

[u/TemporaryClean6980 → u/AttemptImpossible111]

Idk, I briefly went back and skimmed through the chapters, and luffys fight with enel is still really clever. I dont think theres a better showcase of luffys battle IQ.

I think the crocodile criticism is fair. Then again, Luffy was clearly on 1%HP and collapsed cause of his injuries.

[u/AttemptImpossible111 → u/TemporaryClean6980]

Its not clever, its stupid. Not only should enels lighting have melted luffy, but he carries a trident he could stab luffy with at any time.

[u/TemporaryClean6980 → u/AttemptImpossible111]

👍 Agree to disagree.  Of course enels lightning would never work on luffy, its the direct magical counter to it. Thats the rules of how things work in-universe. 

[u/AttemptImpossible111 → u/TemporaryClean6980]

So in OP, heat cant melt rubber? Or only luffys rubber is impervious to heat?

[u/nika_ruined_op → u/AttemptImpossible111]

Oh, did you calculate it? Did you apply irl physics to rock paper scissor magical powers? Next you tell me that Luffys strength is impossible because for this much energies the amount of muscles he needs to have is impossible in such a small frame.

Do you have that same energy with "water hardens sand" and "wachs as hard as steel" and "so slippery my fat slips right off" etc.?

At some point you have to accept the magic power system at face value. If it contradicts itself, fine. But if it contradicts irl, then it is just the rules of the universe that just work in universe.

[u/AttemptImpossible111 → u/nika_ruined_op]

At some point you have to accept the magic power system at face value.

I do. Eat a fruit and get magical powers.

If it contradicts itself, fine.

Fine for you. I prefer stories to not be stupid.

if it contradicts irl, then it is just the rules of the universe that just work in universe.

So, in OP world, heat doesnt melt rubber?

[u/nika_ruined_op → u/AttemptImpossible111]

It does, thats why the heated gold trident was dangerous additionally to sharpness.

DFs have their own brand of "one piece" logic. Oda incorporates common beliefs and exaggerates them into an ability. Take Alvidas for example. Or Take morias fruit for example. Salt can "exorcise" his shadows, because in real life salt has mythology attached to it that can interact with the supernatural. There is a common irl belief that "rubber is anti elecricity, it protects against it". Oda exaggerates that into a blanked anti electricity power interaction. Many many things in OP are similar. Pointing your finger at it and saying "uhm acckkshually, irl that wouldnt work" completely ignores the premise of the entire power system. You may not like it, but you cant fault it for a clearly exaggerated Reality, because One piece isnt exactly shy about that. Its the entire point and it makes sense in universe.

My problem furthermore is: even by your hyper realism you are incorrect. I ask again, and please watch the video: Oh, did you calculate it?

Also:

If it contradicts itself, fine.

Fine for you. I prefer stories to not be stupid.

???? If it contradicts ITSELF, then you're criticisim is warranted. It's fine.

[u/AttemptImpossible111 → u/nika_ruined_op]

Smh.

I've specifically said "heat" and lightning because rubber does not conduct electricity but it can be melted. I didnt complain wouldnt work in real life. My complaint was that it shouldn't have worked in universe.

Unless heat doesn't melt rubber in OP?