Not joking, static just really isn't that big of an issue with modern components.
Also remember that no charge will flow if something isn't grounded. If you have your diode sitting on a plastic bench and you pick it up, sure it will reach the same potential as you, yet no current will flow. Current will only flow if you at are a higher potential than ground and your circuit is grounded. Soldering a diode into a laser (also on the plastic bench, and also floating) will cause no charge to flow, because it has nowhere to flow to.
Working on a radar or microwave transmitter installed in a grounded system is a different story, however you don't need to worry about esd if the system you are working on isn't grounded (such as the case with a handheld laser). Remember, if current did flow through a non-grounded device you would end up "zapping your laser with esd" every time you picked the thing up.
Also remember that no charge will flow if something isn't grounded. If you have your diode sitting on a plastic bench and you pick it up, sure it will reach the same potential as you, yet no current will flow. Current will only flow if you at are a higher potential than ground and your circuit is grounded. Soldering a diode into a laser (also on the plastic bench, and also floating) will cause no charge to flow, because it has nowhere to flow to.
Working on a radar or microwave transmitter installed in a grounded system is a different story, however you don't need to worry about esd if the system you are working on isn't grounded (such as the case with a handheld laser). Remember, if current did flow through a non-grounded device you would end up "zapping your laser with esd" every time you picked the thing up.
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