After reading your thread, I cried as no one should ever have to be looked down and interrogated like this. I wear my heart on my sleeve and it bothers me to no end when humans are jerks.
I am 67, reference point only as I have some life experience dealing with the kind of garbage that you are talking about. This is just what I have done in the past, we are all family here, so I am just throwing this out there, food for thought.
1) I have gone to events, and I get hit up with a ton of questions about me, they are just being nosey, so I turn it around, never answer them, and start asking them questions, one of my favorite ones is "wow, you have a really good position, how much do you make a year in compensation?". Usually, they hate being asked this type of a question and either leave or shut their mouth. If not, then on to question #2) " with you doing so good at your position, do you think that a promotion is in store for you this year?".
I always try and keep them off balance thinking about avoiding answering me instead of asking nosey questions.
I am pretty much low keyed, however if someone goes out of their way to zing me and/or try and embarrass me, then the gloves come off and there in again, I will turn the situation around against them and watch their face glow red. I am a firm believer in the fact that sometimes, one has to remember that if it comes to it, I would rather have them ticked off at me and leave me alone instead of trying to zing me.
I have done training before and I have told folks that if and if, it comes to it in certain situations that having someone or some folks not liking me and not speaking to me is far better than having to put up with being belittled for absolutely no reason except so that they feel good about themselves. At least to/for me then I have the "upper hand" and am left alone.
I also told trainees that sometimes it comes down to someone being angry and not talking to me or laughing AT me and making me feel bad about myself and letting them do it, NEVER EVER!
You are an intelligent, loving, caring and ever so thoughtful soul and you WILL do great and never let anyone tell you differently and/or let them judge you.
You have talents that nobody else has, as we are all the same, BUT each and every one of us has unique talents and I went to college at the age of 24 and found my stride around my early 30's and still to this day, I discover things about myself that makes me know that in my past the folks in my home community that tried to put me down are the real idiots.
I stand with you always, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, as what you described makes me very angry as to how some people live their lives so shallow with no meaning to it at all just to put down others. SO damn stupid and they are stupid for doing so.
Lot of HUGE hugs, love and kindness to you, my good friend.
Walter
