@chewhorse Depending on the person, or group of people, I’ve been appreciated, castigated, maligned, put on a pedestal, adored, or any number of other ”-eds”. It just depends. Sometimes it’s due to predjudice or promoting an agenda. Other times it’s because others assign a certain motive for my behavior (mistaken perception), and sometimes (lots of times) it’s due to my own stupidity. I take full responsibility for the stupidity.
In my experience, public opinion has little to do with the real me. Given enough motivation on the part of others, such a thing takes on a life of its own. It’s called gossip (and probably something else, not sure what). But once that happens, there’s not much you can do, except live your life as best you know how.
My point is I take responsibility for the parts of my life where it is possible to do so, and I don’t worry about the rest of it.