To ask for advice on how to minimise your chances of becoming a victim of bullying ?

I'm so sorry this happened to you and shows that bullying doesn't stop in childhood. In fact in some ways it worsens with age, as the bullies learn new ways and methods of subtle acts of aggression which, unless you're the unfortunate recipient, will often go unnoticed and unchecked by others. If there is a positive in your situation, at least now you have been given the heads up and can plan accordingly. You know she will start again with the snippy comments so prepare an appropriate response in advance. How about, ' I'm happy with my art, I'm not inviting comments today thank you', or even a ' hmmmmm, interesting ...' Accompanied by a withering stare if you can't face a full verbal statement.

This is such an interesting thread, I have been bullied a number of times in my life. I realise, late on, that I am neurodivergent and that my dysfunctional childhood means that I am quiet and often hold back on saying something because I don't want to be wrong and because I have low self esteem.

It happened again just last week at an art group where some ghastly woman tried to insist that something was 'wrong' in my art and went on and on saying I should change it. I avoided answering until, feeling forced to say something, said I hadn't finished that bit of the picture yet and anyway, I was waiting to speak to the teacher for guidance.

She got this physical 'attitude' on and then later criticised the art materials I had in a very sarcastic way. I will see her again this week and I now feel agitated and anxious. Why do people behave this way, if I see that someone is hesitant or anxious, I will try to be reassuring or helpful.

Always always stand up to them

Definitely hit the bully back. If a bully is rude or nasty ask them to repeat what they have said as you don’t understand what they mean . This can take the wind out their sails . Or call them out as in “ What a nasty mind you have “
or “Are you having a bad day “ or “ How spiteful “ . Or sarcasm “ Really how interesting “ or “ Quite “. laughing at them can make them look foolish too .

What a stupid thing to say obviously by the time you've spoke to those victims they've been reduced to a shell of themselves and have had their self esteem depleted by their abuser.

I can guarantee they weren't like that when they met their abuser.

I still whole heartedly support giving the bully a pasting. If you're weaker than them, go train some martial arts. If you lose, you lose. It's unfortunate, it sucks but make an attempt. They say something rude, you be rude back.

My DS hit a bully after months of abuse and getting others to join in on the mocking and excluding. It gave him a sense of relief to know that he gave the bully what he deserved.

What's she's doing now later in life?

Some times people with a strong personality can be targeted as the bully sees it as a challenge to break the strong personality and grind the person down . .

Weaker children hitting their bully back, rarely stops bullying unless it is a whopper, which is unlikely.
Most bullies have a group, that'll take over.
Martial art training is a deterrent.
It's sad that some people become targets, you have to hope that others around it, call it out.
I'm always on the victims side and would definitely call it out ot stop it.

I agree with you. I've known people in the past who would be regarded as ' odd' or were ND or were just happier as a lone wolf etc BUT they were not bullied for their differences, purely because they could shrug off mean comments or would quietly push back. They were secure in who they were I suppose and wouldn't react to any meanness, so bullies would leave them alone as they couldn't get a rise.

@Mhtr

As was said above Neice beat the bully in the race . I think this child saw Neice as “Lesser”and didn’t like being beaten especially as it was assumed the bully would win .

It was basically nasty remarks made by the bully when no one was around , the bully triangulated, told lies and isolated my Niece and managed to turn her friendship group against her.

It turned physical too with sly shoves and pokes . The bully tried to create an uncomfortable unpleasant atmosphere for my Niece .

It ended when they all left school and my Niece went to Uni in a different city .

It was sheer frustration for my Niece as she knew who was behind it but teachers would not accept it .

What happened?

You've captured the insidious nature of bullying really well. Most bullying isn't done openly, it's done covertly so very difficult to prove and challenge.

As extremely abhorrent as it is I think having poor body posture might contribute, not having confident body language ie head up, shoulders back, chin up. Shy closed body language won’t help

I grew up in a then rough part of London. Was taught to walk with purpose & not to shrink in anyway. I think it helps.

confidence and not giving a shit.

if you are different in anyway then a bully can exploit it but not every dc with a difference will be bullied because some are less bothered.

A lot of bullies are sly too , presenting as the picture of innocence to other people . They are good at planting seeds in other peoples heads and manipulating them to bully people. Then when it all erupts standing back and denying all knowledge of what's been going on . They are the most dangerous types as people don't believe they are capable of it .

My Niece was targeted in this way but the teachers would not have it that the child concerned would behave in this way as she presented as smiley , bubbly and came from a good home in an affluent part of the City . The child was a clever narcissist manipulator and got away with it . It all started because my Niece narrowly beat her in a race and we all know narcs have to be top dogs .