If you do anything that is perceived to be out of the mainstream, beyond the pale, just not on, possibly awful, could be horrible, pick your pejorative, (whether it really is, or is just perceived to be) people will talk about you.
When this happens, you can do one of four things:
- Engage the public and lay out the facts that are available.
Another good one from Jess.
I dig dis !
Opetion 1 works if the other people are willing to converse. Unfortunately, too often that’s not the case — they go for #2 or #3 in response. Certainly worth trying, though.