More of my thoughts (I am hesitant about this because I am afraid it will be unpleasant for you to read, but I may be getting somewhere???)

… What if they were bullying you for the same reason bullies bully, because they weren’t afraid of consequences, because you looked weak and insecure to them, harmless… one who will not object or fight or assert himself? Don’t bullies use any thing as a topic of their bullying: this or that or the other thing, their pleasure is not the thing they are bullying you about, but the bullying itself?

If so, it is not transparency that caused the teasing/ bullying, but the bullies not being afraid to bully you and enjoying it, it releases some work related stress for them, make the day lighter for them…

In that case, to avoid bullying, you look people in the eye, assert yourself, let them know you are not an easy target. (The highly strung hyena in the public speaking class… a target in the work place, just that, and then, the bullies would use anything: what you eat at work, what you don’t eat, your weight, your clothes (all transparent!), your voice, your hair, as well as anything at all you say…

There is one kind of transparency for bullies, and that is EASY TARGET, someone “compliant”- the word your mother used to describe you as a child.

Not about you having been a teacher.

anita