Subtle bullying is a term I have probably made up and it is called something else but this is how it exists in my mind. It is when someone makes comments about you, your hobbies or your appearance then tries to pass it off as “just a joke”
Examples
- “You smell like a (expletive)”
- “You gone for the airodynamic look with the hair today?”
Then when you get upset about these comments your met with the classic “it’s only a joke, you know that right, I was only playing”
This kind of behaviour is damaging, if you have nothing nice to say, why bother? Instead you could just say, you smell nice today or that outfit really suits you.
Be kind, it is free and costs you absolutely nothing.