I learned that people who sometimes smile in your face are your worst critics. Best thing I learned is never let what they think bother you. Doesn't matter what you do, you can't change them. Give them back their hatred and it only justifies their feelings of ill will towards you.
I don't hang around bad people. I didn't fit in with the cool kids because I wasn't one of them. Making fun of or picking on other kids bothered me.
Friend of mine was a a band-geek. This one kid liked shoving smaller kids into lockers and he tried it on my friend. My friend kicked him in the nuts......It was so cool. It was so funny seeing this bully laying on the floor grasping at his nads while writhing in pain. Classic.
When I was in Jr. High and High School, I just wanted to be around people that I felt comfortable and natural with. Not having to watch what I say, wear etc. I'm still like that, but like you said, you just have to "be" and people will like you or not.... many times not in my case .... which is okay (now) .... when you don't fit people's perceptions of what they think you should be, it throws them off and they don't know what to do with that, so they avoid you.
I never wanted to see anyone hurting. I figure people are jerks for a reason - most likely because their parents are jerks.........