Long story short, an ex-friend has been bad mouthing about me to many people in my circle. I’ve noticed that the general vibe towards me has shifted, and I feel like my reputation took a hit.

I’m wondering from a social strategy perspective, is it better to:

• Distance myself for a year or two, go low-profile, and then make a “comeback” with a refreshed image?

• Or try to slowly rebuild my presence and reputation over time without disappearing?

Also open to any subtle social engineering techniques to shift public perception back in my favor without looking defensive or desperate