Responding with clever put down statements. Most of us are competitive by nature and we harbor the illusion that a sharp reply renders the opponent helpless. The witty reply can easily backfire on you. In the long run all players in the one-upmanship game lose. Becoming a martyr.
Some people try to win by appearing to lose.
If you can make people think that your critic has taken unfair advantage of you, then you can often gain sympathy for your cause and scorn for your adversary. Some people hope to capitalize on the natural sympathy that people show to the underdog. When martyrdom becomes a conscious means of manipulating sympathy, it's dishonest and most people can see through that ploy. Think before you react. It will keep you out of a lot of trouble.