I feel trying to maintain what your attackers would consider dignity is really knuckiling under to their idea of how a good victim should behave. They push this false idea of dignity because your "undignified" behavior hits them where it hurts - truthfulness about the cruelty and meanness of their path hurts them and they want you to shut up.
I'm not sure circumlocution is going to be more convincing that the bald truth. But you know how I am :)