On another site, just a few minutes ago, a man posted something he knew would offend me, because I had already said it would. I had also previously stated in the same thread that I don't understand why anyone would *deliberately set out* to be offensive.

Sometimes I can't tell when someone really is being abusive, or I'm being hypersensitive. So I quoted a t-shirt that reads, "Nothing is more satisfying than [messing] up someone's entire day with just a few words," and I asked him if this actually was his motive.

He surprised me by answering, "Absolutely."

Most people would, I'm sure, give the advice to "just ignore it" or "let it go." They would tell me, quite correctly, that he is pushing my buttons on purpose and that my getting upset is exactly what he WANTS. I shouldn't give him that satisfaction. This is of course true. There is a strong anti-baiting rule at that site, so rather than respond to him, I hit the report button. Since he has openly admitted that his goal WAS to upset me, I think that's the very definition of baiting. I will not reply to him whatsoever. He actually met his goal. He upset me. But darned if I'm going to let him KNOW that.

My question is now, what can I do to get it out of my HEAD? I can deal with *him.* How do I deal with *me*?