To Xelasnave - Ah don't have regrets. I understand what you're feeling, and the key is to just not engage. Being the type to naturally steer clear of conflict, it's not that hard to flee the scene, but sometimes I wonder if that's always the best thing to do when faced with adverse people.
While that is certainly admirable and the best way with cyber bullies, we are all different. BTW, I can 100% vouch for the "scum bag" that outrageously insulted Xelesnave, and the poor excuse for an apology that was eventually forthcoming, was with and under his "conditions" The same scumbag would have been banned elsewhere.
It's sad that cyber bullying does have some effect on some people, but as someone said, in most incidents with that happening, they know each other.
On adhoms and insults in general on science forums, my attitude is "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"
As someone has also said though, some people are more offended then others.
And of course the definition/s of adhoms and insults vary from person to person, and when that is coupled with some hypocrisy, then we have the debacle where someone is claiming you are insulting, defaming them, while their own insults and defamation/s are viewed in their eyes as "justified."
On bullies in general, and in real life, then yes, I believe the best way to deal with them is to inflict the pain on them that they inflict on others.
My first ever account with a bully was when I was around 9 years old.
I had finally achieved in getting a "Coca Cola" badge, [the in thing at that time and what all my friends already had] I was in the school yard with my badge pinned on my lapel and carrying my globite school case, when this boy around 2 years older than me, and a renowned bully, ripped it off me and threw it on a roof. As he stood there laughing, In my anger, I swung the globite case around with all my might and hit him fair square on the side of his face.
Luckily at the same time, the head Brother/school Principal came around the corner and dragged us both into a room. He asked me first what had happened and why I did what I did. I told him, and he gave me a pat on the head and sent me off on my way home. My adversary after receiving some minor medical attention was informed that finally his bullying had received its just desserts and he too was sent on his way.
My second experience was not in relation to myself but many years later after my first Son was born. He was around 4 years old and we had just moved into a new house. Our neighbours a couple of houses down the road had a boy the same age as my Son, with two older brothers.
My Son started to come home frequently crying and when asked what was wrong, informed us that Andrew [the boy his age] was constantly hitting him.
[my Son was far the bigger of the two but my wife was telling him virtually never to hit anyone and turn the other cheek so to speak]
This was infuriating me and finally on around the 8th or 9th occasion that he came in crying, I got to him first. I informed him that if he kept coming back hole crying after Andrew hit him, it would continue to go on and on and on.
I told my young bloke in no uncertain terms, that when Andrew hit him, to hit him back as hard as he could.
My boy informed me that the two older brothers were always around [apparently egging on Andrew to hit my boy]
I told him that nothing would happen and not be afraid.
Sure enough the next day Andrew again hit my Son: My Son did what I told him to do and knocked Andrew on his bum. The two older brothers did nothing as I was present and I then had a talk with them and his parents.
Since that day 33 years ago, they have remained the best of friends, each being the best man at each others wedding, and his parents and myself and my wife the best of friends.
