Wolfsister77
Knowledge Is Power
People who are determined to be rude, insulting, and unpleasant are best ignored. Trying to figure out why people are assholes on the internet is an exercise in futility. Most likely they are insecure and it makes them feel better about themselves.
But when they interject themselves into your business, your life, your project, your recreation time, or whatever, when you have to work with them or cooperate with them, or deal with them doing business, you can't really ignore them.
You can ignore them for the most part but if it is someone you have to work with, that might be more difficult. So keep it to the job and confront them. I know that sounds difficult but I've had success with that before. Just by letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that I'm not going to put up with their shit. As long as I don't sink to their level and don't personally attack them, keep it professional, there is nothing they can do.
I hear you but don't think that is entirely realistic. When it is your boss or supervisor or team members who are engaging in incivility, there is no way to avoid it other than giving up your job. I have in fact quit a job over that very thing. When you are being bullied at school it is often subtle or sneaky in ways that it becomes your word against theirs. What can a kid do? When it is your hostile neighbor what can you do short of selling your house and moving?
It really boils down to the person on the receiving end of the incivility suffering all the consequences of it while the hateful, malicious, etc. suffers none..
I realize it sounds simplistic but it really does work to stand up to people like this and/or ignore them when possible. If they see they can't get to you, they'll move on to someone else most likely or they may not even realize how bad they are being until you point it out to them. Now, it isn't easy. I hate confrontation. But as long as you don't sink to their level, it can and does work to stand up to them.