It is not formal or face to face communication, even if it were, there is no obligation to participate or oblige someone trying to get a rise out of someone els

It is not formal or face to face communication, even if it were, there is no obligation to participate or oblige someone trying to get a rise out of someone else. On top if it people have more then enough tools to completely remove themselves or the offending party from conversation. Thus medium is relevant. But if you mean an e-ego has to be defended and proven superior to others in order to maintain e-streetcred... yeah, sure it will amount to nothing but entertainment for someone else.