> ...you make fun of their shirt. I agree that is an essential life skill, and I'd add that you have to judge the situation to know if that's appropriate. Som

> ...you make fun of their shirt. I agree that is an essential life skill, and I'd add that you have to judge the situation to know if that's appropriate. Sometimes your verbal assailant is not playful, but emotionally unbalanced, and responding in-kind will only put them farther over the edge, maybe dangerously so. I've had good results by yelling back with equal volume, but neutral tone, saying things like "Good morning. How you doing today?" and received a befuddled, and much quieter "Oh, good morning."