I am guilty of sometimes wording my arguments especially to provoke (and probably offend the faint of heart) when I feel there is obvious group-think going on,

I am guilty of sometimes wording my arguments especially to provoke (and probably offend the faint of heart) when I feel there is obvious group-think going on, often, it is when the mob has conjured up motive or intent for which there is no proof. But I understand what you mean if you mean provoke in the sense that trolls do it, baiting for a flamewar, etc.