Tony Morris

I don't follow. Exposure to insults (boybands, apples) so that you learn to manage the feeling of being offended.

I *do manage it* precisely by rejecting how socially inept it is to even accept its existence.

That's great. Not all people can manage it so rationally. Up to you whether you want to account for that.

How might you suggest I respond to abuse like this? Shall I appease it? Express concern for it?

I wasn't referring to any specific event, just human interaction in general. Are you now asking me about scalaz?

Fact: if I tell you that you are responsible for my having been insulted, I am explicitly abusing you.

I agree with that. But consider grown ups who don't whine like that. They might still have an emotional reaction to

what you say. And if you want to get a point across, you might want to avoid their negative emotional reaction.