Yeah, I agree with you. But your strategy requires not allowing (or giving the appearance of not allowing) someone to get to you. If someone says something that pisses you off, you’re probably going to reply while pissed off. I’m not saying this is the optimal strategy, I’m saying it’s just what people do.

I’m neurodivergent, so I usually don’t get wrapped up in conversations like that, but even I fall for it sometimes.