Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
That's what I think too.
I have (pretty well) gotten over the urge to "get back at them". Intellectually, I think that the best thing is to do nothing. When you stick up your middle finger, or respond in some similar way, you are telling them that they won. They were successful in upsetting you. If you can bring yourself to smile and simply ride on, they have gone to all that trouble for nothing. They've failed.
Very well phrased.
You are correct that the "getting back at them" part is the key. We have to let go of that. When we choose to retaliate and participate in the altercation we have handed them the victory that they were working towards. We have ruined
our own day by allowing ourselves to get drug into the chaos of
their lives.
Smile and wave. Let them enjoy their misery all by themselves.