More than a decade ago, in those rare occasions someone could make me angry, only belligerent bullies could harvest my wrath in flesh. I used to shut them down by summoning their profound stupidity and injustice, taking down their arguments in an acrimonious rebuttal, and it sounded like a one-sided roasting contest, a hellish retribution, as if Earth was about to be swallowed in flames for their affront.
It was the Enneagram 8's "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" apophthegm. An immediate impusle for revenge.
In my arsenal, that cold rage was my go-to weapon in case of emergency. I used to indulge in a twisted pleasure while smiting my foes down, but only because I didn't know better.
Instead of just teach these bullies a lesson, how to respect others and be tolerant, though they did, they've also become afraid, and they felt less than nothing, their ego crushed. Someone would say "That should teach them". Maybe they are pricks, but I didn't want it to go that far. It proved that most of the barking dogs who delight in insulting others can't take it and don't have a backbone.
Nowadays, I can control my aboriginal and contagious calmness to expand its horizons further, even within mindfields of vitriolic and inane drama, diffusing situations confidently and with poise. Maybe I'll use them in a playful way, but no need for damaging insults.
If anything, especially when the intent is to hurt someone, Insults are a weakness. They only reveal our bitterness, deficiency and actually say more about ourselves than about the other person.