How do you tell if someone is baiting you?

How do you tell if someone is baiting you? You can tell if someone is baiting you by noticing patterns of provocative behavior designed to trigger emotional reaction. Signs include they make inflammatory or insulting comments that seem intended to get you angry rather than discuss, they bring up sensitive topics repeatedly to provoke, they use sarcasm, mockery, or backhanded compliments to elicit defensiveness, they play victim after you react to make you look bad, they ask loaded questions that trap you, they exaggerate or distort your words to provoke argument, they keep pushing after you set boundary, and they seem to enjoy your frustration rather than seek resolution. Baiting often feels like conversation is not genuine, but designed to get reaction, with person watching for your emotional response and escalating when you react. If you notice you feel unusually defensive, angry, or compelled to argue after their comments, and they seem satisfied by your reaction, likely baiting.