How to handle someone who is baiting you?

How to handle someone who is baiting you? To handle someone who is baiting you, stay calm and do not react emotionally, as reaction is what baiter wants. Recognize baiting signs like inflammatory comments designed to provoke. Pause before responding, take deep breaths, and avoid defensive or angry replies. Set boundaries clearly, saying you will not engage in argument or provocative discussion, and disengage if needed by changing topic or leaving conversation. Use gray rock method by giving short, neutral, non-emotional responses that give no material to escalate, like okay or I see. Do not try to win argument, as baiting is not genuine discussion but trap. Document if workplace baiting. Seek support from trusted person. If online, mute or block baiter, do not feed trolls. Focus on your goals, not their provocation. If baiting is harassment or bullying, report to authority. So handling involves recognizing, staying calm, not reacting, setting boundaries, giving minimal response, and disengaging to deny baiter satisfaction.