There's a difference between prodding someone a bit, and going over the top with the comments to them to the point it's nothing more then antagonizing or name calling.
After reading this thread I was reminded of a time when a couple of us from the 80th got into a 200 conversation with a 38 guy on the other side. The squad he was in at the time had a rep of being point pongers, gang bangers and pickers. To find on of them down low just fighting was rare if at all. Pawz and I were driving around in the 38s down low per usual and ran into him up high. Pawz poked at him a bit about the altitude and this guy got all defensive and justifying of it. It felt to me like he was defensive from the start more because the squad he was in prompted it.
I got to talking to him on PM and explained we were just in it for the fight and to come on down and we'd do some one v one stuff away from the fight and we wouldn't gang him. he seemed to relax a bit and we ended up having some great knock down drag out fights. Turned out he was darn good in that 38 of his.
Later on another board, guys from a different squad were just ripping on this guy. I piped in and defended him saying he seemed like a good guy, wanting to learn and already was a good stick.
One of the great ironies for me was he later ended up in that squad with the guys who were bashing him initially.
I guess it's my long winded way of saying I'd rather give folks the benefit of the doubt then rip them too much for not playing it the same way I do. I think folks are much more willing to learn new stuff and listen to the vets, if the vets provide the opportunity.