I don't even understand why your ego would be hurt. Some random guy, started talking shit to you in front of some random people. I guarantee people are saying worse things on the net. Does that bother you? Are you worried about your reputation to those strangers? Or that the guy talking shit is out bragging to his friends about how he dominated you? The best advice is that which your mom gave you as child. Ignore it. If he gets a rise out of you, then you've given him power. The power to control your emotions. *If* you respond, your prove nothing more than you're insecure and have something to prove. Even if you kick his ass, you've only proven that you're stronger than him, but also were so insecure that you needed to physically dominate him.
Picture me ranting in front of Bill Gates' house about how stupid and poor he is. Telling all the passer-bys that. Would he respond? He almost certainly wouldn't come out front and try and start shit. Because what I'm saying is so ridiculous that it's not even worth his time to acknowledge. That's why agree and amplify is a good solution in these sorts of situations. He's trying to get a rise, you're clearly not having it, you agree with him so he can't argue, and if he's unsuccessful at bothering you, it may in turn frustrate him giving you the power. But even still, dealing with something like this, an unprovoked verbal shit storm, I'd probably just try to quietly end/get out of the situation as quickly as possible. He could be unstable, he could be crazy, you never know. From some of the posts here it sounds like people think it's not possible to lose a fight.
Picture me ranting in front of Bill Gates' house about how stupid and poor he is. Telling all the passer-bys that. Would he respond? He almost certainly wouldn't come out front and try and start shit. Because what I'm saying is so ridiculous that it's not even worth his time to acknowledge. That's why agree and amplify is a good solution in these sorts of situations. He's trying to get a rise, you're clearly not having it, you agree with him so he can't argue, and if he's unsuccessful at bothering you, it may in turn frustrate him giving you the power. But even still, dealing with something like this, an unprovoked verbal shit storm, I'd probably just try to quietly end/get out of the situation as quickly as possible. He could be unstable, he could be crazy, you never know. From some of the posts here it sounds like people think it's not possible to lose a fight.