
Do you get the feeling that someone is trying to bait you into getting angry or reacting in some way?
Baiting is a toxic behavior intended to make someone angry, aggressive, or trigger an emotional response.
Usually with the goal of making that person look bad, and the one doing the baiting look good.
It’s a toxic, narcissistic behavior that you need to be able to spot and not react to.
Here are 10 signs someone is baiting you and what you should do about it:
10 Signs Someone Is Baiting You
1. They Deliberately Try and Make You Angry
The backbone of baiting is trying to make the person angry or react in some kind of aggressive or emotional manner.
If someone is saying or doing things that they know will bother you in an attempt to get a rise out of you, they’re baiting you.
It’s important you’re able to recognize that they’re doing this deliberately and not react.
Although, that’s often easier said than done!
Related – Here are 10 signs someone is trying to provoke you!
2. They Talk About You Behind Your Back
Talking behind someone’s back is an immature and passive-aggressive way to try and bait them.
Gossiping about someone is a form of bullying, and if someone is doing it to you, it’s likely they’re also doing it to others.
If you find out this is happening, it’s a huge red flag that you need to take notice of but not get drawn into.
3. They Dare You to Do Something About It
One of the most direct ways to bait or provoke someone is to try and dare or make them do something that’s going to make them look bad.
If they’re trying to use some kind of peer pressure or similar to make you do something you’re not comfortable with, you need to be able to say no.
4. They Push Your Buttons
We all have buttons and triggers that when pushed just set us off.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but if someone is deliberately targeting those triggers then they’re baiting you.
A good way to combat this is to try and be aware of your triggers and take a step back and take a few deep breaths when you feel yourself getting agitated!
5. They Try and Turn Your Friends Against You
Similar to talking behind your back, if someone tries turning your friends against you, they’re trying to bait you into a reaction.
Manipulative people will try and find ways to isolate you from the people who care about you, often by making up lies.
It’s another petty behavior that you can’t get drawn into. Set the record straight with your friends, and don’t let this person spark a reaction!
6. They Try and Sabotage You
Sabotaging someone is a particularly nasty way to bait them.
It’s when someone tries to make you look bad or mess up your work in some way.
This is often done in a passive-aggressive manner and can be hard to spot, but if you’re suspicious that someone might be doing this, be sure to keep a close eye on them.
7. They’re Always Making Jokes About You
Casual jokes that even you find funny are fine, but if someone is constantly making jokes at your expense, they may be trying to bait you.
Often these jokes will hit on something personal, be directed at your character, and generally try to give others a rise at your expense.
It’s not funny, and you don’t need to put up with it.
8. They Laugh at You when You’re Annoyed or Down
When we’re annoyed, angry, feeling down, or experiencing any negative emotions, the last thing we want is someone laughing at us.
This is exactly when someone who is trying to provoke or bait you will pounce.
They’ll see your vulnerability as a weakness and will try to take advantage of it.
Do your best to not give them the satisfaction of reacting!
9. They Make Condescending Remarks to You
When someone makes condescending remarks, they’re essentially saying they feel like they’re above you or are more important than you and they’re letting you know that.
This is a way of putting you down and making you feel small, which again, is usually done in an attempt to bait you into a reaction.
10. They’re Passive-Aggressive
Passive-aggressive behavior is one of the most commonly used methods to bait someone.
It’s when someone expresses their anger or frustration in an indirect way, often through sarcasm or making snide comments.
This is often done because the person doesn’t feel like they can directly express their feelings to you, so they’ll try and do it indirectly in the hopes of getting a rise out of you.
Why Do Some People Like to Bait Others?
There can be many reasons why someone might want to bait you.
It could be that they’re insecure and feel like they need to put others down to feel better about themselves.
It could be that they’re jealous of you or trying to sabotage you in some way.
It could also be that they just enjoy getting a rise out of people and getting them worked up.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to put up with this behavior and you certainly shouldn’t take it personally.
It’s not you causing them to act this way, it’s them.
How to React When Someone Is Trying to Bait You?
The best way to react when someone is trying to bait you is to not react at all.
Easier said than done, I know, but it’s important to remember that they’re trying to get a reaction out of you for their own amusement or satisfaction.
The best way to deal with this is to just ignore them and move on.
If you can’t do that, try and diffuse the situation with humor or by changing the subject.
And if all else fails, just walk away.
There’s no point in engaging with someone who is only looking to bait you.
Typically people who want to bait or provoke someone else will move on to other things when they don’t get the kind of reaction they want.
If they’re persistent and crossing the line into harassment, you’ll need to take more drastic steps and go down the proper channels where appropriate.
The bottom line is that as long as you can spot the signs that someone is baiting you, you can react (or not react) accordingly.
I hope this post helps you do exactly that!
Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-businessman-looking-at-secretery

Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.