When I used to play on the xbox some dude went on a fit curseing everyone out so I told him to relax, then he started basically saying he was going to kick my ass and whatever. Cant remember, but i just laughed and kept prodding him without insulting him, kinda just feeding his stupid way of being tough online . In the end he kept saying fuck you constantly in many different ways. It was great because I kept telling him to say fuck a few more times each time he said it. He left because, there just wasnt much more he could dream up and he wasnt getting a real reaction from me.
I soon realized that while he was attempting to get an ego boost from his stupidty, i was getting enjoyment from listening to him make a fool from himself. So in essence, I was feeding off of this twat, and I still will when people piss me off. I enjoy listening to them crumble infront of people, watching as these "tough digital kids" make a fool of themselves I suppose.
Though just like you, id give up all communication with them for them to come down and try to knock me out, maybe he'd break me and give me a moment where id feel like i actually had to do something.. or maybe he'd kill me and this shit would be over. Which is another problem, aswell as the "enjoyment" factor. They're just a distraction and an ultimate waste of time. In my opinion. If they said they were going to actually kill me? Id say awesome! and just feed their little fantasy until it becomes so unrealistic, then piss them off even more so they become all "realistic" again, but with an verbalized stupid fantasy behind them. Just ignorant people who use their ignorant understanding of life and expression to get reactions so it feeds whatever they are needing to feel. People who use people... I wouldnt use them, Id make them run out of energy tbh. It gives them pause without insulting them, which is a moment they can reflect, even if it's subconsciously.