Rules of engagement for chatting online

In one Internet discussion group I follow, some of the participants questioned the ethics of a company. The company was accused, among other things, of manipulating the online images of items it was selling to make the items appear more valuable than they were.

The company got wind of this,

He ridiculed the computer and investigative capabilities of one critic and sarcastically said he was wasting his time. "Perhaps you need some suggestions as to what to do with your time. Perhaps you should take up knitting."

He called his critics names such as "fool," "joke," and "loser."

He made veiled legal threats: "Are you inviting, or daring, us to sue you?"

He pounded his chest: I will hound that poor excuse of a human being until he yells uncle or stops posting vapid, unproven horse nonsense that all of you seem to believe."