More specifically though, how can you compare a 404 response to a random stranger telling you what a failure you are at life that you're stuck responding to their complaint instead having an "improtant" job like they do? How does a normal person who's struggling to earn a living (call centers don't pay well usually) while having to respond to ruthless, horrible people, not be damaged in the long run by those interactions? They can't even be compared because computers don't communicate with emotion.
That's like saying bullying could easily be solved if kids just talked more like APIs did. What?
The only thing that really can get under my skin at work anymore is if a situation starts to threaten my job (i.e., backstabbing, gaslighting, setting up for failure, etc). But with this newer approach, I'm able to recognize this a lot sooner and do something about it.
Another way to approach this if you don't like the cold impersonal "API" approach, is to convince yourself that you are playing the part of a character in an improv style play. That the people being "mean" to you aren't really mean, they are just acting. Of course the danger with this mindset is that you could end up inflicting emotional harm on someone else without intending or realizing it.
You're so incredibly fortunate to be in a position where you get to decide you want to interact with customers or not, because the vast majority of workers don't. So many customer service jobs require you to keep cool even when customers are treating you like terrorists, and it can be soul-crushing.
Getting shit on constantly for two years as a call center CSR motivated me to get out of that world and into writing software, but not everyone can make that change successfully.