This is a very common rationalization for provoking people, which admittedly has some legs, IMO (i.e. I think there are excessively reactionary people who perhaps deserve to be challenged - this is something late night comedy shows frequently do, or did). However, frequently, in practice, the definition of "excessively" is pushed until it means "has any reaction". I.e. "the fact that you reacted negatively when I insulted you means that I'm retroactively justified and will continue to escalate insulting you."