[FreeWarrior]

Ok... I'm probably a little too young (16) to be taken seriously in this field but I'm just trying to get some mature thoughts on this. So there was this girl I liked and by the way our conversations were going I figure she liked me too.
Anyway once we were texting and having a great conversation and out of nowhere she started insulting me (calling me dumb, etc). This isn't the kind of behavior I tend to accept from my own family and friends, much less from someone I barely met, but that day I was stupid enough to let it pass by. Since then, it looks like she's looking for a way to make our time together awkward so I just decided to start avoiding her.
But today as I was in school with my friends I went past her and she called me a retard. I was way in too much rush to bother responding so I simply told her to fu** off and then sent her a text calling her a bi*** before deleting her number (all things considered, this was a bit childish, I know). However, there is still this feeling inside me that I did something wrong.
Basically, what I am asking is not for advice in this situation (because I don't care about it) but advice for future situations as well: do you think people should ignore this kind of disrespect from other people or address it ASAP?

[Wondergirl]

Ignore it. The other person will get satisfaction in the very fact that you respond, that she can "get to" you. Why give her any satisfaction? (Girls HATE to be ignored.)

[ScottGem]

I would handle it differently. I would take the high road. Something like,

I'm sorry you feel it necessary to resort to name calling and insults for no reason. But that's not a behavior I accept from anyone I am involved with. So there is no point in further contact between us.

[Wondergirl]

Or you could rush over to her and give her a big hug now and then and always wave happily to her whenever you see her. (The Bible calls that "heaping coals of fire on her head.")

[FreeWarrior]

Ignore it. The other person will get satisfaction in the very fact that you respond, that she can "get to" you. Why give her any satisfaction? (Girls HATE to be ignored.)

This is probably true, but I think Scott's position would be more justified, because simply ignoring it appears a weak thing to do in such a case.
And this,

Or you could rush over to her and give her a big hug now and then and always wave happily to her whenever you see her

would be priceless

[talaniman]

Ignore her guy, and move on. It has been my experience though that this kind of behavior often masked the fact that they DO have feelings for you, but will never admit it to you.

At least not this year. Still ignore her. There is a very thin line between love, and hate.