Bait only works on people who are hungry for a fight.

Provocation needs a willing participant. The comment, the look, the deliberately annoying remark all depend on something in you that was already looking for an excuse, and on the days when nothing in you wants a fight the same bait simply lies there. That is worth knowing about yourself, without any shame attached.

When something gets a rise out of you, check what was happening before it arrived. Tired, rushed, already annoyed at something else, usually. Deal with that first, and you will find half the provocations stop working without you having to do anything about them.