Article: Anger proves that the person has gotten to you. It means that you take the other person seriously and perhaps that you believe there is truth to the insult. Getting emotional will also make it harder to think clearly and respond. Insults are often a away to establish social hierarchy. Taking offense will give the other person an edge over you in inter-group dynamics. If you laugh and make a self-deprecating joke, you demonstrate that the other person's insult did not affect you. This can disarm your assailant and prove that you don't consider them a credible threat to your social status.  If the person in question is someone you respect and the comment has an element of truth to it, consider whether the "insult" might have been constructive criticism. If so, try to follow the advice. This is generally preferable to returning the insult. Returning the insult means that you consider it a credible threat to your social status. It validates the insult and, unless you can execute a comeback very effectively, you will come out on bottom.  It was often alleged, for example, that Ronald Reagan was too old to serve as President. Instead of going on the counterattack, he diffused the situation with self-deprecating humor:  "Thomas Jefferson once said, 'One should not worry about chronological age compared to the ability to perform the task.' . . . Ever since he told me that I stopped worrying about my age." "The dozens" is a traditional African-American game in which two people trade witty retorts. Familiarize yourself with some effectively lines, so that you can return an insult quickly and naturally. Practice your delivery to get your timing down. This response is best reserved for friends who won't take offense.  To be effective the insult should sound creative. But the standard format of "Your mom is so ____" or "You are so ____"  is a good go to. Examples include: "Your mom is so generous she would give you the hair off her back" or "Your mom is so old she was the waitress at the last supper."

What is a summary?
Don't get angry. Consider accepting the insult. Play the dozens.