I find that the easiest way to stop bullies is to put up some kind of resistance against them, ignoring them doesn't work because they're usually persistant bastards.
I've only been bullied by one person in my life (other than my big brother but that's what older siblings are for
) and after standing my ground against him he left me alone. This woulda been when I was about 11.
Some people just never learn though, I know people who think they're the best even after they've had their ass beaten into the ground several times.
Ya win some, ya lose some. I think being bullied a little when you're younger toughens you up a bit and teaches you that you don't have to take shit from jerks like that if you don't want to.
More on-topic though, I honestly can't see how abuse over the internet would upset anybody... most of the time when somebody tries to insult me on the 'net I end up laughing my ass off.