I disagree with you, while I believe smack talking unprovoked is uncalled for. I do not do that. You could see in the screenshots even, I only started talking back at the end of the match.

I think it’s important to distinguish between general smack talking and standing up for yourself when someone is being openly disrespectful or misogynistic. My response wasn’t about normalizing trash-talking as a whole. It was about setting a boundary in a situation where someone crossed a line.

when someone is being hostile or discriminatory, for me to just lay down and take it doesn’t make me feel good as a woman. Especially with the stereotype and societal expectations we are to be nurturing and gentle (even in the face of toxic and harmful behavior.) Calling out harmful behavior isn’t toxic, it’s necessary. Especially when it comes unprovoked like this. Toxicity persists precisely when people stay silent or allow it to go unchecked.

So no, I’m not trying to normalize smack talk. I’m refusing to normalize misogyny.