Research from Cornell University suggests that responding to rudeness with rudeness can be perceived as justified, especially when it's a retaliatory act. The study, which involved nearly 850 participants across five experiments, found that such responses are seen as a defense of social norms and a way to address perceived injustices. While civil responses are generally more positively viewed, retaliatory rudeness is considered acceptable when directed at the original rude individual. Merrick Osborne, a professor of organized behavior at Cornell and author of the study, noted that people often prefer retaliatory incivility over the instigator's rudeness, viewing it as more right and just. However, the researchers caution against spreading rudeness to others, emphasizing the importance of maintaining social norms.