Here you are having a great time doing whatever you are doing and someone for no reason says something mean to you. This one little statement goes a long way. This statement might trigger a series of painful thoughts which can ruin a person's day. Everyone thinks physical violence is awful, but think what leads to the physical violence. I ensure you it is the little comments that escalate into a fight or something worst.
Words are very powerful.
Let me clarify this, the words we hear shape our lives, from the time we are able to comprehend them. Words that we hear have literal meanings, and connotative meanings are always attached. Which makes how people react to them a direct reaction to us. I know people have problems which might cause them to be mean to another person, but I do not think they realize the harm their harsh words cause. In this world the power that words have as far as affecting how people act is not recognized.