You would come across as the bigger man if you could put 'em on "ignore."

Been there done that, hon. It's been tried. Let's quote one quick, grinning and recent example here:
I'm willing to let us forget it.
Just leave it; don't trouble to edit.
But if you again flame dear,
it's not me to blame dear:
If you seek a fight, you will get it.

This is the third time I've responded with rhymed humor to attacks on mod-god.

We've tried "benign neglect" here, with what result? Unfortunately, we find that if you ignore the problem, good people are hurt until they are driven away from the board. [see Jackie's threads on Personal Plea and Sadness]. Something of a Gresham's law, perhaps.

Would it not be pigheaded to continue a benign neglect which (however good it sounds in theory) has not helped in practice. As said to these folks before: "If quiet humor will not restrain you, then one must be more forceful."