Ah, this thread is depressing. Not because it's a "lost cause"or anything similar (which I think it isn't), but because I can relate to the OP.

I've been bullied in the past, I've witnessed bullying in the past, and neither has been a pleasant experience.

In my opinion, the worst thing you can do to a bully is bite back. Things just get further riled up and it gets more dramatic.
In the case of the forums, that means instead hitting the "report" button, which can be found in the bottom left hand corner of every post. I've used it a few times myself and it has always seemed to pay off better than witnessing others reach to the alternatives.