You know how kids will try to annoy you to get attention? And the more you react, the worse they get.

If you acknowledge that they have the power to annoy you, they become little tyrants. And their parents would probably see it as an overreaction to rip their finger off the next time they poke you.

There’s really nothing you can do to stop them from poking you and still come out of the situation with your dignity. To physically force them to stop would be a massive overreaction. And to tell them to stop, poke them back, or appear annoyed will only encourage them further.

You just have to ride it out. They’ll eventually get bored, much quicker than you could be rid of the little brat by engaging.

Unfortunately, little tyrants sometimes grow into big tyrants.

Some become stalkers.