Or you could just choose not to be an asshole?

If they meant it as a joke or as sarcasm, they could simply add a /s on the end. Then they would still be downvoted, because it's a pretty thoughtless and dumb thing to say, but at least their intent would have been clear.

I think people on Lemmy actually excel in social skills, especially empathy. They have had it with everyone posting absolute shit and when being called out go "It's just a prank bro". No, stop your dumb shit, it is not acceptable behavior.