SO wasn't even the first site with this phenomenon. IMO SO is way more cordial than some of the forums from the early 00s. And before that, many irc channels were known for being brutal to people coming for help. I was part of the problem there until I realized there was a problem and decided to change my approach, but it took years to unlearn what I had picked up from other channels ops.
I was quite the troll, in the UseNet days.
One of the reasons that I strive to behave, hereabouts, is that I feel the need to atone.
It can be quite difficult to hold my tongue/keyboard, though. I feel as if it’s good exercise.