Fair points, was just curious.
However, another way to look at it could be that this job in particular can be an awful job, that is hard to fill. You're up against it all day long. This person in particular is probably doing what he can to make the job bearable by trying to engage with passengers. He may go about it the wrong way in some eyes but he is trying in his own way. If a passenger publicly admonishings him, in front of other passengers and his colleagues, then that passenger is doing his bit drive this person out of the industry, thereby leaving behind the disengaged, outsourced, cheap labour that this forum loves to hate.
Wings folded, that was very brave of you. I take your point, they were ignorant and rude but if you'd done that were I live, you'd probably wake up in hospital.