so you get off on people being purposefully mean to each other, rather than just standing up for their position?
No, if there's pleasure in the arguing, or real passion there - there is some joy in it.
Obviously, people who are standing up for their position are passionate about it, normally. I think expressing something you are at least somewhat passionate about allows joy into the situation. There is malice in that there is a determination (often, but not always) to undermine the other person's stance.
I don't think Esme is a bad person, at all. I just think she came here with the intent to stir things up. There wasn't any real passion in it, nor any personal stance aside from attention seeking. Attention seeking, in and of itself, isn't a bad thing either. It just wasn't the drama I wanted while I was looking around.
Of course, that said, I enjoy watching people be mean to each other as well - if it's done artfully.