Should people drama queen?

So I told my nephew to just ignore bullies or aggressive people, he's not like that, he does his own thing. Him doing his own thing is freedom to me, but the current and historical might makes right establishment does make me wonder if he should drama with them. So if some one starts some shit and dramas should you do what they want and drama with them to prove your not the one to mess with in their eyes, or should you try to live the life you want to live even though their drama and the people they rope in will not stop, apparently. how long should you try to live your life before (if at all) you address the non stop barrage of drama others start, because in my thinking, once you start, you are not living your life any more, you are just doing what they want.