"From argumentative @$$holes at the grocery store to bullies in public school, this is my best advice:

If someone tries to give you a hard time verbally and wants to start cr#p with you, insult you, or just get you going in some way, always remember:

You allow conversations to happen. You can control the length by simply not engaging. Remember: anyone who tries harder to get you to respond is losing and getting desperate.

Source: former Correctional Officer. People talking s@#t to you from behind bars doesn't matter when you never acknowledge it. Eventually, you stop caring when you hear instigation and you hear it for what it is: a power play. The only winning option is not to play."