I say fight back.

I prefer the players be cooperative and positive, but that sometimes it's necessary to be confrontational when the other side is treating you unfairly or trying to take advantage of them.

The risk is that you'll make a bad situation worse, and I certainly don't recommend this approach to everyone. In my experience is that if you're fighting for something you believe in — even if it means alienating some people along the way — things usually work out for the best in the end.