Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys
Don't get personally involved in someone else's matters that don't involve you.
Have you ever had someone try to drag you into their conflicts with others? I have… and it ain’t pretty.
I can recall at least two (2) instances where I have had people who I know come up to me and tell me how they have been wronged by someone or some alleged conspiracy that kept them from getting what they wanted. In both those instances which had occurred about 30 years ago, the parties involved tried to drag me into their drama. Eventually, I realized that they had their own agendas and were (IMHO) focused more on getting revenge against those who had allegedly wronged them as opposed to seeking change.
With all that said, I had recently watched a one-hour long YouTube video made by an individual who has alleged several wrongs committed against them. They also claimed that local authorities refused to take action against the parties that wronged them. This individual in question not only outlined the alleged wrongs and emphasized that they had evidence to back up their claims (including videos), but also urged their viewers not to visit the area in question and contact local authorities and others to express their outrage over their situation.
In the video, the individual in question mentioned that they have taken out temporary restraining orders against the other individual who allegedly assaulted them, plus consulted attorneys regarding their case. That’s all fine and dandy IMHO and I wish them well. However, again IMHO, they should be saving their evidence and arguments for an actual court of law and not try their case in the Court of Public Opinion (e.g., social media).
There’s a Polish proverb which millennials often use today: “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” It’s a way of saying, “Don’t drag me into your drama and your issues—I’m not getting involved.”
I also like to say “I ain’t putting my dog into your fight”, and that includes not making any comments on their YouTube or social media posts. As far as I’m concerned, I’m Switzerland!
When you involve yourself in someone’s drama, you’re not doing yourself any good and all you are going to do is make yourself a target and have your proverbial “dog” get hurt in a fight that’s not yours. It’s one thing to listen to a friend who is going through some rough times and needs someone to talk to, but it’s another to get personally or emotionally involved in their situation. If you won’t get dragged into a friend’s personal drama, then why on earth would you want to inject yourself into that of a total stranger?
Last, but not least… please don’t put your personal drama on any social media platform. If you are in my social media network and I see that drama, I may just block or “unfriend” you. If you are my friend, it doesn’t mean I won’t listen to you. I just ask that you don’t try to drag me into your personal drama and thank you for not doing so.
That is all for today. Y’all be kind to one another, and to quote country legend Hank Williams, “if you mind your own business then you won’t be minding mine”.
Peace Out, Y’all!
"Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys”, Heartbeat International website. https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/not-my-circus-not-my-monkeys