When have you inadvertently been used to create a fight between people? When have you been aware of someone agitating a group, even if you are personally be used, and been able to stay out of it?

This goes hand in hand with not being manipulated. There are people on this planet who just flat enjoy creating problems. I was almost used to create a fight between high schools. Luckily, a level-headed adult stepped in to put an end to it in time. A group of teenage girls from two different rival high schools were put together for a slumber party. A girl from my school wanted to create a fight. I was known to be a calm easy-going person. So, when I came out of the restroom cussing up a blue storm about some girl from the other school that had peeked into the toilet stall that I was in; I had no idea that I would be used by the girl who wanted to start a fight. In a snap she took advantage of the situation to set up a kangaroo court. The trial and the girl who wanted to start a fight agitated things so fast. And I was so angry, it took me some time to calm down enough to recognize that the girl in the bathroom meant no harm. The girl who had peeked over the stall partition was SO frightened. It turned out she was innocently looking for one of her friends. It took me even longer to recognize that I was being used to create a fight between the two schools. Thankfully, one or more of the adults supervising the party stepped in and deflated the situation in time.

This taught me to be alert for these people who like to agitate. To be alert to when others are being used to create a fight between people. We see it in news items all the time where the media is trying to stir up one group of people against another group of people. I also certainly learned to monitor myself so I’m not again used for such a purpose.