Often it is not the facts that dictate what others perceive, when you are relaying information to them. Most significant is how you tell the story.
The way you filter the facts reflects your own views and is instrumental in dictating the way you will craft the story. It is not so much about the facts as it is the message you want others to take away.
For Example
A colleague was recently sharing with me some stories he had heard about recent events in Hong Kong. These were both first hand from friends and relatives living in Hong Kong and news feeds he had read.
The stories began from the protestors perspective and clearly portrayed the police as being the instigators and at fault.
Typically in these types of conflicts the facts can provide justification for all parties actions. The stories sounded rather one sided so I asked if he could relate some of the incidents from the police perspective.
My thought was this would result in a more balanced view overall. I quickly realized how you tell the story often includes your personal bias.
Unsurprisingly I suppose, even when told from the polices perspective the villains of the tale were still the police.
Developing Conclusions
Regardless of how gripping or well told the story is probing questions based on an unbiased and balanced view can help you be more likely to come to a fair conclusion.
Remember we all relate facts as simple and straightforward without even realizing that they are coloured by our bias. Often you need to do some work as the listener in order to get the accurate story.
