I like to use the following story when people are so far apart of their view of the same event before them; it helps bring humor to the situation and breaks the ice.
- “The men in a church were divided over hiring a female Minister. When she arrived in order to get her critics to know her better, she went out with the men who went fishing every early Saturday morning. When the canoes were in the middle of the lake the men realized they forgot the worms on the shore. They were about to canoe back when the female Minister said they shouldn’t worry, as she’d get the worms for them. Before they could reply, she stepped out of the canoe and started to walk across the water. While she was walking on water, the men who supported her shouted with glee, that this was a sign from God that she should be with the Church. The men who didn’t want a woman Minister said this was the work of the Devil, and said they were right, as she could not even swim.”
There is an analogy that lawyers sometimes use to explain what it is like to hear two completely opposing views of the same incident. This analogy is as follows:
- “Two people get into a car crash on a highway. When you hear both of their stories, you cannot believe they are on the same highway.”
I remember, long ago, about a study that was done about people’s memories or recollections or opinions of an event. A group of people all watched the same car accident scene. Half of them were interviewed and prepared for trial by the Plaintiff’s lawyer, while the other half were interviewed and prepared for trial by the Defendant’s lawyer. Both groups ended up with conflicting testimonies. The full analysis is provided by two professors at Stanford University Law School.
Jeanette Ryken's Side of the Story 