The issue is never about ignoring the other side. It is about recognising unequal power, and not giving undue preference to people who already have more power.

It why we get angry when a person dies from stray bullet, not: 'Let's first hear the side of the police who shot him.'

When it comes to an issue between politicians and ordinary citizens, we recognise this unequal power in society. Same with military and civilians or the wealthy and the poor. And, whether we like it or not, same with men and women in our society.

If two people go to the police or a 'council of elders' with a dispute, ask yourself who gets more respect or even better treatment between a politician and an ordinary citizen, a military officer and a civilian, a rich person and a poor one, a man and a woman? Power dynamics.

And so, if you want to do justice, you cannot give the same 'exact' weight to the situations of both persons without ending up doing injustice.

You have to recognise that for one person, even being bold enough to dispute with the other can be a very brave act. Understand power.

Moral: if you have to take anyone's story with a pinch of salt, it should probably be the story of the person who holds all the guns.