Perception is what guides us in our decisions, our understanding of other people, things and the World. You may see 3 guys and cross the street, did you cross the street because they said something to you?no. Did you cross because of a threat?
A perceived threat. Three guys, young and dumb, the too much gel in my hair types acting all stupid and shit, but they might be the friendliest people you would have met that day, and the guy in the suit by which you feel safer will have a bank account full of blood money. Perception is more important than reality. We also see this in the media. The media will say person X has done action Z, and now everybody believes this. Person X loses their job, friends no longer call etc., but Mr X knows that it's lies, maybe a misunderstanding at best but still untruths.
Shadow Hand