If a story is told it does not matter if it is fact or fiction as long as the person hearing the story is aware that it is true or false.  It is important to be aware if a story is true or false because the story can sway the opinions of others.  Unscrupulous people  use the naïveté of others to their advantage.  Political propaganda is a good example of this. Politicians often make strong accusations to influence public opinion and the public rarely knows if the claims are true or false.  If a person is aware that a story is true or false then a story can be used to make a point and generally instruct others in different ways of looking at a situation.  People can then make up their own minds as to what they think of it.