AAAHHH DRUGS......is this tylenol?

Last week in class we did an activity where we took a look at various descriptions of various drugs. We were not told what the drugs were, but we were told to decide if the drug should be legal or illegal, and to what degree, based on the descriptions. When the groups got together to discuss their rankings, nearly every drug got a variety of answers. How can two people read about one thing and claim that it should be illegal and legal? Shouldn't there be some commonality between people that allows us to tacitly agree on big issues? The simple answer; no. This exercise only highlighted the point that people all act and think based on their own perceptions. Our own experiences influence how we approach new events. In a way this helps us all approach new situations, but it also dooms us to make assumptions which are more often than not false. For example, if you see someone at school dressed differently than you, perhaps in a manner which you find shocking, you would probably avoid them. You may even go as far to assume that they are a trouble maker. You will completely skip on the opportunity to meet them because you just assume they are not good for you. Without ever giving them a chance, we all selectively isolate ourselves from others.