seeing is believing

     "Seeing is believing", the old saying goes, and it usually is. You can't believe everything you see, but beware of "seeing" what you believe.  Many people do. They "see" what they believe, based on a preconceived notion they got from any random source. They "see" what they believe whether it is there or not.  Drug experience has been described in this way. Drugs work on the mind--that's why people take them--not because they alter the emotions, but because they alter the functions of the brain.  Some drugs are formally called "mind-altering". Some are called psychotropics, meaning the same thing. But it may be that all drugs, including alcohol, alter the mind. People take drugs when they want to fool themselves. If successful at fooling themselves, they can use that belief to fool other people. All con artistry is founded on drugs, as is most crime. On fooling people. Don't make a fool of yourself by trying to fool yourself.