Effects of Ownership. It refers to valuing what one owns from one’s own perspective. The competition to buy tickets for the Duke University basketball game was very fierce, so the university decided to distribute tickets through a lottery. Some students applied for the same ticket, and among them, the winning students and dropout students were asked about their valuations: the winners were asked how much they would sell the ticket for, while the dropout students were asked how much they would buy it for. The lowest selling price from the winners was $2,410, whereas the highest buying price from the dropout students was $170. The difference was substantial. When asked why they thought so, ticket holders considered the value of giving up the ticket, while ticket buyers considered the value of exchanging cash for it. In other words, possession represented the benefit of sacrificing something else. Value judgments depend on what we own. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
The plum contains a poison called “amygdalin.” This poison is found not only in plums but also in other drupes. The poison “amygdalin” is a combination of two glucose molecules. When these glucose molecules are divided, they turn into “prunasin,” which is more prevalent in other plants. When an insect attacks a plant, it breaks the bond with glucose, turning it into “mandelonitrile” and quickly converting it into “benzaldehyde” and “hydrocyanic acid (HCN)” once more. HCN is a respiratory poison, and benzaldehyde is a unique fragrance component of cherries, bitter almonds, and pistachios. This dangerous ingredient is also present in green tea, but it appears only in small amounts, so it does not cause any problems when consumed. It is an ironic phenomenon in which by-products essential for survival kill other living beings. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”