Some odd things that only humans have

[foozball3000]

We stare at the stars (not just for navigation)
We feel the need for music, which as far as I know, no-one has ever been able to properly define. It's more than just notes...
We are born creators
We are explorers (Apparently we share that with Huskies )
Isolation from human contact will destroy us. (Yes, I know we programmers tend to lock the room and put D.N.D. signs up...but that's only when we're coding)

Any more that I can add to the list?

 

[blunomore]

Humans are the only species that kill for reasons other than survival or self-defense.

 

[foozball3000]

No.. there are other species that just randomly kills. (Chimps are like that)

 

[blunomore]

No.. there are other species that just randomly kills. (Chimps are like that)

Which means that Darwin was right.

 

[foozball3000]

Which means that Darwin was right.

Facts please. I don't want a philosophical debate.
All I want is a chat about the odd things that makes us human.
It does scare me that the first thing you suggested was seriously negative, when there is some seriously awesome stuff too.

 

[Nanfeishen]

We are capable of incredible compassion, yet also incredible cruelty.
We are able to construct amazing things yet capable of massive destruction.
We are prepared to sacrifice in times of great disaster, yet we are incapable of giving in times of peace.

 

[waynegohl]

we wear clothes

 

[killadoob]

What do you think dogs have? Fur surely is a form of clothing?

 

[hashbrown99]

What do you think dogs have? Fur surely is a form of clothing?

Yes but dogs don't change their fur everyday. They also don't go mad for shoes

 

[Serqet]

We stare at the stars (not just for navigation)
We feel the need for music, which as far as I know, no-one has ever been able to properly define. It's more than just notes...
We are born creators
We are explorers (Apparently we share that with Huskies )
Isolation from human contact will destroy us. (Yes, I know we programmers tend to lock the room and put D.N.D. signs up...but that's only when we're coding)

Any more that I can add to the list?

Staring at stars isn't really particularly odd.
We aren't the only ones who derive pleasure from music.

"Music can have a mental effect on animals as well, exemplified by the study of Uetake et al. (1997) who demonstrated that dairy cows exposed to soothing music are more willing to be milked. There are various accounts of animals, such as birds, dogs and apes, that take a particular interest in music, but dogs who "join in" when people sing probably do so because they have a tendency to howl with the pack rather than because they enjoy the particular song. Likewise, those species of birds that have an innate tendency to imitate sounds may imitate music, but this is probably not driven by the kind of enjoyment we feel. "

I am quite sure animals explore their own territories and venture out into unknown surroundings too. My dog use to escape from our house and go running around. We found her at the Spar 5kms away once. That's exploration.

Isolation from animal contact would destroy most animals too. There are a number of species that live in packs,gangs,herds etc.

All in all i think we like to think we are so vastly different to animals when in fact we aren't. We are more alike than we care to think. It suits us to pretend we are evolved beings on an egoic level so we don't have to face the harsh truth that we aren't so great. We aren't unique at all. We are just another link in the food chain that is life.

My 2 cents anyway.

 

[wikus]

We grab sticks and 'dance' together in circles with our butts pushed out, leaning forward and swinging our hands from side to side if we don't get what we want when we want it

 

[EchoZA]

We express our thoughts in writing!

 

[scotty777]

we think... now this could either be positive or negative...

we speak complex languages.

we are able to not just respond to our environment, but also change it(this has been done by some animals, but no ware near our extent)

we try simplify life by making it more complicated

we have a tenacious need to destroy shyte,

we have a tenacious need to create things

we drive cars(haven't seen animals do that yet)

 

[Just_Ice]

We are the only creatures with an imagination - Something that allows us to feel compassion for people, because we can imagine, and put ourselves into their position.