What are the best things about being human?

Question

Today I was standing in line at the grocery store and I suddenly realized how important and unique humor is to the human experience. It's one of the most unique characteristics, something that really makes us "human" and makes being here pretty fun.

What else do you think is important and unique about being human?

Answer 1

my mum and I were thinking about this a few months ago. I remember disticntly that she said humans are the only animal to clap for applause or just for fun
Please choose me as best answer!!!! =)

Answer 2

You mentioned humor - I'd mention empathy; it's just because we all help out one another by understanding what that person is going through, by feeling in his shoes that life becomes much easier when we reach back to others. Imagine for a moment if there was noone on Earth who could empathize with your problems and frustrations - noone to talk to on a day that didn't turn out well.

At times we feel that people around us becoming increasingly selfish and inward-looking but there are occasions that prove it wrong. What makes people quit their place in a queue so that someone with a sense of urgency and desperation gets serviced first? What makes some people, even young ones leave their seat behind for an older person or a pregnant woman?

Unfortunately, there has to be a limit to this quality in us - too much empathy might translate into well this guy can be used - there are people who take advantage and you feel let down - for whom I am doing all this? But at the end of day, you know - a little bit of sacrifice on your part can be of immense value to another person.

We all have an average life expectance of 70 years, 80 years - out of which youth is hardly 10-20 years more maybe - it's a good investment to "spend yourself" a bit if there is any purpose in life.

I have a simple rule - always show empathy, not sympathy coz it's fake and insincere. If you can't reach back to somebody, don't volunteer in the first place.

I recently faced some legal problems abnd was very depressed and believe me, some people in Yahoo answers kinda reached back and that gave me courage - later one of my friends out of his own time helped arrange a lawyer and other things for me and I did feel a lot dependent, but I really couldn't have done without such unselfish people.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aohfw6E7Ehb2ItiKPFXuzi_ty6IX?qid=20070629100422AAIKw44

I've acted selfish so many times in life but I guess that's not how the world should run

Answer 3

The fact that we, standing in line at grocery stores, realize what's most important and unique about being human.


Thank you and have a happy day! :)

Answer 4

Decision-making abilities
Learning anything we want to learn
Artistic abilities/writing abilities/dramatic abilities, etc.
The ability to fall in love
The ability to choose others we like as friends
Knowing right from wrong
Being able to have animals for pets
Setting hopes, dreams and goals for ourselves
Believing what we think it is right for us to believe
Being able to vacation/travel
Having children when we are old enough or ready to
Being able to make choices
Being able to speak/communicate with other humans
Being able to have a good laugh
Knowing if we need medical/dental care (in most cases)
Generally living much longer than most animals
Being able to read and write
Buying/cooking food, rather than needing to hunt it down
Having medications available to us
Being able to live in any area--any climate--and survive
Knowing that life is a gift--and too short

There's so much more that we seem to have over other species--I think we are very lucky.

Answer 5

I read a paper once that posited that humans' ability to see beauty in the terrible dangers posed by nature is the thing that allowed us to come out of our caves and dominate the planet.

Without the ability to recognize the beauty of huge mountains that would love nothing more than to kill us in a landslide, or the beauty of a raging river ready to wash us to our deaths, we would have not been able to overcome our fears any more than was absolutely necessary to provide sustenance.

Answer 6

When he distinguishes himself from animals,
then he becomes a human.

When he realises that he is the highest of all
creation, then he becomes a human.

When he develops his intellect,
then he becomes a human.

When he becomes an example for others,
then he becomes a human.

When he transcends the common limitations
through his wisdom, then he becomes best of humans.

Answer 7

Coconut ice cream. That's the best thing about being human.

And words that being with "J". Jets, jammies, jam, jello, jalapeno...

Answer 8

I can think. I can reason. I can read!

Oh and my thumbs move

Answer 9

being able to think for ourselves

Answer 10

sex. LOL!!