Humans are the worst things on earth

imme

Leyla Ugly Catamaran wrote: »

We are animals.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: H. sapiens

Animals exactly
Having cleaned the toilet earlier I now understand this;)

Wibbs

imme wrote: »

Humans are nothing short of animals really

True I, but we're about the most incredible animal there is. Actually, there's no "about" to it. This conversation we're having here? No other animal gets within an asses roar of it and never has. Oh and that includes the bulk of our own ancient ancestors.

Consider this: in the entire evolutionary history of this planet many adaptations sprung up and many of the same adaptations to environment sprung up across different species. Flight for example. But never has our kind of cultural intelligence come along. Never has any creature driven it's own external evolution. It came along once and we are it. We are special and our potential as a species and as individuals is as vast as what we can imagine. No airy fairy magical thinking required either.

And this means you and everyone reading this is special. You are the current incarnation of all the billions of creatures and happenstance that came to be you. That's pretty fcuking huge perspective right there and it's too easy to lose sight of that in the day to day BS.

aaronjumper

Normally when I'm called special it's meant as an insult.

Thanks Wibbs. :pac:

hungry hypno toad

imme wrote: »

Animals exactly
Having cleaned the toilet earlier I now understand this;)

King Kong's finger?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Wibbs wrote: »

True I, but we're about the most incredible animal there is. Actually, there's no "about" to it. This conversation we're having here? No other animal gets within an asses roar of it and never has. Oh and that includes the bulk of our own ancient ancestors.

Consider this: in the entire evolutionary history of this planet many adaptations sprung up and many of the same adaptations to environment sprung up across different species. Flight for example. But never has our kind of cultural intelligence come along. Never has any creature driven it's own external evolution. It came along once and we are it. We are special and our potential as a species and as individuals is as vast as what we can imagine. No airy fairy magical thinking required either.

And this means you and everyone reading this is special. You are the current incarnation of all the billions of creatures and happenstance that came to be you. That's pretty fcuking huge perspective right there and it's too easy to lose sight of that in the day to day BS.

While I agree with much of this, my training in this field compels me to state that all animals alive today are equally the 'current incarnation of all the billions of creatures and happenstance that came to be' them, as well. We are not the epitome of evolution; just one incarnation of it at this moment in time, on one thin line of the tree. Indeed some argue that animals like Crocodiles are evolutionally superior in that their achieved form present today has survived since before primates even evolved.

Wibbs

Leyla Ugly Catamaran wrote: »

While I agree with much of this, my training in this field compels me to state that all animals alive today are equally the 'current incarnation of all the billions of creatures and happenstance that came to be' them, as well. We are not the epitome of evolution; just one incarnation of it at this moment in time, on one thin line of the tree. Indeed some argue that animals like Crocodiles are evolutionally superior in that their achieved form present today has survived since before primates even evolved.

Oh sure, but we're the most unique incarnation of evolution so far and by far.

Crocodiles and sharks and the like were superior by dint of a good "design" out of the box, fitting into a niche that sustained through time and by not a little luck. We on the other hand looked to have none of these advantages and for a long period looked to be a largely failed evolutionary experiment. We're small, weak, mostly prey and for most of our history were localised specialists. But somehow by some quirk of happenstance we moved beyond all that and largely by our own hands and minds became environmental generalists, strong and top of the tree apex predators. A small band of humans would make a T rex look like a pussy cat. Name one other animal that has caused so many extinctions. Not a boast, but a reality.

No other animal has externalised it's own evolutionary path. No animal has ever understood the concept. Not a one. No other animal has ever measured or began to understand our own place in existence. Your training and understanding in the field a perfect example S. We remain unique. Indeed as we go on and because we have peeked beyond the veil and ever more understand the veil, we may yet engineer our very own replacements.

prinzeugen

Wibbs wrote: »

True I, but we're about the most incredible animal there is. Actually, there's no "about" to it. This conversation we're having here? No other animal gets within an asses roar of it and never has. Oh and that includes the bulk of our own ancient ancestors.

Consider this: in the entire evolutionary history of this planet many adaptations sprung up and many of the same adaptations to environment sprung up across different species. Flight for example. But never has our kind of cultural intelligence come along. Never has any creature driven it's own external evolution. It came along once and we are it. We are special and our potential as a species and as individuals is as vast as what we can imagine. No airy fairy magical thinking required either.

And this means you and everyone reading this is special. You are the current incarnation of all the billions of creatures and happenstance that came to be you. That's pretty fcuking huge perspective right there and it's too easy to lose sight of that in the day to day BS.

You didn't see the spy in the wild thing on the BBC I take it..

Other animals are as creative, compassionate and clever.

They just do it differently.

threeball

Leyla Ugly Catamaran wrote: »

While I agree with much of this, my training in this field compels me to state that all animals alive today are equally the 'current incarnation of all the billions of creatures and happenstance that came to be' them, as well. We are not the epitome of evolution; just one incarnation of it at this moment in time, on one thin line of the tree. Indeed some argue that animals like Crocodiles are evolutionally superior in that their achieved form present today has survived since before primates even evolved.

Totally agree. Regarding ourselves as vastly superior seems to disregard the fact that we are only superior in one aspect, our intelligence. Most animals are far more developed to survive in their particular choice of habitat. We can survive competently in most if trained but the average human would perish if left alone in any place more remote than Connemara.
Our intelligence should lead us to see the responsibilities we have to this planet but our greed is far superior to our intelligence and we would rather destroy what we have in the short term for personal gain whilst fantasising about occupying planets we dont even know exist yet. So our claim to be the most intelligent is up for grabs too.

Yourself isit

threeball wrote: »

Totally agree. Regarding ourselves as vastly superior seems to disregard the fact that we are only superior in one aspect, our intelligence. Most animals are far more developed to survive in their particular choice of habitat. We can survive competently in most if trained but the average human would perish if left alone in any place more remote than Connemara.

Humans survive in places far more remote.

Our intelligence should lead us to see the responsibilities we have to this planet but our greed is far superior to our intelligence and we would rather destroy what we have in the short term for personal gain whilst fantasising about occupying planets we dont even know exist yet. So our claim to be the most intelligent is up for grabs too.

It really isn't. In fact the global warming crisis like most, will be fixed in time.

I'd still worry about nukes though.

Wibbs

prinzeugen wrote: »

You didn't see the spy in the wild thing on the BBC I take it..

I did.

Other animals are as creative, compassionate and clever.

No they are not. Not even close. Some animals make tools, like we do. Name an animal who makes a tool to make a tool. Name an animal that makes art, or science, or philosophy or religion. Name an animal who tries to make sense of existence.

threeball wrote: »

Totally agree. Regarding ourselves as vastly superior seems to disregard the fact that we are only superior in one aspect, our intelligence.

Eh... yeah. That intelligence marks us out as vastly ahead of every single animal on this planet. That has ever lived.

Most animals are far more developed to survive in their particular choice of habitat.

As are many humans, but humans engineer the habitat to suit themselves and have done for aeons. We can live in the polar regions and the most arid deserts and we can live on the moon and are orbiting this world as we speak.

Our intelligence should lead us to see the responsibilities we have to this planet but our greed is far superior to our intelligence and we would rather destroy what we have in the short term for personal gain whilst fantasising about occupying planets we dont even know exist yet. So our claim to be the most intelligent is up for grabs too.

No, it's really not. And yes we will fail and have so often, but we will also succeed and survive as we have so often too.

threeball

Yourself isit wrote: »

Humans survive in places far more remote.

Read my post again. I said the average human not Bear Grylls. If i take you and drop you in Siberia I doubt you'll see this this day next week.
Being able to programme a pc or wire a house will do fcuk all for you. Humans only really work when we're in groups and most survival skills left us hundreds of years ago. Apart from indigineous tribes the average human is completely reliant on the various skills of those around us.

threeball

threeball wrote: »

Totally agree. Regarding ourselves as vastly superior seems to disregard the fact that we are only superior in one aspect, our intelligence.

That's pretty much the only aspect that matters. Intelligence means we can overcome physical and environmental limitations and adapt. Uniquely. Same can't be said for any other animal.

Most animals are far more developed to survive in their particular choice of habitat. We can survive competently in most if trained but the average human would perish if left alone in any place more remote than Connemara.

Other animals tend not to choose their habitats, we do. The intelligence bit comes into play here as we can live anywhere if we employ the products of our intelligence to aid us. Same can't be said for any other animal.

Our intelligence should lead us to see the responsibilities we have to this planet but our greed is far superior to our intelligence and we would rather destroy what we have in the short term for personal gain whilst fantasising about occupying planets we dont even know exist yet. So our claim to be the most intelligent is up for grabs too.

We're stupid enough to screw up our habitat but uniquely smart enough to know we're doing it and to figure out alternatives - if motivated by urgent self preservation. Same can't be said for any other animal.

Yourself isit

threeball wrote: »

Read my post again. I said the average human not Bear Grylls. If i take you and drop you in Siberia I doubt you'll see this this day next week.
Being able to programme a pc or wire a house will do fcuk all for you. Humans only really work when we're in groups and most survival skills left us hundreds of years ago. Apart from indigineous tribes the average human is completely reliant on the various skills of those around us.

Humans live and have historically lived in places far more remote and inhospitable than Connemara. Like the place you mentioned: Siberia. Where humans live. Actually live right now. This very minute.

And in wilds of Canada, and in deserts, and high mountains. There are humans living on Antarctica.

Might be worth reading about the world?

Yourself isit

40M people live in siberia.

threeball

Wibbs wrote: »

I did.

No they are not. Not even close. Some animals make tools, like we do. Name an animal who makes a tool to make a tool. Name an animal that makes art, or science, or philosophy or religion. Name an animal who tries to make sense of existence.


Eh... yeah. That intelligence marks us out as vastly ahead of every single animal on this planet. That has ever lived. As are many humans, but humans engineer the habitat to suit themselves and have done for aeons. We can live in the polar regions and the most arid deserts and we can live on the moon and are orbiting this world as we speak.
No, it's really not. And yes we will fail and have so often, but we will also succeed and survive as we have so often too.

As i said, yes we are more intelligent but what has it really led to. We've taken habitats and moulded them to suit ourselves but destroyed and are destroying countless others to achieve that. We're in the process to creating the largest period of extinctions since the last days of the dinosaurs.
Intelligence to me means more than how something works or how to make something work. There is a morality attached to it and knowing right from wrong.
Yes we may prosper in the short term while causing the extinction of animals that have been here for millions of years but will we ever get close to achieving their longevity. I doubt it. Like the shooting star we will burn bright then disappear causing far more damage than we could ever solve.

Richard Hillman

To be fair, Lions are complete bastards. Especially male lions. Thats why they are top of the Serengeti food chain.

threeball

Candie wrote: »

That's pretty much the only aspect that matters. Intelligence means we can overcome physical and environmental limitations and adapt. Uniquely. Same can't be said for any other animal.



Other animals tend not to choose their habitats, we do. The intelligence bit comes into play here as we can live anywhere if we employ the products of our intelligence to aid us. Same can't be said for any other animal.



We're stupid enough to screw up our habitat but uniquely smart enough to know we're doing it and to figure out alternatives - if motivated by urgent self preservation. Same can't be said for any other animal.

Dont know what you're arguing here. At no point have i said we were intellectually any thing other than superior. My point is despite this "intelligence" we're quite happy to destroy anything else to satisfy our own greed.

threeball

Yourself isit wrote: »

Humans live and have historically lived in places far more remote and inhospitable than Connemara. Like the place you mentioned: Siberia. Where humans live. Actually live right now. This very minute.

And in wilds of Canada, and in deserts, and high mountains. There are humans living on Antarctica.

Might be worth reading about the world?

Yes and most live in cities or large towns. Those that live in true isolation can hardly be denoted as the average human. Perhaps you should learn what the word average means.

goose2005

ChikiChiki wrote: »

This is a pretty disgusting ****ing comment given the suicide epidemic in the country. Way out of line considering what the OP posted and how they feel. GTFO.....

Suicide is hardly "epidemic", the rate is decreasing every year.

mzungu

Richard Hillman wrote: »

To be fair, Lions are complete bastards. Especially male lions. Thats why they are top of the Serengeti food chain.

They are, along with the folks dining in the plush lodges :pac:

Drain Brain

threeball wrote: »

Dont know what you're arguing here.

I wouldn't worry, it's typical of that poster.

JupiterKid

I feel genuinely sorry for you OP. Have you thought of getting some counselling? I can be very negative too at times and get despondent now and then but life does have its positives. It really does.

The trick is to try to work some positive aspects into your life bit by bit and take it from there.

JackTaylorFan

OP, as others have alluded to, you come across as quite depressed. You also sound kinda young - maybe you're not, but the post and your outlook on life does have a certain adolescent quality about it. Probably wouldn't hurt you to get some therapy or something. It's gotta be better than posting in AH anyhow - especially if you are thin-skinned or suffer from anxiety. This is not a healthy environment if you are suffering from mental health issues.

Again, you should probably speak to your GP or something if life really does seem that bleak to you. Then again, if this was just you blowing off steam with a load of hyperbole, I apologise for the patronising tone of my reply.

I'm probably the most cynical person you are ever likely to meet, to be honest. Lately, I've been trying to change my outlook (get more involved with community and things)- but when you do suffer from depression it's hard to see a positive really.

I'll leave you with some crappy sermon (literally and figuratively: "crappy")

"The upside of being a pessimist is you are far less likely to step in dog****." - Yeah, it was at that point in the conversation that Ms. Guest Positive Speaker threw her arms up in exasperation too.

But hey! At least I've got a GSOH and a nice bum, right?

No?

Oh...

Sorry.

Well, good luck.

Richard Hillman

Most animal fathers are stay away, loser dads, who get their 2 minutes of fun after border line rape. We need to address the rape culture within the animal kingdom.

Penguins now, they are model citizens. Both parents equally sharing the burden to raise their chick, after trecking miles, barefoot in the snow to feed and raise their young into a fine young Man or Woman. The fish that they feed on may disagree but they basically just do their thing and abandon their young up-river.

Fish are total bastards when you think of it.

jimgoose

Animals live a short, unfulfilling, brutish existence based on little more than replacing themselves. Then they die, alone in the dark, helpless and uncomprehending. We, on the other hand, do things like this:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/11/national/science-health/ibm-big-data-used-for-rapid-diagnosis-of-rare-leukemia-case-in-japan/#.WM-QXVXyhaQ

...and you ain't seen nothing yet.

Wanderer78

Maybe if we created economic and financial systems that actually tried to share wealth and prosperity more evenly, we may not have many of the issues we do have. Our current economic systems create predatory, parasitic and ultimately destructive systems, bringing out the worst behavioural traits in us all.