Poll: Are you Human?

[WOPR]

Just a simple question to ponder as you go about your day. All I ask is that you stop and think about your answer before you give it. Rash or hasty answers can ultimately affect the "true" answer you otherwise are not aware of. Remember, this is asking whether or not you believe you are human, not physically a human being. I'm not asking if you think you're an alien.

If you answered Yes:
-Why? What makes you strongly believe that you are human? What makes you unique and worthy of the life that was given to you and had yet to be taken away? Do you value this life? Are you happy or content?

If you answered No:
-Did you fully understand the meaning behind the question? Why do you feel you are less than or more than human? What traits do you possess that warrants your existence over another, or vice versa? How do you view the world? Or do you wish to be something more?

If you Do not Know:
-Are you thinking to hard about the question? Do your emotions conflict with your morals? Do others live your life for you? Did you take the time to truly explore the meaning behind the question, or your answer? Do you feel dissatisfied or trapped?

Once again, this question is worded simply and is open to interpretation. Using what you have learned in your past years combined with your emotions and personal views, try to answer the sample questions offered under each category. Of course, you always have the option to forego these questions if you feel that you do not wish to answer them, you simply don't understand, or you do not have time to. However, I do hope that those who read this take the time to really question themselves about how their lives are currently running, and how they may or may not have truly lost themselves to the mechanized world of modern society.

No,
I've been treated so IN-human all my life I honestly don't feel human
I don't care... it's just weird

 

[crudus]

Yes I am. My DNA sequence says that I match what we have defined as human. I am not happy or content but those aren't prerequisites for being human. I only value it as much as my instincts tell me to.

Yes ... because I look like one

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.

(Douglas Adams)

 

[AgentDarkmoon]

I have a conscience. When I do something bad, I regret it. Do you ever see a cat walk up to something it broke and look remorsefully at the object? No! It goes and finds something new to do. Do sharks cry when they kill dolphins/become vegetarian? No! They eat their meal and move on. Is there an unspoken law of the weakest getting killed in nature? Yes! Whereas we keep things alive in the hospital or fix things. I have these characteristics that make me human, as do most human beings.

That's part of why they call unconscionable acts 'inhuman'.

Also, part of what bothers me about your question for yessers- "What makes you unique and worthy of the life that was given to you and had yet to be taken away? Do you value this life? Are you happy or content?" What does being human have to do with being worthy of being alive? If you go with the conscience argument perhaps, but they aren't mutually exclusive things. And whether or not I value my life has nothing to do with being human, unless you define humanity by such a thing, which I choose not to. We're not the only species to kill ourselves. And happiness or contentment also have nothing to do with being human. Someone with a conscience could be happy or unhappy, as could someone without it.

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

Everyone in this thread is Human, and who the fuck are you to question it?

 

[Snake Plissken]

This is, by far, the dumbest question I've heard all year. It's thinly disguised as some sort of philosophical quandary, but fails in every aspect. How you feel, whether or not you feel you are unique or "worthy", how much you value your life, etc. does not indicate whether or not you are human, as much as some may believe. You are classified by your taxonomic traits, period. It's simple. Occasionally, empathy is listed as a trait necessary to be deemed human, but that is usually where it ends when it comes to anything remotely as subjective in regards to taxonomy. I am human. You are human. We are all human. Quit pondering this question, drop out of your philosophy class and replace it with a biology class, and move on with your day.

Thank you.

 

[cahtush]

my dna says im a human

 

[irequirefood]

I feel more like an empty shell that was human once. Sub-human. I am stricken with such a degree of apathy that I can't really care for anything, even myself. Though I was not always like this. More like I slowly degraded to this.

 

[Marowit]

I am, because my genes told me so.

 

[Kenko]

I constantly battle the human condition and repress all my urges and wants. Becuase society deems them wrong. I hate being human as I hate humanity in general because it is not what I want it to be and it never will be.

So yes, I am human.

 

[HentMas]

YES!!

because i was raised with a pre-stablished set of ideas and thoughts, but i still have free will and a personal image, i achieve things my way and do what i want even thought i was thaught otherwise (following the path of the father is not always the truth)

in a world where every single living thing (besides humans) grows and expands in enviroments "stablished" for them and relies on instinct, being able to rationalize my actions makes me "human"

-What makes you unique and worthy of the life that was given to you and had yet to be taken away? Do you value this life? Are you happy or content?

i´m worthy of my life because i say so, its kind of a no brainer, i don´t need to find some "meaningfull" and "deep" thought into this, if i say something is real, then by all means IT IS REAL, and right now, i say i am worthy of my life, why?? well, because I SAY SO and if you need proof or something else, look into yourselve, not everyone needs a "deep" answer for things, its my fundation and my idea it might seem like a stupid thought, but why would i care about something so trivial??, being concerned about you having a "higher purpose" or a "destiny" is stupid and pointles, if there is a destiny then you will fulfill it, if there is a "higher purpose" then you will achieve it, and if there is none of those, then why botter caring?, believe me, the second you "doubth" you are worthy of your life you are screwed, and that leads to "suicidal" thoughts that are more harmful than good (or who knows, perhaps they will find an answer that suits them and become more enligtend, i dont know how other people work).

hell yes i value this life

also, the bit about "content" or "Happy" seems kind of a moot point, after all, IF i´m content i have every right to be so, not everyone needs a "drive" or a "motive" to "grow" if they dont want too, its a choice in life, and choosing is part of being HUMAN (whatever someone else things about it) and if i´m happy, well, more power to me!

 

[WorldCritic]

Yes, because, well that me see. I can go out in sunlight without burning up, I don't grow extra hair during full moons, and I don't have a tail. Yep I'm pretty sure I'm human.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

I experienced a prolonged period of not being human/suffering from depression, during which I essentially experienced no emotion and no attachment to anything in the world.
Having recovered from that, I feel justified in saying that now I am human, yes.

 

[Cazza]

No

I'm Dancer

Being that Im just an emotional being that is influenced by the media, music by love. I feel and think but I forget that Iam just a cause. A cause of the effect of the world.

 

[UnwishedGunz]

no i forgot my organs at home

 

[thomas2]

Nope, I'm twelve bumblebees in a clown suit. Well there's a dead rat as well, but he's not contributing much.

On a more serious note I think this was a bad choice of question, because we're all biologically human.