Poll: Do you believe humans are apes?

[James Joseph Emerald]

Felicia Day [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Felicia_HS.jpg] = an ape?

Naaaaw. Apes are hairy zoo animals.

I mean, we might be genetically similar, but where's the cut-off point? Hm? Last I checked, 'similar' isn't a scientifically defined term. So it shouldn't be in the definition of any other scientific terms/classifications. That's how science works. It builds on itself.

Also, I remember hearing that humans share like 89% of our genes with mice (hence why testing on mice works quite well). So if apes and humans are in the same classification, shouldn't mice be too? Where does it end?

 

[diasravenguard]

No, based on my beliefs. I'm not rigid in my beliefs but I'm not too flexible either.

What beliefs this isn't religious its a classification used to promote not only advancement of research but also to assist with determining what has a brachial artery (you know that thing that you shunt in order to keep from bleeding to death when another apelike human swings a broadsword at you removing a hand?)

 

[Circleseer]

Uhh I am gonna go with no. I believe the theory of evolution is the best method of explaining change in populations over time etc etc etc, however there are way too many differences between us and Great Apes for me to classify us togather. First of all we stand up erect, all the time. Second of all, we are pretty smart, you know landing on the moon smart. And finally we aren't as hairy as our ape brethren. Yes we have a lot in common with them, but for me at least I think the homo- etc group should be in their own family, lets call it the homo-whatever group. Sound good? Good.

We don't look at the fenotypes you mention here (how things look). We look at the inside, the genotypes. And looking at those, we see humans and chimpanzees are remarkably similar. It's just like with people. Change a few genes, and you go from white people to black people. Sure they look pretty different, but when it comes down to it they're nearly identically the same. AND both human.


And you're overestimating the human race, but that's a completely natural thing to do.

 

[The Austin]

No........ Because we are clearly not....

My sarcasm sense is tingling.

Well, your sarcasm sense is broken.

No........ Because we are clearly not....

How so?

Allow me to explain. The question is, "do you believe that humans are apes"?
Sooooooo......

Spoiler: Human

Spoiler: Ape

There is clearly a difference.

Ta-da!

 

[diasravenguard]

Felicia Day [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Felicia_HS.jpg] = an ape?

Naaaaw. Apes are hairy zoo animals.

I mean, we might be genetically similar, but where's the cut-off point? Hm? Last I checked, 'similar' isn't a scientifically defined term. So it shouldn't be in the definition of any other scientific terms/classifications. That's how science works. It builds on itself.

Also, I remember hearing that humans share like 89% of our genes with mice (hence why testing on mice works quite well). So if apes and humans are in the same classification, shouldn't mice be too? Where does it end?

It ends with the building and shape of bones muscles gene pools (similar and layered are different) but you're actually wrong about the similar being anything but a scientific term. it's called "Comparative Anatomy" and it is why we classify things the way we do.

Also we are just as hairy as most apes in terms of hair follicle per inch even on arms and legs we just have a "downy" layer of thin hairs.

 

[diasravenguard]

No........ Because we are clearly not....

My sarcasm sense is tingling.

Well, your sarcasm sens is broken.

No........ Because we are clearly not....

How so?

Allow me to explain. The question is, "do you believe that humans are apes"?
Sooooooo......

Spoiler: Human

Spoiler: Ape

There is clearly a difference.



Ta-da!

yeap ape > greater ape > Human easy simple and different it's a classification not a species you either just showed he has an elementary level education or proved he's ignorant...

 

[Dana22]

Why would humanity be the apex of evolution? We're no such thing. We're not the best, nor all that special - plenty of species are more succesfull than we are, or more complex.

Yes, we are best and "most" successful specie on earth. We are on the top of the foodchain, we dont have natural predators. And Human Brain is the most complex structure in universe as we know it.

That is simply not true. We are at the top of the foodchain, not counting bacteria and virusses, and many parasites. The foodchain is a human invention. It's a thought. Factually speaking, it is not as simple as a foodchain. I could go into the details, but you wouldn't read them anyway.

The brain is not the most complex structure. Also, it is impossible to compare complexity in this manner, since it is relative. There are more complex cells than braincells, and more complex electrical fields than that of the human brain.

Again, succesful is something we made up, plus it's relative. There are no true ways to measure succesfulness, since it does not have a fixed numerical meaning.

With the 80 billion neurons, I am pretty sure brain is one of the most complex.

Also, you dont have to "measure" successfulness of humankind. Just open the window and look outside. We can create artificial life using synthetic dna, and we can destroy all life on earth with the snap of a fingers. What other animal on earth can do that.

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

It ends with the building and shape of bones muscles gene pools ... but you're actually wrong ... it's called "Comparative Anatomy"

Also we are just as hairy as most apes in terms of hair follicle per inch.

Hmm, maybe so. But if you're going to start insisting people are wrong, and making grand statements of fact, don't you feel you ought to maybe... back it up? I mean, it seems unfair to essentially accuse me of being ignorant, and then force me to do a ton of research just to see if you're BSing or not.

 

[Circleseer]

Last post before I'm off to bed.

People, seriously stop seeing science as a camp that says one thing, and religion as a camp that says another. That isn't how it is at all.

Science is a method of research. It does not claim we are anything other than what we are. What science does in this case, is order things. You look at similarities, and then order everything. People share traits with apes, and are thus put in a catagory with apes.

This is because we look like them. Perhaps not in a direct visual sense, but structurally and genetically, we most certainly do.



You aren't an ape, and in fact, you're not the same human your neighbour is either. You have a unique buildup. But as far as classifying goes, you're an ape.


Accept it, and go to bed, or suggest a new catagory.


Good night!

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Speaking for everyone who doesn't believe in evolution (such as myself) No we are not apes. We never were. And we never will be

Just a quick question I've been meaning to ask someone like you please by all means do not take it the wrong way but, if you do not believe in evolution do you believe in the Adam and Eve thing? Because you know that story goes in the direction of family incest and that we'd be hillbillies because everybody would be related to us right?

Well this is so far the nicest reply on this thread I've gotten, and for that I will be glad to answer your question. I do believe in the Adam and Eve story, but after Cain killed Abel he wondered the Earth. God had created many more humans and allowed them to reproduce with each other. There was no incest just more humans created.

Well, if you reject the theory of evolution and make the claim that we are not related to apes you better have really good evidence, because current evolutionary theory has insurmountable amounts of evidence behind it. What evidence do you have for the Genesis story?

What evidence is there for evolution? For all we know those bones and "fossils" could have been deformities and died. My support of Genesis lies within Faith. Something no amount of "science" or "theories" can disprove. Just look at the sunset, a waterfall. There is no way this world could have started by a "big bang" there has to be something bigger then that and I know there is. His name is God.

 

[diasravenguard]

Why would humanity be the apex of evolution? We're no such thing. We're not the best, nor all that special - plenty of species are more succesfull than we are, or more complex.

Yes, we are best and "most" successful specie on earth. We are on the top of the foodchain, we dont have natural predators. And Human Brain is the most complex structure in universe as we know it.

That is simply not true. We are at the top of the foodchain, not counting bacteria and virusses, and many parasites. The foodchain is a human invention. It's a thought. Factually speaking, it is not as simple as a foodchain. I could go into the details, but you wouldn't read them anyway.

The brain is not the most complex structure. Also, it is impossible to compare complexity in this manner, since it is relative. There are more complex cells than braincells, and more complex electrical fields than that of the human brain.

Again, succesful is something we made up, plus it's relative. There are no true ways to measure succesfulness, since it does not have a fixed numerical meaning.

With the 80 billion neurons, I am pretty sure brain is one of the most complex.

Also, you dont have to "measure" successfulness of humankind. Just open the window and look outside. We can create artificial life using synthetic dna, and we can destroy all life on earth with the snap of a fingers. What other animal on earth can do that.

That is actually an issue of a phylisophical debate I would argue that us being able to destroy all life on earth (including our own) would show how unsuccessful we have been at cohabitating the planet.

What if I told you that the dolphin has another 3/5th that number of neurons? (they do) it is a very complex structure but look at element 119 thats a SINGLE element we are mostly H2O which has a mass of 8 (element 119 has an atomic mass of 119 BY ITSELF)

 

[reggaerae]

Belief is not necessary, acceptance is key.

 

[The Austin]

SNIP

yeap ape > greater ape > Human easy simple and different it's a classification not a species you either just showed he has an elementary level education or proved he's ignorant...

......What?
I couldn't understand a word of that sentence.

Are you insulting me?

 

[A random person]

Essentially we're apes who, over a series of mutations, got smarter and less furry, yes. I don't take this to the idiotic "we're animals, therefore we must be savage and not have any semblance of reason or sophistication" extreme, however.

Nice point although I would say we are more savage than any other species on the planet and the only one with the ability to commit genocide on the scale that we do. Or the xenocides that we continue to do by harvesting the rain forests (not with green-peace just making the point) and both of these are directly related to the level of reason and sophistication we have achieved...

Most guys (like Hitler and Mao) always had a way of reasoning their crimes into doing what was right.

*edit spelling correction*

I was targeting the emo-teen stereotypes who think they're the next Nietzsche, though you're right that our ability to create elaborate social structures and whatnot is a double-edged sword.

 

[diasravenguard]

Speaking for everyone who doesn't believe in evolution (such as myself) No we are not apes. We never were. And we never will be

Just a quick question I've been meaning to ask someone like you please by all means do not take it the wrong way but, if you do not believe in evolution do you believe in the Adam and Eve thing? Because you know that story goes in the direction of family incest and that we'd be hillbillies because everybody would be related to us right?

Well this is so far the nicest reply on this thread I've gotten, and for that I will be glad to answer your question. I do believe in the Adam and Eve story, but after Cain killed Abel he wondered the Earth. God had created many more humans and allowed them to reproduce with each other. There was no incest just more humans created.

Well, if you reject the theory of evolution and make the claim that we are not related to apes you better have really good evidence, because current evolutionary theory has insurmountable amounts of evidence behind it. What evidence do you have for the Genesis story?

What evidence is there for evolution? For all we know those bones and "fossils" could have been deformities and died. My support of Genesis lies within Faith. Something no amount of "science" or "theories" can disprove. Just look at the sunset, a waterfall. There is no way this world could have started by a "big bang" there has to be something bigger then that and I know there is. His name is God.

Yea that theory of gravity doesn't prove anything at all about how science always works of tangible evidence.

I'll take facts over faith everyday of the week and you do as well unless you want to just say that "faith" built the computer you are using.

 

[reggaerae]

I think that pretty much sums it up.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Speaking for everyone who doesn't believe in evolution (such as myself) No we are not apes. We never were. And we never will be

Just a quick question I've been meaning to ask someone like you please by all means do not take it the wrong way but, if you do not believe in evolution do you believe in the Adam and Eve thing? Because you know that story goes in the direction of family incest and that we'd be hillbillies because everybody would be related to us right?

Well this is so far the nicest reply on this thread I've gotten, and for that I will be glad to answer your question. I do believe in the Adam and Eve story, but after Cain killed Abel he wondered the Earth. God had created many more humans and allowed them to reproduce with each other. There was no incest just more humans created.

Well, if you reject the theory of evolution and make the claim that we are not related to apes you better have really good evidence, because current evolutionary theory has insurmountable amounts of evidence behind it. What evidence do you have for the Genesis story?

What evidence is there for evolution? For all we know those bones and "fossils" could have been deformities and died. My support of Genesis lies within Faith. Something no amount of "science" or "theories" can disprove. Just look at the sunset, a waterfall. There is no way this world could have started by a "big bang" there has to be something bigger then that and I know there is. His name is God.

Yea that theory of gravity doesn't prove anything at all about how science always works of tangible evidence.

I'll take facts over faith everyday of the week and you do as well unless you want to just say that "faith" built the computer you are using.

Well thats your choice in life and hell im not going to stop you, you can believe in what you wanna believe. And I'll believe and what I feel is right. Thats what makes us individuals in this world.

 

[AssCut4U]

Hell, I Mean Were All Animals Arn`t We? Hell, Could Have Fooled Me...

 

[diasravenguard]

SNIP

yeap ape > greater ape > Human easy simple and different it's a classification not a species you either just showed he has an elementary level education or proved he's ignorant...

......What?
I couldn't understand a word of that sentence.

Are you insulting me?

Nope sorry for the difficult sentence (ya got a crapload of quotes) actually I was insulting the sarcastic fellow who had his head in the dark... and was trying to say that an ape is an animal (rather than a group of animals)

Unless that was what you were meaning then by all means take it on the same level as the sarcasm...