These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week.
First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.
Monday, February 17, 2014
WEEK SEVEN BLOG ENTRY
What are the best qualities of humans?
--or--
What are the worst qualities of human beings?
Compared to other living organisms, humans have a lot of qualities that the other organisms lack but I think there are a few qualities that are more important than others. One of those qualities is language, both verbal and not verbal language. Even though other organisms are also able to communicate with one another, human language is special because we are able to express more clearly and in different ways. The use of gestures, body language and verbal and nonverbal communication is essential for us. Because of these forms of expressions sometimes we even express more than we would like because we express our emotions more clearly than other organisms. We are also able to show what we feel without the use of words. Because of language, there are few things in this world that we can’t express or show and this is one thing that makes us human beings special.
Rodrigo, non-verbal language can be so misleading. I've ran into a few people who I swear give me the stinky eye, but they turn out to be so nice. I can only imagine how many people I didn't make an effort to talk to because they looked mean.
Rodrigo - Totally agree with you! Its not just about what is said but, the tone of voice we said it in, what facial expressions, and gestures that are made that gives it more meaning. I actually saw something on The Today Show that was talking about people who suffer from "pissed off/mean face" I'm sorry I can't remember what it was called technically but I thought it was interesting.
Sarah - my daughter has the cure for people that give you the "stink eye"...she calls it the "pirate eye". You close one eye, snarl your lip and say "Aargh". Its quite comical to see the reaction you get from people! Please don't judge, I was in a bad mood and tried it in the mall and about died from laughing so hard.
Rodrigo- this hits so close to home with me because I recently lost my voice. I had completely lost my ability to communicate and it was really hard. It was so frustrating to loose the ability to talk. It truly showed me the importance in language and being able to speak.
Language did not come to mind, but it is a great point made! Something as simple as communicating ideas makes a great difference and makes humans very unique and special. Your post is something that we can all relate to since we all communicate in different ways, and sometimes we say too much. I would like to add that humans have the negative quality of being unappreciative. I say this because many of us, myself included, take for granted something like being able to communicate. We see it as normal and it is really a unique quality of humans.
I believe humans have many great qualities. In my opinion, some of the best qualities of humans is the way we love and care for others. When you love and care about someone all other good qualities show up as well. Such as, honesty, patience, and trust. It’s important to have good qualities, this is what makes people good human beings. I know no none is perfect and bad qualities do exists. People get hurt, even when you do love someone. I think one of the worst qualities of humans is their ability to lie. Honesty is very important to me. Lies get people in trouble. Once a lie is told, you have to keep up with lie after lie. They can start out little and end up huge. Addiction is another horrible human characteristic. Addiction can makes people do bad things and brings out other bad qualities. I have seen what lies and addiction do to a family and these are some traits I wish didn’t exist.
Now that I think about it, addiction is a important but bad characteristics of humans. I have heard some animals get high by eating some poisonous plants but they do it for survival. On the other hand we humans beings tend to get addicted to almost everything, and not because it will help us survive, but because it bring us some kind of satisfaction. Addiction really sets a boundary between humans and other living organisms.
I know hate is a strong word, but I hate lying. Lying is a way to get out of something, like Mishabc mentioned. It is a way to make things easier on yourself. The truth is too hard for them. Lying becomes a way of life. If you lie and get away with it, you will continue a long chain of lies. Lying will only bring negativity into your life.
Love is an amazing human quality. I truly believe that love is what makes us whole, in a sense. Love is what connects us together. I love that you mentioned how it connects to other qualities such as honesty and patience. Lies are very hurtful, and take alot of energy to make them up and keep up with them. Like you said, no one is perfect but i personally find it alot easier to be honest. I mean.. why not just speak about actual things instead of make believe? It is confusing and I don't understand liars... it seems like a childish thing to do.
Qualities that make human beings special are how complex our extoridanary brain is. We have a part of the brain to for creative and critical thinking and a part that is for emotions and language. With that along comes the good and the bad. Good things are that some ideas we would have never imangined are produced from people and their creative minds. Examples of creative minds are Einstin, Mozart, and Stephen Hawking. Great examples of items produced by great minds are, the touch screen invention for phones, ipads/tablets, and computer screens. Another great example is people in the science word trying to solve complex issues, find cures for disorders and cancer, and much more. Great ideas and thoughts are accomplished with the human mind. Another quality about humans that makes us unique out of the rest of mammal's is our uprigh posture and opposable thumbs. Humans and primates are the only mammal's who have these unique qualities that make us different and allow us to do different things than other mammal's.
I agree with your point about how special we are because our brains. Creative thinking has really shaped our lives more than we think. Everything we have has been created from creative thinking, but it has also caused us a lot of problems. Creative thinking has also been used for other purposes. Besides all the negatives aspects of creative thinking, the capabilities of our brains are something that make human beings special like you have explained.
I did not think of using the feature of thumbs or any other positive ability that humans have over other mammals. This was a great though Cheyenne. I enjoyed reading this and expanding my thoughts on this subject!
I really agree with your post Cheyenne! The brain is an extraordinary thing that continues to amaze researchers to this day. Our brains are something that set us apart from other animals and something that one really can't put a value on. It's always fun to think that we are using our brains to try and understand our brains and are still finding out new and unknown things about it. Good post!
I too agree with this post. I also enjoy your connection to the varied greats of our time! The brain works in a way that not only allows us to connect with others, but also connect with our inner self.
Humans have many qualities both good and bad. The examples given by the students who have posted already are great. I came on here wanting to write something else entirely, but after reading Jordan's post about humans ability to love, and literally just finishing The Tortilla Curtain, I decided to write something else. Humans ability to hate. Is there any evidence that other creatures can "hate"? Killing to survive is one thing, but humans can kill just in spite; because they're a rival gang member or whatnot. Who cares if that person has two young kids and another on the way and he is the only source of income that feeds them? Humans ability to hate is astounding and so very harmful. From bullying to killing, it destroys lives. I find myself very emotional just typing this remembering all the examples we see daily on the news. How did the human race become this cruel? Why are so many people hated because of the color their skin, or why are kids teased to the point of suicide because of their weight or sexual status? Yes, human beings are capable of amazing and wonderful things such as love and empathy, our creative minds bring about beautiful pieces of art in all forms, but we are also capable of something so dark that I don't think any other species on this planet can fathom. Hate destroys, and its sickening how some humans can do it so effortlessly.
it is sad to acknowledge that something like hate make us special. I have heard of a special case where primates showed this behavior but besides that, all of the things other organisms do is to survive. what is worse is that we know this and we still do nothing about it.
I was thinking of talking a bit about the dark side of the human brain, but decided to leave that topic for someone else. You hit that point perfectly. It is so devastating to see and hear. Being a criminal justice major starts to numb me to these things since I hear about them and have to talk about all the evil things humans can do.
Mishabc, I wish people would learn to control their hate and ignore it. It's possible to deflect hateful thoughts isn't it? Maybe hate is an adolescent trait.
It’s true what you mentioned regarding hate in the human race. Hate is a very powerful and negative thing that people experience at some point in their life. It would be great if there was no hate, but where there’s a positive (love) there has to be a negative (hate). Good job on explaining the topic in great detail.
The human ability to waste and toss things is a negative quality that bugs and tempts me to judge a person. Most humans are waste-machines. Many will crumple a paper and dispose it if they accidentally make a false mark...with a pencil. Many take 2 hour showers. Sustenance and goods are over consumed. I imagine if each household had to produce their own supply of binder paper, paper would not be tossed. People would get into the habit of erasing the marking and reusing. Numerous fail to see that the simplest luxuries we have now are taken for granted. Can our overconsumption lead to our extinction? I’m not an environmentalist. I am probably one of those people who will crumple a paper if I’m having a bad day, but I do judge a person who drinks out of a Styrofoam cup. All I know is that I am doing my part by minimizing my use of water because of the Californian water scarcity, and I’ve started saving the toilet paper’s cardboard for recycling.
I completely agree with you Sarah. We can be very wasteful and we take for granted all the resources we have. I try not be wasteful and be conscious of the things I use. I know we are in a huge drought, so we need to conserve as much water as possible. I am hoping for a big rain storm to bring us even just a little bit of water. The lack of water will take a toll on our crops and ultimately cause a chain reaction. It will in some way or another impact all of us eventually.
I completely agree with you 100%! I am far from being totally environmentally perfect but I strive to be environmentally friendly. I think it is amusing that I can overhear my neighbors having a discussion on the current drought situation one minute and see their sprinklers on for an hour the next. I know its not much but to me, having a lush lawn is not as important as being able to shower, flush the toilet, or wash laundry and dishes.
Im so guilty of waste, but its not on purpose. I will be washing bottles, or cleaning off the counter when my attention will be brought to something else and I walk away with the water running. I cant stand it and yet I do it! My family used to toss out food a ton too, but I have complained enough that that has actually decreased substantially. Most people I dont think even realize what theyre doing until its brought to their attention. Maybe a few fellow classmates will read this and think about it the next time they dont erase something
my wife had knee surgery today and went from completely knocked out from general anesthesia to sitting in the car headed home within 30 minutes. i do not like our human systems when they value profit over humanity...perfectly kind and competent nurses are forced to scoot groggy and half stoned patients out just to get another paying body in there!
Now that I can totally believe! Its a sad state when overhead, cost projections and coverage's are given more importance than a persons well-being. Hope she feels better and make sure she lets it heal properly. I have had two knee surgeries and need another because I was too stubborn to listen to anyone.
The worst quality of a human being is making some one suffer. Like those "men" who abuse their wife to the point where her body is covered with bruises and abuse her psychological such as telling her she "provoked" him and that she must be "taught" to respect and worship him. Also this implies elderly abuse and any type of abuse. I once watched this video where the care giving was hitting and slapping the old people. This made me very angry because for one no one deserves to be abuse in any type of way, second we are taught at a very young way to always respect our elders, third no one would like to know or witness their own parents or grandparents being abuse by a "caregiver", and lastly we are all heading that way. Meaning that we are not eternally young and will one day be old.
yes, that sort of evil, as well as others mentioned by Michelle and others above, certainly seems the worst side of humanity. Can other animals commit evil?
I could not agree more with a posting. After reading this, I had to write about it also. Abuse and suffering is absolutely horrible. How people can do such horrible things to others is beyond me. I have seen the same videos you have about the caregiver. How does someone find abuse positive? It is hard to understand others sometimes, but abuse and suffering are some of the worst qualities a human can have!
This is a very interesting post to read think about it. I am right there with you Adriana and Miranda! I do not, no matter how hard I try, understand how someone can bring themselves to harm others for no apparent reason at all. Some believe that humans are born with an innate need for aggression, but this type of behavior is way beyond this. Dr. Schmoll: I'm not sure if other animals can commit evil as evil appears to be a man made concept, but there is plenty of proof that shows that some animals--lions for instance-- are extremely aggressive and will kill new male cubs or other males within their own coalitions or prides. So yes, animals can be aggressive but it's up to humans to perceive that as evil.
I think we can all agree that humans are the only creatures that inflict suffering by choice. Animals hurt for survival but humans are the only beings that do it consciously. I totally agree with your point of view!
The best quality humans have would be the knowledge to create the world we leave in today. Humans have evolved since the beginning of time. Humans have uncovered new lands, new modes of transportation, technology advancements, medicine, and etc. Just in the last one hundred years we have created so many new things; for example we have cell phones and tablets with internet. We no longer have just one way to communicate through a phone, but through apps and computers. Machines we've created mass produce a majority of the stuff we use daily. It is incredible how much humans have developed. They have created all kinds of equipment to make human's lives much more efficient. Of course, humans have also created pointless things like the snuggie blanket. This just shows that not all creations are winners. Even today humans are still making advancements to cure diseases or even cancer. I think it amazing how much we have created and who knows what we will create in the future.
It actually scares me to think about what humans will create in the future! I do agree that people are moving so fast, especially technologically-wise!
It is pretty awesome, how humans have become so knowledgeable and innovative. When you mentioned medicine, I thought about how medicine has really helped. Not only us human beings but other living things on earth. I'm not saying human beings should just rely on medicine, to solve every sickness issue. Humans should live healthy lives and treat their bodies respectively. However, some sicknesses come on regardless of the persons health and this is where medicine for the most part is a life saver.
Alexander Pope said it best, “to err is human; to forgive divine.” As I grow older and possibly a little wiser, I have come to the realization that life is short to hold grudges. I believe that the ability to forgive is easier said than done however, it is the ability to forgive that is the best quality of human beings. Nothing in life is guaranteed to last forever and tomorrow is not promised and it is this concept that reaffirms my beliefs that forgiveness is needed for quality of life. Everyone makes mistakes at some point or another, some seemingly insignificant and others life altering nonetheless, each can touch countless people. Not to sound simple-minded or naïve but, it is my belief that anyone willing to seek forgiveness deserves of at least an attempt. While this concept might cause people to instantly create “what if” situations to question my ability to not be hypocritical in my convictions, I have learned that taking the first step is half of the battle. I am not perfect by any means, I do not look at the world through rose colored glasses, and yes I do believe there are certain situations that are unforgiveable. I could forgive nearly anything with the exception of harm to my children and yet there are degrees or shades of grey that I would consider relevant. Most species have an innate ability to socialize on some level but humans have the ability to rationalize, to feel, to react, and to vocalize thoughts and emotions. Additionally, most species do not have our ability to forgive and that I believe is the best quality of being human.
I loved your last sentence. I also think the ability for a human to forgive is brave and amazing. It is one of the best qualities of a human. It is amazing what humans are capable of.
Miranda - Thank you! Its easy to say to forgive people but when you are faced with a situation that is nearly unforgivable its a struggle to find the ability.
When I began to write this, I wanted to bring up something different then someone else. After reading, I could not get Adriana's post out of my head, and she is so right. The ability to make another suffer is absolutely the worst quality of a human. Many women are caused to cover their bruises in makeup and wear long sleeves and pants to cover their bruises after being beaten by their husbands, fathers, or other figures. As if the woman is not going through enough, the man will tell her its her fault. This ca cause psychological issues. The woman can start thinking, is it my fault? Like Adriana's post said, this same issue goes for an other type of abuse. I also know of a elderly women who was being beaten by her caregiver. He was telling her what she needed to do, and if she didn't, he would dump her out of her wheel chair. I also heard of a case where a babysitter was molesting and abusing the child he was babysitting. This also bring up the issue of trust. Trust can be the bed or one of the worst qualities of humans, depending how it is used. It trust is used fitfully it can be the most positive thing in a relationship or friendship. When trust is taken advantage of, it brings only negative problems. People want to be able to trust their parent's caregiver to take care their parent, and a parent wants to be able to trust their babysitter at home with their children.
Well, i believe you are so right. People who abuse others, that i truly believe is the real evil in this world. I don't understate how people can live with themselves knowing that they inflict so much pain on other people.
This topic is so sensitive to me but I totally agree that the worst quality of humans is the ability to allow themselves to do evil and to make others suffer in a tormenting way. I have witnessed and been a victim of so much abuse and cruelty that it is sickening. I have heard story after story from friends and acquaintances of how someone in their life has committed violent, or simply just harmful acts to them or their loved ones. I don't believe that we pop out of the womb with evil tendencies, which makes me wonder if people who do these things are controlled by negative energy/forces or “evil spirits.” Or do people willingly choose to be evil to cover up buried feelings of pain, rejection, or loss? Maybe some do evil or harmful things to others because they are consciously or unconsciously reenacting what was done to them.
So true! I'm pretty open minded about a lot of things, and try to find reasons as to why people cause harm or do bad things, but I don;t understand to why people actually go through with "evil" things! Sandyhook still blows my mind! It's terrifying and sad that someone could go through with that!
Monica, who is Sandyhook? I see what you are saying though, maybe they are mentally insane, unconsciously going through with evil things or simply just enjoy other people's pain. I cannot imagine what goes through a person's mind when they are doing evil. Like, are they blanked out- no thoughts at all? Or are they second guessing themselves while still following through with whatever they had the intention of doing? Now I am actually very interested in learning about the thought process of humans who commit serious crimes that we would consider "evil." I'm sure there is a study about it somewhere on the internet!
For me, I think it is extremely easy to sit and ponder the negative qualities of humans because those are the ones that are usually focused on most. But I truly believe that our positives qualities outweigh the negative ones. One specific positive quality that is really interesting is man's ability to innovate. While we see innovation in plenty of other animal species and worlds, man was able to grasp this idea of working with what you have to get the results you need to a whole new level. Think about this: just over 30 years ago, if you wanted to speak to someone that wasn't directly in front of you, you either needed to be pretty rich and call them on your car phone or be find a stationary phone that would allow you to get in touch. Now, you cant walk 30 feet without seeing someone on a phone or using your own. We are able to grasp concepts, such as telephony, and then introduce new ideas methods of using those concepts to produce new inventions for the sole purpose of making our daily lives a bit easier. As humans, we have moved from stone and rock tools to man made diamond tipped drills to produce the strongest of tools. When we put our minds to it, we can do anything!
I love your topic Jacob! You are so right, the idea of innovation is all around us. It is crazy to think about everything that is being designed and developed to make our lives easier.
Humans have the best qualities. In my book love and compassion are at the top of the list. Humans love one another and therefore are because we love we show compassion to others. This past weekend I grew in ways I could not have imagined. I was a counselor at Hume Lake, to a group of fourteen and fifteen year old girls. Over the course of the three days that I was with them I got to know them, there likes, dislikes and their favorite sports or things to do. Everyday seeing a little of myself in each of them, watching them grow together and learn from one another. The reason that I had love and compassion for them and their lives is because I too was once that age. I was able to tell them that they are normal and the problems they face at school will go away. Also that just because one person does not like you does not mean that everyone doesn’t. It was over all an experience that allowed me to grow as a person but also to let me see how easy it is to get attached to other human beings. The connection in the group of us is something that I think I have forgotten over the years. The girl’s young spirits reminded me that everyone goes through trials and hardships and we have the love and compassion of others in order to pick us up. Without these traits humans would be lost beyond all measure.
I read this, after I wrote mine :) ... I am totally with you.. love and compassion are also in my top list. I think love and compassion enable us to do all other good things - they are foundations of other good things. Like what you did, because of your love and compassion you wanted to help those young girls facing their problems and you become a role model for them - as you showed them your best qualities. Do you know Kelly, those girls will always remember what you shared and taught them!
Humans are interesting creatures. The potential reasons, logic, and explanations to why they say certain things, how they act, and their various interests and opinions is bewildering! It's amazing to think that we are biologically similar, but have different thoughts, perspectives, and make different choices. I think those are the most astounding qualities of humans, their individualism I guess. A human's individualism can be seen throughout a number of methods, their appearance, lifestyle, etc. We even have sites that are dedicated in announcing "different-looking" people at popular retailers, like Peopleofwalmart.com. Looking at the foundation, on which sites like Peopleofwalmart was was created on, leads us to the fascination of "people watching," which is based on the interest of people being interested in why people make the decision to dress in incredible outfits. Although the site is generally used to ridicule people, the way it lures people to logging on it pretty interesting and clever! People's thoughts, norms and decisions are the bait! It's an amazing acknowledgement that the creator's must have thought about! Just the way the mind works is unique in humans. It's quite rapid as compared to other organisms. Other qualities that are said to be unique, as compared to other organisms, are their emotional qualities. What people feel and act when they "love" is a perfect example. Feelings towards a person really can make you do "crazy" things, the same goes for heartbreak. The death of a loved one is also something unique! A humans ability to show feelings and emotion are beautiful qualities.
Self growth is a negative human quality. Many of you may read this and wonder why I think this. The reason behind my opinion is because many times the motivation to succeed and grow leads to individuals becoming greedy and hurting loved ones along the way. Humans who are too self-centered and focused on their own prosperity do not consider the people they are stepping on and hurting along the way. At some point, the feelings that make us "human" are blocked off and forgotten. Once an individual had received a desired position, because of their hunger of power they become cold hearten and only care about growing even more. Their thirst for success never stops, and they just want to be the best of the best.
Hi Gabriela, to a certain extent I agree that self-centered human beings hold a negative quality. Selfishness can ruin things for people and their loved ones. Like you said, some people get so caught up in success that they will do anything in their favor to reach the top. Humans tend to lose their identity of who they truly are when success empowers them. However, not all humans are negatively affected by self growth. Some actually become, better human beings in life and cherish those who helped them achieve their success.
The best qualities of humans are the body, and its ability to transform. I’ve always been amazed at how an individual can go from an average Joe to best shape of their life. The human body is so complex. It functions through several set of systems that interact with each other. The human body is capable of becoming stronger, faster, explosive, and the list goes on. Along the lines, humans have qualities that other living things on earth do not have. Humans can develop so much ambition towards reaching a specific goal, pushing themselves further than they could have ever imagined. It’s amazing, when I see someone dedicating their time to a sport and seeing how that person develops into a great athlete. Furthermore, another great quality of humans is that we can become very talented at something, whether it is doing gymnastics or break dancing. Getting to see how passionate human beings are about doing the things they love is astonishing. For example, Muhammad Ali, this man was ambitious, passionate, and had the best attitude anybody could have. He was unstoppable and one of the greatest fighters of all time. I’d say one of the worst qualities in human beings is hatred. Hatred among human beings has become ridiculous. Human beings go to the extent of killing and traumatizing people due to hatred. I think it’s something that the world needs to work on.
Hi Diana, i really liked your topic. Muhammed Ail was a great example of ambition. I mean the man is a legend right? He had to overcome so may obstacles in life, and in his career to become one of the world greats.
I loved your topic. I wouldn't have even thought of the human body! It is incredible. I love watching the show "The Biggest Loser" and it is absolutely amazing to watch the transformations these people go through while dieting and exercising, while inspiring others as well. It is unbelievable, the amount of focus and determination people have when doing sports or just having an exercise routine and healthy lifestyle. Another amazing gift our bodies have is women being able to create a life within them. It is beautiful what our bodies can do.
Compassion. This for me is number one. Without it the world would be a cruel, lonely, and evil place to live. It makes this world warm and full of joy. The most important thing in this world is other people. If you don't care they won't either. If you are mean to people you are making this world a worse place to live in. You must understand and feel for others so that they feel comforted. We were driving through a big city and saw a man standing by the side of the road, wearing thread bare clothes and looking like he was really cold. He was pale and had his hands tucked under his arms. There was alot of traffic and I tried to point him out to my husband and daughter as we drove past. A few blocks up, we were stopped in traffic and i looked out the window and to my amazement, I saw a brand new pair of big thick gloves, hooked together, just lying on the road. I quickly got out of the car and grabbed them and asked my husband to drive back and come around the same way, while my daughter and i watched for the man. We drove slowly and finally we saw him and pulled over. The wild thing was that when we went to him, with these great gloves and $5, other people were also coming up to him with things. The man was laughing and said that he felt like it was Christmas.
Geraldine, I agree with you.. Compassion! That's a rare thing to find in this individualistic world right now. What you did, that was a great experience for your daughter, she learnt compassion from a real action, from what her parents did.
Compassion is a beauty quality to have. In the end we are all humans trying to get through life and although it maybe tough, compassion makes it slightly more bearable.
I completely agree. Compassion is the key to a positive life. I try to do something for others everyday and be able to help in some way. It is important to me to try and give back and also enjoy the little things in life.
I think the best quality in human beings is our ability to adapt. Humans are able to adapt to different situations or circumstances in their lives. For example if a human loses the sense of sight, there other senses compensate for the lose of sight. This person develops a better sense of smell or sharper hearing thus adapting to its handicap. Not only are humans able to adapt to certain situations but they are able to adapt to many different environments. I took a native american class last quarter where we learned of native people who were able to adapt to otherwise inhospitable environments. For example the inuit people in Canada which were able to adapt to freezing temperatures and little food simply. I feel that no matter the situation, whether it be a handicap or an environmental change humans have shown this amazing ability to adapt and survive, that is why I belief it to be our best quality.
There is one human quality I really hate and that is the ability to gain weight. This quality should not exist. I would love to be able to eat what ever I want and not gain any weight. If that human quality did not exist we would all be similar, this would be kinda weird but pretty cool. One human quality I believe is very positive is knowledge. Being able to generate things from scratch and completing difficult tasks is very remarkable. With knowledge humans are able to communicate with others who live thousands miles away. Also with knowledge, we humans produce cures and medicines for sickness and infections. Another human quality that has been mention already that I believe is worth mentioning again is Love. Love makes you do things that are out of this world. For example, A Fathers love, is one powerful thing. I would do anything for my little man. Fly to the moon on a eagle if I had too.
When you find the place where we don't gain weight let me know and I will join you! Kudos to you for your closing remarks on a fathers love! I wish all men could feel this way!
The human mind is a beautiful creation. Ironically, it can also be our strongest demise. People use their ideas and thoughts for good, like Einstein. However, some use it for negative reasons, like Hitler. I often find myself gawking at how the world is; seeing Miley Cyrus jump around on stage is enough to make a pope curse. The mind creates images of ourselves; how we think and act. It is a beautiful way to live considering most of our animal counterparts do not come close to the way we process ideas. The negative aspect to the human mind is how we can process and act without considering the negative consequences, or the issues that may arise because of our thoughts. Some call Tupac a revolutionary, others call him idiotic. The mind is what processes these ideas. Though we may have differences, it is how we process our own thoughts that can bring us together. I would not change the way I think for the world. I find it beautiful how we can combine different ideas and thoughts and although it can cause some negativity in the world, ultimately it is these traits that make us stronger, faster, and more intelligent than others.
Joey you make a good point. Humans are not perfect and we just have to except our flaws. Hopefully we all learn from the mistakes we make because that is the only way our ideas will improve.
I would say the worst quality in humans is our greed. We are constantly trying to get more, no matter what it is. When we get a job, we want to do everything in our power to move up and make more so we can buy more. No matter how much we tell ourselves that we just want to live "comfortably", what does that even mean? When are we truly comfortable or satisfied? The answer is never because it programmed in us to survive, and in order to survive in this world is to be on top. So we continually strive to succeed and gain more in life. I admit that I am greedy but in order to counteract some of that selfishness and greed, I try to do good for others as well. Even if its as simple as giving money or food/clothes to someone who is homeless. I try to do something for someone else everyday.
I agree with you Brittany. Being greedy is one of the worst qualities in humans. It’s true that humans want to keep wanting more, and are not too thankful for what they already have. It’s great to know that you help the homeless, I think that can be listed as a great human quality. Keep up the good work Brittany!!!
The best qualities of humans are that we are able to think positive and that we have the mental capability of learning from our own mistakes. There are numerous positive qualities that I can go on about, but these two qualities I believe can either make or break a person. Reason being is that every person has the ability to be positive. I believe people who think and stay positive seem to be the most satisfied people in society today, because their positive caring feelings outweigh their negative dark feelings. It’s kind of like the saying (if there is saying that says this), things are what you make of them. Learning from our mistakes is another great capability that helps us to thrive. For many of us learning from our mistakes helps us to gain experience and gives alertness to not commit that same mistake again. Keeping these two capabilities in mind, a person can achieve and maintain just about everything in life that he or she may desire.
I do not know if it should be considered “the worst” quality of human beings, but I do believe that in some cases (definitely not all) we tend to make life more complicated because of our self-awareness. Because we are aware of ourselves, we become conscious of how we look; our insecurities, our socioeconomic status, our upbringing, and many other matters. People react to this awareness in many different ways, but a lot of times it leads to jealousy or fear; which in my opinion, causes people to commit harmful acts to others- whether it be emotionally or physically. For example, someone one may recognize that they are not as strong and powerful as another person so they might kill or do a harmful act to them because that person may want to be in the other person’s shoes. I also believe self-awareness could be a good quality because we can better evaluate ourselves and each other.
The human's worst quality is the insatiable hunger for conflict. No matter where or when, humanity has always tried to progress in creative ways of killing each other. Every war that Humanity has fought has resulted in bloodshed, indirectly or directly.
Compared to other living organisms, humans have a lot of qualities that the other organisms lack but I think there are a few qualities that are more important than others. One of those qualities is language, both verbal and not verbal language. Even though other organisms are also able to communicate with one another, human language is special because we are able to express more clearly and in different ways. The use of gestures, body language and verbal and nonverbal communication is essential for us. Because of these forms of expressions sometimes we even express more than we would like because we express our emotions more clearly than other organisms. We are also able to show what we feel without the use of words. Because of language, there are few things in this world that we can’t express or show and this is one thing that makes us human beings special.
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point. I didn't even think about language. I agree that it is an important human quality.
DeleteRodrigo, non-verbal language can be so misleading. I've ran into a few people who I swear give me the stinky eye, but they turn out to be so nice. I can only imagine how many people I didn't make an effort to talk to because they looked mean.
DeleteYeah i know what you mean. Because of my facial features I look like I'm always mad.
DeleteRodrigo - Totally agree with you! Its not just about what is said but, the tone of voice we said it in, what facial expressions, and gestures that are made that gives it more meaning. I actually saw something on The Today Show that was talking about people who suffer from "pissed off/mean face" I'm sorry I can't remember what it was called technically but I thought it was interesting.
DeleteSarah - my daughter has the cure for people that give you the "stink eye"...she calls it the "pirate eye". You close one eye, snarl your lip and say "Aargh". Its quite comical to see the reaction you get from people! Please don't judge, I was in a bad mood and tried it in the mall and about died from laughing so hard.
Rodrigo- this hits so close to home with me because I recently lost my voice. I had completely lost my ability to communicate and it was really hard. It was so frustrating to loose the ability to talk. It truly showed me the importance in language and being able to speak.
DeleteLanguage did not come to mind, but it is a great point made! Something as simple as communicating ideas makes a great difference and makes humans very unique and special. Your post is something that we can all relate to since we all communicate in different ways, and sometimes we say too much. I would like to add that humans have the negative quality of being unappreciative. I say this because many of us, myself included, take for granted something like being able to communicate. We see it as normal and it is really a unique quality of humans.
DeleteI believe humans have many great qualities. In my opinion, some of the best qualities of humans is the way we love and care for others. When you love and care about someone all other good qualities show up as well. Such as, honesty, patience, and trust. It’s important to have good qualities, this is what makes people good human beings. I know no none is perfect and bad qualities do exists. People get hurt, even when you do love someone. I think one of the worst qualities of humans is their ability to lie. Honesty is very important to me. Lies get people in trouble. Once a lie is told, you have to keep up with lie after lie. They can start out little and end up huge. Addiction is another horrible human characteristic. Addiction can makes people do bad things and brings out other bad qualities. I have seen what lies and addiction do to a family and these are some traits I wish didn’t exist.
ReplyDeleteYour point on addiction was great. I wouldn't have thought of that right away when asking about negitive qualities in humans.
DeleteNow that I think about it, addiction is a important but bad characteristics of humans. I have heard some animals get high by eating some poisonous plants but they do it for survival. On the other hand we humans beings tend to get addicted to almost everything, and not because it will help us survive, but because it bring us some kind of satisfaction. Addiction really sets a boundary between humans and other living organisms.
DeleteI know hate is a strong word, but I hate lying. Lying is a way to get out of something, like Mishabc mentioned. It is a way to make things easier on yourself. The truth is too hard for them. Lying becomes a way of life. If you lie and get away with it, you will continue a long chain of lies. Lying will only bring negativity into your life.
DeleteLove is an amazing human quality. I truly believe that love is what makes us whole, in a sense. Love is what connects us together. I love that you mentioned how it connects to other qualities such as honesty and patience. Lies are very hurtful, and take alot of energy to make them up and keep up with them. Like you said, no one is perfect but i personally find it alot easier to be honest. I mean.. why not just speak about actual things instead of make believe? It is confusing and I don't understand liars... it seems like a childish thing to do.
DeleteI agree, Addiction is an evil quality, it should be eliminated by the human quality gods.
DeleteQualities that make human beings special are how complex our extoridanary brain is. We have a part of the brain to for creative and critical thinking and a part that is for emotions and language. With that along comes the good and the bad. Good things are that some ideas we would have never imangined are produced from people and their creative minds. Examples of creative minds are Einstin, Mozart, and Stephen Hawking. Great examples of items produced by great minds are, the touch screen invention for phones, ipads/tablets, and computer screens. Another great example is people in the science word trying to solve complex issues, find cures for disorders and cancer, and much more. Great ideas and thoughts are accomplished with the human mind. Another quality about humans that makes us unique out of the rest of mammal's is our uprigh posture and opposable thumbs. Humans and primates are the only mammal's who have these unique qualities that make us different and allow us to do different things than other mammal's.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about how special we are because our brains. Creative thinking has really shaped our lives more than we think. Everything we have has been created from creative thinking, but it has also caused us a lot of problems. Creative thinking has also been used for other purposes. Besides all the negatives aspects of creative thinking, the capabilities of our brains are something that make human beings special like you have explained.
DeleteI did not think of using the feature of thumbs or any other positive ability that humans have over other mammals. This was a great though Cheyenne. I enjoyed reading this and expanding my thoughts on this subject!
DeleteI really agree with your post Cheyenne! The brain is an extraordinary thing that continues to amaze researchers to this day. Our brains are something that set us apart from other animals and something that one really can't put a value on. It's always fun to think that we are using our brains to try and understand our brains and are still finding out new and unknown things about it. Good post!
DeleteI too agree with this post. I also enjoy your connection to the varied greats of our time! The brain works in a way that not only allows us to connect with others, but also connect with our inner self.
DeleteHumans have many qualities both good and bad. The examples given by the students who have posted already are great. I came on here wanting to write something else entirely, but after reading Jordan's post about humans ability to love, and literally just finishing The Tortilla Curtain, I decided to write something else. Humans ability to hate. Is there any evidence that other creatures can "hate"? Killing to survive is one thing, but humans can kill just in spite; because they're a rival gang member or whatnot. Who cares if that person has two young kids and another on the way and he is the only source of income that feeds them? Humans ability to hate is astounding and so very harmful. From bullying to killing, it destroys lives. I find myself very emotional just typing this remembering all the examples we see daily on the news. How did the human race become this cruel? Why are so many people hated because of the color their skin, or why are kids teased to the point of suicide because of their weight or sexual status? Yes, human beings are capable of amazing and wonderful things such as love and empathy, our creative minds bring about beautiful pieces of art in all forms, but we are also capable of something so dark that I don't think any other species on this planet can fathom. Hate destroys, and its sickening how some humans can do it so effortlessly.
ReplyDeleteit is sad to acknowledge that something like hate make us special. I have heard of a special case where primates showed this behavior but besides that, all of the things other organisms do is to survive. what is worse is that we know this and we still do nothing about it.
DeleteI was thinking of talking a bit about the dark side of the human brain, but decided to leave that topic for someone else. You hit that point perfectly. It is so devastating to see and hear. Being a criminal justice major starts to numb me to these things since I hear about them and have to talk about all the evil things humans can do.
DeleteMishabc, I wish people would learn to control their hate and ignore it. It's possible to deflect hateful thoughts isn't it? Maybe hate is an adolescent trait.
DeleteIt’s true what you mentioned regarding hate in the human race. Hate is a very powerful and negative thing that people experience at some point in their life. It would be great if there was no hate, but where there’s a positive (love) there has to be a negative (hate). Good job on explaining the topic in great detail.
DeleteThe human ability to waste and toss things is a negative quality that bugs and tempts me to judge a person. Most humans are waste-machines. Many will crumple a paper and dispose it if they accidentally make a false mark...with a pencil. Many take 2 hour showers. Sustenance and goods are over consumed. I imagine if each household had to produce their own supply of binder paper, paper would not be tossed. People would get into the habit of erasing the marking and reusing. Numerous fail to see that the simplest luxuries we have now are taken for granted. Can our overconsumption lead to our extinction? I’m not an environmentalist. I am probably one of those people who will crumple a paper if I’m having a bad day, but I do judge a person who drinks out of a Styrofoam cup. All I know is that I am doing my part by minimizing my use of water because of the Californian water scarcity, and I’ve started saving the toilet paper’s cardboard for recycling.
ReplyDeleteecology as morality...this is a really interesting post to think about!
DeleteI completely agree with you Sarah. We can be very wasteful and we take for granted all the resources we have. I try not be wasteful and be conscious of the things I use. I know we are in a huge drought, so we need to conserve as much water as possible. I am hoping for a big rain storm to bring us even just a little bit of water. The lack of water will take a toll on our crops and ultimately cause a chain reaction. It will in some way or another impact all of us eventually.
DeleteI completely agree with you 100%! I am far from being totally environmentally perfect but I strive to be environmentally friendly. I think it is amusing that I can overhear my neighbors having a discussion on the current drought situation one minute and see their sprinklers on for an hour the next. I know its not much but to me, having a lush lawn is not as important as being able to shower, flush the toilet, or wash laundry and dishes.
DeleteIm so guilty of waste, but its not on purpose. I will be washing bottles, or cleaning off the counter when my attention will be brought to something else and I walk away with the water running. I cant stand it and yet I do it! My family used to toss out food a ton too, but I have complained enough that that has actually decreased substantially. Most people I dont think even realize what theyre doing until its brought to their attention. Maybe a few fellow classmates will read this and think about it the next time they dont erase something
Deletemy wife had knee surgery today and went from completely knocked out from general anesthesia to sitting in the car headed home within 30 minutes. i do not like our human systems when they value profit over humanity...perfectly kind and competent nurses are forced to scoot groggy and half stoned patients out just to get another paying body in there!
ReplyDeleteNow that I can totally believe! Its a sad state when overhead, cost projections and coverage's are given more importance than a persons well-being. Hope she feels better and make sure she lets it heal properly. I have had two knee surgeries and need another because I was too stubborn to listen to anyone.
DeleteTotally agree! Been there! Wish Emergency rooms were more like that instead of having to wait hours and hours!
DeleteThe worst quality of a human being is making some one suffer. Like those "men" who abuse their wife to the point where her body is covered with bruises and abuse her psychological such as telling her she "provoked" him and that she must be "taught" to respect and worship him. Also this implies elderly abuse and any type of abuse. I once watched this video where the care giving was hitting and slapping the old people. This made me very angry because for one no one deserves to be abuse in any type of way, second we are taught at a very young way to always respect our elders, third no one would like to know or witness their own parents or grandparents being abuse by a "caregiver", and lastly we are all heading that way. Meaning that we are not eternally young and will one day be old.
ReplyDeleteyes, that sort of evil, as well as others mentioned by Michelle and others above, certainly seems the worst side of humanity. Can other animals commit evil?
DeleteI could not agree more with a posting. After reading this, I had to write about it also. Abuse and suffering is absolutely horrible. How people can do such horrible things to others is beyond me. I have seen the same videos you have about the caregiver. How does someone find abuse positive? It is hard to understand others sometimes, but abuse and suffering are some of the worst qualities a human can have!
DeleteThis is a very interesting post to read think about it. I am right there with you Adriana and Miranda! I do not, no matter how hard I try, understand how someone can bring themselves to harm others for no apparent reason at all. Some believe that humans are born with an innate need for aggression, but this type of behavior is way beyond this.
DeleteDr. Schmoll: I'm not sure if other animals can commit evil as evil appears to be a man made concept, but there is plenty of proof that shows that some animals--lions for instance-- are extremely aggressive and will kill new male cubs or other males within their own coalitions or prides. So yes, animals can be aggressive but it's up to humans to perceive that as evil.
I think we can all agree that humans are the only creatures that inflict suffering by choice. Animals hurt for survival but humans are the only beings that do it consciously. I totally agree with your point of view!
DeleteThe best quality humans have would be the knowledge to create the world we leave in today. Humans have evolved since the beginning of time. Humans have uncovered new lands, new modes of transportation, technology advancements, medicine, and etc. Just in the last one hundred years we have created so many new things; for example we have cell phones and tablets with internet. We no longer have just one way to communicate through a phone, but through apps and computers. Machines we've created mass produce a majority of the stuff we use daily.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible how much humans have developed. They have created all kinds of equipment to make human's lives much more efficient. Of course, humans have also created pointless things like the snuggie blanket. This just shows that not all creations are winners. Even today humans are still making advancements to cure diseases or even cancer. I think it amazing how much we have created and who knows what we will create in the future.
It actually scares me to think about what humans will create in the future! I do agree that people are moving so fast, especially technologically-wise!
DeleteIt is pretty awesome, how humans have become so knowledgeable and innovative. When you mentioned medicine, I thought about how medicine has really helped. Not only us human beings but other living things on earth. I'm not saying human beings should just rely on medicine, to solve every sickness issue. Humans should live healthy lives and treat their bodies respectively. However, some sicknesses come on regardless of the persons health and this is where medicine for the most part is a life saver.
DeleteAlexander Pope said it best, “to err is human; to forgive divine.” As I grow older and possibly a little wiser, I have come to the realization that life is short to hold grudges. I believe that the ability to forgive is easier said than done however, it is the ability to forgive that is the best quality of human beings. Nothing in life is guaranteed to last forever and tomorrow is not promised and it is this concept that reaffirms my beliefs that forgiveness is needed for quality of life. Everyone makes mistakes at some point or another, some seemingly insignificant and others life altering nonetheless, each can touch countless people. Not to sound simple-minded or naïve but, it is my belief that anyone willing to seek forgiveness deserves of at least an attempt. While this concept might cause people to instantly create “what if” situations to question my ability to not be hypocritical in my convictions, I have learned that taking the first step is half of the battle. I am not perfect by any means, I do not look at the world through rose colored glasses, and yes I do believe there are certain situations that are unforgiveable. I could forgive nearly anything with the exception of harm to my children and yet there are degrees or shades of grey that I would consider relevant. Most species have an innate ability to socialize on some level but humans have the ability to rationalize, to feel, to react, and to vocalize thoughts and emotions. Additionally, most species do not have our ability to forgive and that I believe is the best quality of being human.
ReplyDeleteI loved your last sentence. I also think the ability for a human to forgive is brave and amazing. It is one of the best qualities of a human. It is amazing what humans are capable of.
DeleteMiranda - Thank you! Its easy to say to forgive people but when you are faced with a situation that is nearly unforgivable its a struggle to find the ability.
DeleteWhen I began to write this, I wanted to bring up something different then someone else. After reading, I could not get Adriana's post out of my head, and she is so right. The ability to make another suffer is absolutely the worst quality of a human. Many women are caused to cover their bruises in makeup and wear long sleeves and pants to cover their bruises after being beaten by their husbands, fathers, or other figures. As if the woman is not going through enough, the man will tell her its her fault. This ca cause psychological issues. The woman can start thinking, is it my fault? Like Adriana's post said, this same issue goes for an other type of abuse. I also know of a elderly women who was being beaten by her caregiver. He was telling her what she needed to do, and if she didn't, he would dump her out of her wheel chair. I also heard of a case where a babysitter was molesting and abusing the child he was babysitting.
ReplyDeleteThis also bring up the issue of trust. Trust can be the bed or one of the worst qualities of humans, depending how it is used. It trust is used fitfully it can be the most positive thing in a relationship or friendship. When trust is taken advantage of, it brings only negative problems. People want to be able to trust their parent's caregiver to take care their parent, and a parent wants to be able to trust their babysitter at home with their children.
Well, i believe you are so right. People who abuse others, that i truly believe is the real evil in this world. I don't understate how people can live with themselves knowing that they inflict so much pain on other people.
DeleteHey Miranda! I am just letting you know that I responded to your post, down below. I accidentally wrote it outside of your reply section.
DeleteThis topic is so sensitive to me but I totally agree that the worst quality of humans is the ability to allow themselves to do evil and to make others suffer in a tormenting way. I have witnessed and been a victim of so much abuse and cruelty that it is sickening. I have heard story after story from friends and acquaintances of how someone in their life has committed violent, or simply just harmful acts to them or their loved ones. I don't believe that we pop out of the womb with evil tendencies, which makes me wonder if people who do these things are controlled by negative energy/forces or “evil spirits.” Or do people willingly choose to be evil to cover up buried feelings of pain, rejection, or loss? Maybe some do evil or harmful things to others because they are consciously or unconsciously reenacting what was done to them.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I'm pretty open minded about a lot of things, and try to find reasons as to why people cause harm or do bad things, but I don;t understand to why people actually go through with "evil" things! Sandyhook still blows my mind! It's terrifying and sad that someone could go through with that!
DeleteOh goodness! I just realized that I messed up ! My post is supposed to be a response to Miranda Standridge's post! I apologize for the mix up.
DeleteMonica, who is Sandyhook? I see what you are saying though, maybe they are mentally insane, unconsciously going through with evil things or simply just enjoy other people's pain. I cannot imagine what goes through a person's mind when they are doing evil. Like, are they blanked out- no thoughts at all? Or are they second guessing themselves while still following through with whatever they had the intention of doing? Now I am actually very interested in learning about the thought process of humans who commit serious crimes that we would consider "evil." I'm sure there is a study about it somewhere on the internet!
DeleteFor me, I think it is extremely easy to sit and ponder the negative qualities of humans because those are the ones that are usually focused on most. But I truly believe that our positives qualities outweigh the negative ones. One specific positive quality that is really interesting is man's ability to innovate. While we see innovation in plenty of other animal species and worlds, man was able to grasp this idea of working with what you have to get the results you need to a whole new level. Think about this: just over 30 years ago, if you wanted to speak to someone that wasn't directly in front of you, you either needed to be pretty rich and call them on your car phone or be find a stationary phone that would allow you to get in touch. Now, you cant walk 30 feet without seeing someone on a phone or using your own. We are able to grasp concepts, such as telephony, and then introduce new ideas methods of using those concepts to produce new inventions for the sole purpose of making our daily lives a bit easier. As humans, we have moved from stone and rock tools to man made diamond tipped drills to produce the strongest of tools. When we put our minds to it, we can do anything!
ReplyDeleteI love your topic Jacob! You are so right, the idea of innovation is all around us. It is crazy to think about everything that is being designed and developed to make our lives easier.
DeleteI'm glad you thought about that too! I think it's so crazy how rapid people's minds have grown to be in so little time! It's also a bit scary!
DeleteHumans have the best qualities. In my book love and compassion are at the top of the list. Humans love one another and therefore are because we love we show compassion to others. This past weekend I grew in ways I could not have imagined. I was a counselor at Hume Lake, to a group of fourteen and fifteen year old girls. Over the course of the three days that I was with them I got to know them, there likes, dislikes and their favorite sports or things to do. Everyday seeing a little of myself in each of them, watching them grow together and learn from one another. The reason that I had love and compassion for them and their lives is because I too was once that age. I was able to tell them that they are normal and the problems they face at school will go away. Also that just because one person does not like you does not mean that everyone doesn’t. It was over all an experience that allowed me to grow as a person but also to let me see how easy it is to get attached to other human beings. The connection in the group of us is something that I think I have forgotten over the years. The girl’s young spirits reminded me that everyone goes through trials and hardships and we have the love and compassion of others in order to pick us up. Without these traits humans would be lost beyond all measure.
ReplyDeleteI read this, after I wrote mine :) ... I am totally with you.. love and compassion are also in my top list. I think love and compassion enable us to do all other good things - they are foundations of other good things. Like what you did, because of your love and compassion you wanted to help those young girls facing their problems and you become a role model for them - as you showed them your best qualities. Do you know Kelly, those girls will always remember what you shared and taught them!
DeleteHumans are interesting creatures. The potential reasons, logic, and explanations to why they say certain things, how they act, and their various interests and opinions is bewildering! It's amazing to think that we are biologically similar, but have different thoughts, perspectives, and make different choices. I think those are the most astounding qualities of humans, their individualism I guess. A human's individualism can be seen throughout a number of methods, their appearance, lifestyle, etc. We even have sites that are dedicated in announcing "different-looking" people at popular retailers, like Peopleofwalmart.com. Looking at the foundation, on which sites like Peopleofwalmart was was created on, leads us to the fascination of "people watching," which is based on the interest of people being interested in why people make the decision to dress in incredible outfits. Although the site is generally used to ridicule people, the way it lures people to logging on it pretty interesting and clever! People's thoughts, norms and decisions are the bait! It's an amazing acknowledgement that the creator's must have thought about! Just the way the mind works is unique in humans. It's quite rapid as compared to other organisms. Other qualities that are said to be unique, as compared to other organisms, are their emotional qualities. What people feel and act when they "love" is a perfect example. Feelings towards a person really can make you do "crazy" things, the same goes for heartbreak. The death of a loved one is also something unique! A humans ability to show feelings and emotion are beautiful qualities.
ReplyDeleteSelf growth is a negative human quality. Many of you may read this and wonder why I think this. The reason behind my opinion is because many times the motivation to succeed and grow leads to individuals becoming greedy and hurting loved ones along the way. Humans who are too self-centered and focused on their own prosperity do not consider the people they are stepping on and hurting along the way. At some point, the feelings that make us "human" are blocked off and forgotten. Once an individual had received a desired position, because of their hunger of power they become cold hearten and only care about growing even more. Their thirst for success never stops, and they just want to be the best of the best.
ReplyDeleteHi Gabriela, to a certain extent I agree that self-centered human beings hold a negative quality. Selfishness can ruin things for people and their loved ones. Like you said, some people get so caught up in success that they will do anything in their favor to reach the top. Humans tend to lose their identity of who they truly are when success empowers them. However, not all humans are negatively affected by self growth. Some actually become, better human beings in life and cherish those who helped them achieve their success.
DeleteThe best qualities of humans are the body, and its ability to transform. I’ve always been amazed at how an individual can go from an average Joe to best shape of their life. The human body is so complex. It functions through several set of systems that interact with each other. The human body is capable of becoming stronger, faster, explosive, and the list goes on. Along the lines, humans have qualities that other living things on earth do not have. Humans can develop so much ambition towards reaching a specific goal, pushing themselves further than they could have ever imagined. It’s amazing, when I see someone dedicating their time to a sport and seeing how that person develops into a great athlete. Furthermore, another great quality of humans is that we can become very talented at something, whether it is doing gymnastics or break dancing. Getting to see how passionate human beings are about doing the things they love is astonishing. For example, Muhammad Ali, this man was ambitious, passionate, and had the best attitude anybody could have. He was unstoppable and one of the greatest fighters of all time. I’d say one of the worst qualities in human beings is hatred. Hatred among human beings has become ridiculous. Human beings go to the extent of killing and traumatizing people due to hatred. I think it’s something that the world needs to work on.
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, i really liked your topic. Muhammed Ail was a great example of ambition. I mean the man is a legend right? He had to overcome so may obstacles in life, and in his career to become one of the world greats.
DeleteI loved your topic. I wouldn't have even thought of the human body! It is incredible. I love watching the show "The Biggest Loser" and it is absolutely amazing to watch the transformations these people go through while dieting and exercising, while inspiring others as well. It is unbelievable, the amount of focus and determination people have when doing sports or just having an exercise routine and healthy lifestyle. Another amazing gift our bodies have is women being able to create a life within them. It is beautiful what our bodies can do.
DeleteCompassion. This for me is number one. Without it the world would be a cruel, lonely, and evil place to live. It makes this world warm and full of joy. The most important thing in this world is other people. If you don't care they won't either. If you are mean to people you are making this world a worse place to live in. You must understand and feel for others so that they feel comforted. We were driving through a big city and saw a man standing by the side of the road, wearing thread bare clothes and looking like he was really cold. He was pale and had his hands tucked under his arms. There was alot of traffic and I tried to point him out to my husband and daughter as we drove past. A few blocks up, we were stopped in traffic and i looked out the window and to my amazement, I saw a brand new pair of big thick gloves, hooked together, just lying on the road. I quickly got out of the car and grabbed them and asked my husband to drive back and come around the same way, while my daughter and i watched for the man. We drove slowly and finally we saw him and pulled over. The wild thing was that when we went to him, with these great gloves and $5, other people were also coming up to him with things. The man was laughing and said that he felt like it was Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGeraldine, I agree with you.. Compassion! That's a rare thing to find in this individualistic world right now. What you did, that was a great experience for your daughter, she learnt compassion from a real action, from what her parents did.
DeleteCompassion is a beauty quality to have. In the end we are all humans trying to get through life and although it maybe tough, compassion makes it slightly more bearable.
DeleteI completely agree. Compassion is the key to a positive life. I try to do something for others everyday and be able to help in some way. It is important to me to try and give back and also enjoy the little things in life.
DeleteTo me, the best qualities of humans are their characteristics in expressing love and compassion. By having those two characteristics, we are enabled to do other great and good things in life such as respect, kindness, forgiveness, and empathy. I want to “copy” Dalai Lama teaching about love and compassion. According to him, the purpose of life of every human being is to be happy. I agree with him. What can create a greatest degree of happiness? We go back to the basic need of a human being, which is the need of love. The need of love lies in a very foundation of a human being. Our human existence is so dependent on the help of others. We need love and compassion from others to create a greatest degree of happiness for ourselves. And we give our love and compassion to others to help them to create their happiness too. Love and compassion sound cliché; however, it is the easiest and the simplest ones to give in this complicated world. It is as simple as this one: kids who are raised with love and compassion - since they are babies - will grow healthy, strong, caring, and confident when they are older. Loving and compassionate, two best qualities that parents give to their kids.
ReplyDeleteI think the best quality in human beings is our ability to adapt. Humans are able to adapt to different situations or circumstances in their lives. For example if a human loses the sense of sight, there other senses compensate for the lose of sight. This person develops a better sense of smell or sharper hearing thus adapting to its handicap. Not only are humans able to adapt to certain situations but they are able to adapt to many different environments. I took a native american class last quarter where we learned of native people who were able to adapt to otherwise inhospitable environments. For example the inuit people in Canada which were able to adapt to freezing temperatures and little food simply. I feel that no matter the situation, whether it be a handicap or an environmental change humans have shown this amazing ability to adapt and survive, that is why I belief it to be our best quality.
ReplyDeleteThere is one human quality I really hate and that is the ability to gain weight. This quality should not exist. I would love to be able to eat what ever I want and not gain any weight. If that human quality did not exist we would all be similar, this would be kinda weird but pretty cool. One human quality I believe is very positive is knowledge. Being able to generate things from scratch and completing difficult tasks is very remarkable. With knowledge humans are able to communicate with others who live thousands miles away. Also with knowledge, we humans produce cures and medicines for sickness and infections. Another human quality that has been mention already that I believe is worth mentioning again is Love. Love makes you do things that are out of this world. For example, A Fathers love, is one powerful thing. I would do anything for my little man. Fly to the moon on a eagle if I had too.
ReplyDeleteWhen you find the place where we don't gain weight let me know and I will join you! Kudos to you for your closing remarks on a fathers love! I wish all men could feel this way!
DeleteThe human mind is a beautiful creation. Ironically, it can also be our strongest demise. People use their ideas and thoughts for good, like Einstein. However, some use it for negative reasons, like Hitler. I often find myself gawking at how the world is; seeing Miley Cyrus jump around on stage is enough to make a pope curse. The mind creates images of ourselves; how we think and act. It is a beautiful way to live considering most of our animal counterparts do not come close to the way we process ideas. The negative aspect to the human mind is how we can process and act without considering the negative consequences, or the issues that may arise because of our thoughts. Some call Tupac a revolutionary, others call him idiotic. The mind is what processes these ideas. Though we may have differences, it is how we process our own thoughts that can bring us together. I would not change the way I think for the world. I find it beautiful how we can combine different ideas and thoughts and although it can cause some negativity in the world, ultimately it is these traits that make us stronger, faster, and more intelligent than others.
ReplyDeleteJoey you make a good point. Humans are not perfect and we just have to except our flaws. Hopefully we all learn from the mistakes we make because that is the only way our ideas will improve.
DeleteI would say the worst quality in humans is our greed. We are constantly trying to get more, no matter what it is. When we get a job, we want to do everything in our power to move up and make more so we can buy more. No matter how much we tell ourselves that we just want to live "comfortably", what does that even mean? When are we truly comfortable or satisfied? The answer is never because it programmed in us to survive, and in order to survive in this world is to be on top. So we continually strive to succeed and gain more in life. I admit that I am greedy but in order to counteract some of that selfishness and greed, I try to do good for others as well. Even if its as simple as giving money or food/clothes to someone who is homeless. I try to do something for someone else everyday.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Brittany. Being greedy is one of the worst qualities in humans. It’s true that humans want to keep wanting more, and are not too thankful for what they already have. It’s great to know that you help the homeless, I think that can be listed as a great human quality. Keep up the good work Brittany!!!
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ReplyDeleteThe best qualities of humans are that we are able to think positive and that we have the mental capability of learning from our own mistakes. There are numerous positive qualities that I can go on about, but these two qualities I believe can either make or break a person. Reason being is that every person has the ability to be positive. I believe people who think and stay positive seem to be the most satisfied people in society today, because their positive caring feelings outweigh their negative dark feelings. It’s kind of like the saying (if there is saying that says this), things are what you make of them. Learning from our mistakes is another great capability that helps us to thrive. For many of us learning from our mistakes helps us to gain experience and gives alertness to not commit that same mistake again. Keeping these two capabilities in mind, a person can achieve and maintain just about everything in life that he or she may desire.
ReplyDeleteOne of the worst things a man can do is write a book, and end it the way Boyle ended Tortilla Curtain.
ReplyDeleteNile, yes... after all those bad things constantly happened, I'm very disappointed with the ending.
DeleteI do not know if it should be considered “the worst” quality of human beings, but I do believe that in some cases (definitely not all) we tend to make life more complicated because of our self-awareness. Because we are aware of ourselves, we become conscious of how we look; our insecurities, our socioeconomic status, our upbringing, and many other matters. People react to this awareness in many different ways, but a lot of times it leads to jealousy or fear; which in my opinion, causes people to commit harmful acts to others- whether it be emotionally or physically. For example, someone one may recognize that they are not as strong and powerful as another person so they might kill or do a harmful act to them because that person may want to be in the other person’s shoes. I also believe self-awareness could be a good quality because we can better evaluate ourselves and each other.
ReplyDeleteThe human's worst quality is the insatiable hunger for conflict. No matter where or when, humanity has always tried to progress in creative ways of killing each other. Every war that Humanity has fought has resulted in bloodshed, indirectly or directly.
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