# Does it sometimes freak you out that humans are animals? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766 "2012-04-04T01:48:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/21 "2012-04-04T21:23:38Z")
I’m an animal, a chordate, a vertebrate, a tetrapod, an amniote, a mammal, a primate, and an ape, and I’m proud of 'em all! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/22 "2012-04-04T21:32:41Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Right now, I’m “watching”\* The Price is Right\*. Millions of years of evolution, and there are bald monkeys guessing how many green pieces of paper other bald monkeys want for objects, and still more bald monkeys are filming this and two bald monkeys are in this room not watching it while “talking” to other bald monkeys living on the other side of the world via the internet. Occasionally I think about whether our Labrador retriever is mystified and/or resentful that large monkey-like creatures control her life. Then I figure - she’s just a dog, she’ll get over it. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/23 "2012-04-04T21:39:50Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > No, can’t say that it does. Actually, it turns me on\*. > > \*I have this sort of… “primal fetish”, with certain things. For example, I like to watch (attractive) women eating - especially if it’s something messy and/or meaty like chicken wings. We can pretend to be “civilized” creatures all we like, but when you watch that, you can’t help but think what a sexy beast this is tearing into the flesh of this other animal with her teeth. > > And just how I want to fuck everything all the time reminds me of my animal nature too. What, like trees and tortoises? \*d&r To actually answer the OP, no. I am amazed how far humans go to try to convince themselves they are not animals. Like not peeing on each other. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eaAKPyH2iFU/hqdefault.jpg "A Panda Pee Onto Another Panda") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAKPyH2iFU) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/24 "2012-04-04T21:58:18Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I’m an animal, a chordate, a vertebrate, a tetrapod, an amniote, a mammal, a primate, and an ape, and I’m proud of 'em all! _Life of Brian_ riff? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/25 "2012-04-04T22:08:35Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > _Life of Brian_ riff? If so, only by accident. I’ve never seen it. Now that I think of it, my username says I’m a pig. But I can talk and write, so they made me an honorary ape. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/26 "2012-04-04T22:16:08Z")
No. If we weren’t animals, what the hell else would we be? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/27 "2012-04-04T22:57:48Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > If so, only by accident. I’ve never seen it. [QUOTE=Brian] I’m not a roman mum, I’m a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I’m kosher mum, I’m a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it! [/QUOTE] Begging your pardon squire, but you should probably see it. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/28 "2012-04-05T01:00:28Z")
Some people are vegetables, and some people are fruits. It freaks me out a lot more that coral is an animal. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/29 "2012-04-05T01:23:33Z")
> [@SDMBKL](#): > > You’ve studied Biology, Physiology, Anatomy, Evolution, etc. and after all that, you just can’t wrap your mind around the fact that you are an animal. When you think of an animal, you think of a multicellular organism that could be vertebrae or invertebrae, have scales or fur or feathers or whatever or do other natural functions. Then when you think about how you have to study for that math exam coming next week or how you are going to plan your career or how you are going to plan out a living will, you just can’t believe that you are an animal, because those behaviors appear to be so unnatural. You are an organism that can build tools that can directly or indirectly help get what you want, or get another human being to help you. Another way is to use a thing called “money” to exchange your assets for what you want. Now, what kind of _animal_ can do all that other than the species _homo sapiens_? Are you getting what I’m saying? What kind of animal have an established culture? Do you find it weird that humans appear to be the only creature on earth that have culture while other creatures have no culture? Yeah, it hits me every now and then. But it does make me feel better because it puts my pointless neuroticism and health problems in perspective (since our brains are just primate brains with a little more size). The concept that we are not fallen angels but instead are risen monkeys makes me more forgiving of myself and others. I have health problems and a messed up mind, but realizing we are animals helps with that. I’ve spent about 18 years of my life getting a formal education (when you add K-12 and university). My biological survival is largely guaranteed and not something I need to exert much, if any real, energy on. I spend most of my mental energy on abstract things rather than things that have meaningful day to day value. So in that regard I don’t consider myself an animal. Like I said, ‘risen monkeys’ is a pretty good description for us that I have heard before and that I agree with. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/30 "2012-04-05T02:06:26Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I’m an animal, a chordate, a vertebrate, a tetrapod, an amniote, a mammal, a primate, and an ape, and I’m proud of 'em all! Pick a side - we’re at war! The animal thing isn’t a big deal. What’s kind of freaky is the fact that your “self” is basically a story your brain tells itself as it tries to process all the input it is receiving from your senses and nervous system. This system perpetuates itself and affects your perception more than you’re typically aware of. That stuff can get freaky. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/31 "2012-04-05T09:33:25Z")
All right, I’ll admit it, I’ve seen some short porn sequences in passing, while flipping channels on the Internet. (Only average-sized humans are involved, and they always seem to participate willingly.) Depending on the specific case, sometimes I’m really interested and enthusiastic, but sometimes I just get the feeling I’m watching large mammals screwing on Discovery. The latter feeling can appear suddenly and without warning, and can seriously curb my enthusiasm. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/32 "2012-04-05T10:23:33Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > When I see my parent’s cat pad through the living room, it strikes me as supremely odd that my ancestors spent hundreds of years domesticating and taming these animals and the end result of something that once raced across the savannah in pursuit of meat is really nothing more than a living ornament. Forgive the off-topic but felinus domesticus is still a self-willed wild animal. Indeed most of the 39 cat species cannot be made into pets - only lions, cheetahs, and the domestic cat. What happened is when humans discovered agriculture about 8,000 BC cats discovered grain stores…and mice. Humans found this useful and a symbiosis developed. Nevertheless compared with the average dog and even birds, cats can adapt very quickly to the wild or a new home. Much as I love them, loyalty aint their strong suit. Similarly African water-buffalo are not tame. Useful yes, but violent and not amenable to control. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766/33 "2012-04-05T10:44:43Z")
I get freaked out by people who _don’t_ consider humans to be animals. I once knew an Irish Catholic guy married to a Greek Orthodox woman, and she was all like we’re special entities put on earth by God, and the point of earth is humanity - which you can’t really argue with - while he was all like it stands to reason that we’re not animals, are you stupid or what? The conversation got quite heated, or at least my end of it did, to the point where my then-girlfriend started kicking me under the table. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-sometimes-freak-you-out-that-humans-are-animals/617766.md?page=1)