Well, they can get in the way of some necessary decisions. If a loveable old lady lives right in the way of a useful and (some would say) necessary sewer line, for instance…
OK, I’ll go hang my head now.
We create beautiful music.
Invisible thread.
Strings.
String cheese.
String Theory.
String bikinis.
Judging by many of the replies in this thread…
Our sense of humor.
The penis.
introspection
The drive to create.
Well sewers aside…Empathy and compassion are words probably used by the PLO in describing Saddam’s generous money donations to families willing to let there son/daughter blow themselves up for the “cause”. In cases like that Empathy and Compassion probably arent the best of people.
I like this one! It is probably our ability to laugh that keeps us from going to crazy. Well that, and Boobs and Penis’s.
As a pizza delivery guy, this touches me so much, I’m going to hijack this thread to thank you. It’s people like you who answer the door with a genuine smile on your face, and a generous tip in your hand who make me glad I’m a pizza guy.
On behalf of all pizza guys, thanks!
digital watches
What?! They are really neat.
from Epimetheus
I can see 3,000 years from now some college professor assigning a 1000 word term paper on how the digital watch was humanities crowning achievment.
“The digital watch was really, really, really, really, neat.”
Our indomitable will to not just survive, but to improve the circumstances of our survival. The ability to see beauty and opportunity in the most desperate places. We rock! 
Oh and the penis too. I like that. But someone else already said it.
And dont forget IWLN the ability to Rue as well!!
My rue’s still ready. Bring it on, oh defeated one. 
[Opressed Alien Minority]
"Well, apart from the SDMB, medicine, delivery pizza, protection from carnivores, exportation of lifeforms, breasts, empathy, compassion, ice cream, beer, penis’, introspection, digital watches, humor and sanitation…
…What has mankind ever done for us!?!"
[/Opressed Alien Minority]
Self-awareness and the flexibility it gives us.
As a cite, you may want to read Jaynes’ “The Origin of Consciousness In The Breakdown Of The Bicameral Mind.” No need to read the book, just read the title…
Self-awareness is apparently not shared by other animals (This is arguable, I know) but seems to be unique to humans. This self-awareness is what gives us the capacity for humor, symbol-manipulation, perception of past and future times, creativity, and the inclination to make judgments regarding good and evil.
“Know thyself.”
BTW, other animals have penises. Voluptuous breasts may be unique to humans, though.
Something like that- of course it doesn’t compete with the term paper from the previous semester- Mechanisms of the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and the uses of it in science and travel.
Yes, but they’re not circumcised which is just weird.