# Things that all humans know **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992 "2012-05-24T19:18:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/61 "2012-05-25T11:13:11Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > How to multiply (ie, 5x8) Nope, that’s something you have to learn and not everybody knows it. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I doubt any animals know the earth revolves around the sun. First, not every human knows that, and second, that phrasing is imprecise. “The calculations of the relative positions of the elements in the Solar System is easier when you perform them treating the Sun as the center and other elements as groups which may have their own center than when you treat Earth as the center” is the precise one. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/62 "2012-05-25T11:25:40Z")
How to walk on two feet. Other primates can scamper on their hind legs for short distances, but mainly knuckle-walk on all fours. Only humans spend all of their time in bipedal locomotion. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/63 "2012-05-25T12:49:18Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > How to walk on two feet. Other primates can scamper on their hind legs for short distances, but mainly knuckle-walk on all fours. Only humans spend all of their time in bipedal locomotion. birds. An ostrich is bipedal. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/64 "2012-05-25T12:55:09Z")
I think our ability to project our mental selves backwards and forwards and time may be unique, but how could we prove it? However, I doubt that many animals spend their time remembering, e.g. that antelope they chased down and ate last week; still less imagining how they’re going to eat next week’s. On a similar note, long-term planning is probably unique to humans. (Even planning of the “Man, if I ever win the lottery I’ll…” type.) The ability to imagine a hypothetical situation and project ourselves into it seems fairly advanced. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/65 "2012-05-25T13:13:13Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Again, bullshit and ignorant, sentimental, mushy minded nonsense. Let’s keep the discussion civil. If you are unable to do so, please refrain from posting further. I did not read the rest of your post. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/66 "2012-05-25T13:14:13Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I doubt any animals know the earth revolves around the sun. There are some humans that do not know that either. It’s not really intuitive knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/67 "2012-05-25T13:27:18Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > [Nope!](http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18429-if-you-think-a-crow-is-giving-you-the-evil-eye.html) Not unique. Thanks! Learned something new today. Before breakfast even 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/68 "2012-05-25T13:27:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Other than that, I think what sets us apart is our tendency toward extremism. Chimps use simple tools, we build space stations. Birds build nests, we build cities. Whales have a language of sorts, we have Shakespeare. Monkeys throw feces at enemies, we have nuclear warheads. Bonobos are obsessed with sex, we build entire industries around it. There’s absolutely nothing we do that we don’t carry to extremes. That’s what makes us unique. As far as extremism, maybe. As a species we tend to do complex things that no other species does. But the examples you give are not things that all humans know. I, for example, don’t really know how to build a space station. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/69 "2012-05-25T13:53:46Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > That is complete, ignorant nonsense. > [@njtt](#): > > Again, bullshit and ignorant, sentimental, mushy minded nonsense. **njtt** , calling claims “nonsense” is one thing, calling them “ignorant, sentimental, mushy minded nonsense” is getting awfully damn close to calling the people who make those claims ignorant, sentimental, and mushy-minded, which is an insult. (After all, a claim has no feelings, so it can’t be sentimental, correct?) I suggest you dial the invective _way_ back and take a more civil tone. No warning issued. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/70 "2012-05-25T15:01:26Z")
The way to San Jose. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/71 "2012-05-25T15:12:05Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > The way to San Jose. Dionne Warwick doesn’t know, so not all humans know. I think an innate sense of dancing (human dancing - that is, improvised, rhythmic music in response to pleasant rhythmic sound), and the level of abstract language that humans know are the best examples so far. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/72 "2012-05-25T16:48:34Z")
Think animals can’t count? Show you dog three treats and give him two. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/73 "2012-05-25T20:09:10Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Dionne Warwick doesn’t know, so not all humans know. > > I think an innate sense of dancing (human dancing - that is, improvised, rhythmic music in response to pleasant rhythmic sound), and the level of abstract language that humans know are the best examples so far. Dancing is questionable–[check out Snowball](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IZmRnAo6s). I read a NYTimes article a couple of years ago about this bird, and according to the article, Snowball astonished some scientists who claimed that the ability to recognize and move to a rhythm in dance (or something like that, I forget the exact parameters) was a human trait, and that Snowball the Parakeet might prove them wrong. I make no claims as to the accuracy of my memory, though. Mostly I thought y’all wanted to watch a bird dance to the Backstreet Boys. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/74 "2012-05-25T21:22:09Z")
For people saying the ability to start fires is universal human knowledge, does it count if you use a match or a lighter? The traditional way of starting fires without technology is a lost art to many people. I suggest that practically all adult humans, regardless of their own beliefs on the matter, have some familiarity with the concept of gods and religions. As far as we know this is a completely unknown concept to every other species. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/75 "2012-05-25T21:55:42Z")
Belief in God, belief in supernatural things in general. Belief in luck. Etc. Not that all humans DO believe in these things, but they are all capable. Until you show me evidence of anything other than animals believing in these things or being capable of but rejecting believing in these things, there’s no reason to accept that they do. Documenting and recording passage of time and seasons. Are there any societies on Earth that don’t use a calendar, or keep track of time in some way? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/76 "2012-05-26T05:42:35Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Think animals can’t count? Show you dog three treats and give him two. And crows. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/77 "2012-05-26T05:48:29Z")
Not sure whether other animals know how to imagine the way we do. This goes back to what I said about story telling . . . communicating things that we know aren’t literally true (actually lying) . . . and passing these stories on to other people. Other animals may use some kind of language, but I think their communication is limited to factual matters. But humans? Even little kids know how to pretend . . . and lie. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/78 "2012-05-26T06:06:34Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Is the feeling of embarassment unique to humans? Or once again, do cats do that? According to Mark Twain man is the only animal who can blush or needs to. But first to mind was our place in the universe. When we look into the night sky we know what we are looking into. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/79 "2012-05-26T15:11:49Z")
> [@scratch\_llll](#): > > But first to mind was our place in the universe. When we look into the night sky we know what we are looking into. I agree, but I’m not sure whether all humans know this, or accept it. But everyone knows how to suspend reality by pretending or fantasizing or lying. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992/80 "2012-05-26T15:32:59Z")
Homo sap is the only species that makes lists trying to prove it’s unique. For whatever reason, but probably creationism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-all-humans-know/622992.md?page=5)