# What are the "ten things" all/only humans have in common? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314 "2005-09-06T06:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/21 "2005-09-08T21:07:27Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > For a biology thing, would opposable thumbs count? Most primates and some marsupials and lizards have them, so I would think not. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/22 "2005-09-08T21:10:10Z")
Do other animals use weapons? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/23 "2005-09-08T21:14:10Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Sympathy, empathy, remorse and affection. I dunno… the others, maybe. But affection? ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/24 "2005-09-08T21:23:12Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Sympathy, empathy, remorse and affection. > > Guess you could lump them into one category like “higher emotions” or something, and it could also be argued that not “all” humans have all or some of them. I don’t think we can rule out animals having these emotions (except perhaps empathy). I’ve seen my dog exhibit what seemed to be remorse on a couple of occasions and certainly affection. Let’s say a dog knows they’re not supposed to be laying on the couch. The dog’s master walks in and catches the dog on the couch. The dog gets off and has that “I’m in trouble now!” look about them. Is that remorse? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/25 "2005-09-08T21:28:38Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > All Humans have an uncontrolable instinct to meddle in things that cannot possibly concern them. I think you meant “uncontrol **l** able”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/26 "2005-09-08T21:53:41Z")
Biologically, aren’t humans the only ones where the prostate surrounds the urethra? (and only in males, AIUI.) I believe that some monkey can use rocks or nuts as weapons, and the archerfish certainly uses the physical impact of its spit as a weapon. Not quite what I’d call a “tool,” but not exactly the body, either. I want to say that it is a fairly human thing to keep pets, but I can’t claim it’s universal. And it’s well known that some other primate can keep pets. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/27 "2005-09-08T23:29:54Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Do other animals use weapons? Possibly. You know, like thrown rocks and stuff. I’d put money on humans being the only ones to use rockets, though. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/28 "2005-09-09T00:18:00Z")
> [@KKBattousai](#): > > Possibly. You know, like thrown rocks and stuff. I’d put money on humans being the only ones to use rockets, though. We’re also the only ones who use cell phones, but if you go that route, you end up with many more than 10 things. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/29 "2005-09-09T00:18:44Z")
> [@KKBattousai](#): > > Possibly. You know, like thrown rocks and stuff. I’d put money on humans being the only ones to use rockets, though. I dunno, don’t overlook the primitive but interesting evolutionary adaptations of the pouched vonbrauns of Madagascar. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/30 "2005-09-09T02:05:23Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > We’re also the only ones who use cell phones, but if you go that route, you end up with many more than 10 things. The OP was asking about stuff that _all_ men had in common. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/31 "2005-09-09T02:13:34Z")
Some Native American cultures (I think “many,” but I don’t have a cite so I’ll be safe and go with “some”) don’t drink milk as adults, and found the entire concept of dairy to be repulsive when they observed it in non-Native people. Heh, I like dairy myself, but I always get a kick out of imagining the first poor Native guy who picked up on this – “Hey, that’s a nice cow you’ve got there … OMG WHAT ARE YOU _DOING_?” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/32 "2005-09-09T03:19:09Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > 1. The gluteus maximus is only ‘maximus’ in humans. Something to do with it being mainly involved in keeping your trunk upright, a different hip muscle is larger in other species. What a piece of work is man, how meaty in buttocks, how callipygian in aspect . . . ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314/33 "2005-09-09T11:50:01Z")
1. Once they are past childhood, the ability to prepare food with heat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ten-things-all-only-humans-have-in-common/320314.md?page=1)