Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Humans classify, categorize, and compartmentalize.

Humans classify and label the world around them. Virtually everything human senses can interpret is put into categories. A single human belongs to numerous categories, simultaneously.

Humans have trouble accepting uncertainty when attempting to classify someone who does not fit nicely into an established category. The ambiguity aversion kicks in and humans feel fear and proceed with caution. This process becomes especially problematic when the categories are social constructs, like race and gender.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Humans obsess over their physical forms

Human beings construct their identity almost exclusively from physical attributes - race, gender, age, ability status, etc. A person's worth is determined by her or his physical attributes.

When a human baby is born, the first question an adult human asks is 'how much did s/he weigh?" From the moment of birth, a human's worth is rooted in physical appearance and size.

Humans obsess about skin colour (black, white, light-skinned, dark-skinned), skin type (oily, combination, dry), eye shape, hair texture, hair health, height, weight, muscular tone, body shape, physical ability, speed, strength, teeth whiteness... the list is endless.

Physical appearance is paramount to humans.

Humans are in control of their environments



Despite of the evidence of plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis, humans believe that carry the fate of this planet in their hands.

Humans possess land

Humans believe that they own rights to land. They believe this so deeply that not only will they kill trees, animals, pests, weeds and insects that trespass, they will kill other humans who dare to step foot on their little piece of the planet.

Humans are not animals


Nature & Planet: How can humans be animals?

The human species, although a member of the animal kingdom, have been conditioned to denounce their animal identity and distance themselves from other mammals. Humans have created a very specific hierarchy of being, of which they are undoubtedly on top.

The fervour with which humans separate themselves from the other animals is evident in the connotation associated with calling another human an animal. To call another human an animal is to deem them inadequate and inferior.