I'm only human

[Alan Medic]

A colleague on mine used this expression yesterday when I teased her about making a pretty stupid mistake. I'm sure I've said it myself and heard others use it on many occasions. So why is it that we consider it normal to make mistakes when we are supposedly so intelligent and superior to every other living entity on the planet.

Apart from humans, who else makes stupid mistakes? I'm not sure I can think of one.......

[DuncanW]

What about all those cats freaking out when they see a cucumber?

[binkylilyput]

I'm only human, i.e. I'm not a robot/computer etc.

I.e. Fallible

[Alex K]

Can't tell you what other species make mistakes. A bird flies into a windowpane, a squirrel darts beneath the wheels of an oncoming vehicle? Not mistakes. Without the option of a trip to Switzerland, they simply chose to end their lives.

The tag "Humanum est errare" has been around for a while.

[JohnL]

We take more risks (as we think we've judged the risk) - so we do make more mistakes IMHO

[????]

"If it wasn't in man's nature to gamble we'd still all be stuck in the trees"

[phobic3000]

Lemmings?

[DulwichFox]

???? Wrote:

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> "If it wasn't in man's nature to gamble we'd still all be stuck in the trees"

Not if we lived in The Camberwell Old Cemetery, we wouldn't..

Foxy

[Alan Medic]

phobic3000 Wrote:

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> Lemmings?

A misconception. Look it up.

[Saffron]

Isn't the comparison meant to be not between humans and non-human animals, but between humans and the 'divine'?

In any event... That spider that kept leaping back on my ironing board despite several gentle attempts to sweep it away made a stupid mistake. Seriously stupid.

[DulwichFox]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Isn't the comparison meant to be not between

> humans and non-human animals, but between humans

> and the 'divine'?

>

> In any event... That spider that kept leaping back

> on my ironing board despite several gentle

> attempts to sweep it away made a stupid mistake.

> Seriously stupid.

..'till all he's mates come to get yer.. :)

DulwichFox

[Saffron]

I like spiders, and I generally go to great lengths not to kill them. I'm not fearful of them, having lived for many years in Texas (which seems to be like a mini-version of Australia, as far as invertebrates are concerned). I've even lovingly removed a terrified false widow spider from behind some boxes in my conservatory, and relocated her to a more suitable outdoor position with no harm done. She was a sweet, shy little thing who had the decency not to make a fuss on being evicted.

The annoying eight-legged tramp who kept jumping around all over my ironing board was quite a different fellow... not sure what species, something small, just a few mm, and very bouncy and determined to resist being swept out of the way. He is now, I must confess, quite flat. Bring on ya mates, Flat Spidey. I have a Hetty Hoover, and I'm not afraid to use it. I see your spidergeddon, and I raise you a rolled up newspaper. Don't be stupid, you're only arachnids.

[Seabag]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I like spiders, and I generally go to great

> lengths not to kill them. I'm not fearful of

> them, having lived for many years in Texas (which

> seems to be like a mini-version of Australia, as

> far as invertebrates are concerned). I've even

> lovingly removed a terrified false widow spider

> from behind some boxes in my conservatory, and

> relocated her to a more suitable outdoor position

> with no harm done. She was a sweet, shy little

> thing who had the decency not to make a fuss on

> being evicted.

>

> The annoying eight-legged tramp who kept jumping

> around all over my ironing board was quite a

> different fellow... not sure what species,

> something small, just a few mm, and very bouncy

> and determined to resist being swept out of the

> way. He is now, I must confess, quite flat.

> Bring on ya mates, Flat Spidey. I have a Hetty

> Hoover, and I'm not afraid to use it. I see your

> spidergeddon, and I raise you a rolled up

> newspaper. Don't be stupid, you're only

> arachnids.

I think you'll find it's a "hetty vacuum cleaner " as Hoover is a brand name

There you go, being all human

Alan M is a bot btw

[Alan Medic]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Isn't the comparison meant to be not between

> humans and non-human animals, but between humans

> and the 'divine'?

Where did you get that idea from?

>

> In any event... That spider that kept leaping back

> on my ironing board despite several gentle

> attempts to sweep it away made a stupid mistake.

> Seriously stupid.

Like spiders do ironing. They don't even wear clothes.

[skylorikeet]

Best thread I've read in a long time! 😀 except I've now got the annoying ear worm 'I'm only human, born to make mistakes...' Does anyone here like Human League?

[Help-Ma-Boab]

What are those tiny, tiny red dot type things. Don't see many of them these days...

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I like spiders, and I generally go to great

> lengths not to kill them. I'm not fearful of

> them, having lived for many years in Texas (which

> seems to be like a mini-version of Australia, as

> far as invertebrates are concerned). I've even

> lovingly removed a terrified false widow spider

> from behind some boxes in my conservatory, and

> relocated her to a more suitable outdoor position

> with no harm done. She was a sweet, shy little

> thing who had the decency not to make a fuss on

> being evicted.

>

> The annoying eight-legged tramp who kept jumping

> around all over my ironing board was quite a

> different fellow... not sure what species,

> something small, just a few mm, and very bouncy

> and determined to resist being swept out of the

> way. He is now, I must confess, quite flat.

> Bring on ya mates, Flat Spidey. I have a Hetty

> Hoover, and I'm not afraid to use it. I see your

> spidergeddon, and I raise you a rolled up

> newspaper. Don't be stupid, you're only

> arachnids.

[Jah Lush]

?I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly.?

? Peter Cook