Behold the wonder of an anthill. Thousands, tens of thousands of ants, each pursuing its single-minded duty with the utmost efficiency and commitment: collecting food, creating additions to their habitat, defending their queen and their way of life, reproducing in earnest. Interfere with their activity, and you do it at your own peril; the entire colony will go into defensive mode and attempt to contain the intrusion with total concentration. The colony will continue to grow, build, reproduce and add to their habitat. Ants have no way to alter their genetic demands. They have no free will.
We can marvel at this example of inflexible, pre-programmed activity. It becomes an object of interest, as human observers occasionally intrude through a glass wall and observe the never-ending pursuit of ants to be ants. Yet, (as far as we now,) no ant stops to question its pre-programmed genetic dictate. No ant questions its role, its work, or its goal. No ant challenges its genetic destiny.
Free will does not play a role in an ant's world. They live and die pushed and pulled by their genetic directives. Of course. They are, after all, ants. We would not expect them to do otherwise -- to rebel against their genes or challenge their conditioning.
Behold now the humant habitat. Tens of thousands -- or hundreds of millions -- of humants, hurrying about in pursuit of their socially ordained duty, building additions to their habitats, acquiring and consuming food, defending their way of life and their "queen," reproducing in earnest. Behold their magnificent buildings, their advanced vehicles, their designer clothing, their work and their play. How many of them live in a higher plain than ants? How many of them question the directives of their social order? How many look inward for answers, rather than blindly submit to their cultural conditioning? How many challenge the norms, the expectations, the goals that their societies inject? How many humans are, in fact, humants?
Whatever the number of humans that you would include in the "humant" category (and I would include a very high proportion,) it seems beyond doubt that these humans have lost -- at least temporarily -- the defining characteristic of "humanness": free will. Through social conditioning, they have lost the ability to think for themselves, to question, to reflect, to challenge. They have become humants.
Humants accept the status quo unquestioningly. They have drowned their ability to envision options under the sea of "what is," not allowing themselves to envision "what could be." Humants are guided by obedience to the social dictates. They obey well. They don't allow themselves the human luxuries of questioning, challenging, or envisioning alternatives. When visionary humans depict a different option for humanity, humants fight against it automatically, as an attack on the anthill. This anthill, they feel, is the only anthill. All other options must be rejected.
Throughout history, there have always been more humants than humans. Humants have rejected change and progress to the best of their ability. Yet, that minority of brave humans who have allowed themselves the power to think, to question, to challenge and envision better options have managed to move us forward in spite of humant resistance. They are responsible for all human progress. They have taken us from the cave and the dark ages to the present. They now envision our future potential as a species evolving toward a brighter future and a more just world. They will help create a better human society in a better world.
We must empower our students to not be mere humants. We must help them realize the human potential to attain justice and peace; for the enlightenment of humanity; for the greater good of the species. Knowing that they will find the opposition of humants along the way, we must empower them to engage in battle and prevail. Given the critical issues that we now face, the future of humanity rests on their success.
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It is not that humans have lost the ability to think for themselves, to question, to reflect, to challenge. Some simply do not wish to excerpt that power. When you have someone telling you what to do and how to do it why waste your time questioning and contradicting what they say. If you accept it and move on as ants do, you find that it is much simpler that way.
ReplyDeleteThe ants have a good thing going on for them. They eat, sleep, and reproduce. The most basic of animal instincts but they survive. Survival is after all the main driving force in nature. If it is not broken why fix it, you might just make it worse.
Humans are a social type of animal requiring affection and attention from surrounding humans. If left only on an island they would die of loneness, literally. People often choose not to think as a way of acceptance rather than the loneliness and awkwardness of standing out in the crowd.
It takes someone of strong character to question things because questioning things might mean there is something wrong with the way they live, and to some people that is a scary thought.
The opinions shared in this blog are opinions which I agree with. Humants follow the crowd, they do not think for themselves. Humants tend to only have one mental idea, "What's in it for me? How will it affect me?" That is why the Holocaust occured, that is why genocide in Africa is occuring and that is why with the recession, the richer are getting richer and the poorer are getting poorer. Educators need to begin "molding" humans rather than humants, because in the case of another Holocaust or better yet, the cases today with violence and inequalities and such; someone should be able to stand up and say "Maybe that is not such a good idea." With more humans in this world rather than humants, the humans would be able to make some progress as a race and help the world as a whole go on.
ReplyDeleteGenocide, war, the Holocaust and countless other tragedies have been allowed to happen by humants. And these are supreme examples, but what about the injustices that people suffer endure daily? The book “1984” suggests how a humant can become a human. The difficulties fear and oppression suffered by the main character prompted him to rebel, and in this undertaking he learns how to be human. This by no means is simple to accomplish. For this reason, it is imperative that students are exposed from an early age to question, disagree, and suggest alternatives. A global initiative education can be instrumental to meet this goal. Conforming can often lead to disaster¸ but questioning can solve numerous problems.
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why there are so many humants in the world. The first one that comes to mind is taht they do not have the ability or the desire of using free will to become leaders. On the other hand, one of the reason that there are so many humants is that people follow the same routine because they know that it is going to bring happiness. For example, people go to school so they can get a job and stablish families, and live happy ever after. Their sons and daughters are going to do the same. This would make them humants. Then, would it be wrong to be a humant if it brings happiness? In my opinion, there is always room for improvement. The only way to break the humant cycle would be to always pursue higher goals than the generation before, helping develop a better world around us.
ReplyDeleteI believe there must be a balance between both, you cannot become a mechanical person that only listens and does whatever is told; however, we must also avoid becoming like those who reason and question every command and given order. As humans we have a free will and we need to learn to know when it is time to reason and question what is told, and when is time to simply listen and obey. At times, reasoning is necessary, due tot he fact that commands are not always the best choice for us and in many opportunities one will have to stop for a moment and think is this actually going to benefit me as an individual, is this what I want for my life; on the other hand, some of our leaders are wise enough to tell us what is best for us, to ordain us to a specific task according to abilities and our capability of accomplishing it; therefore, we can only agree, submit and go on to do that which has been told to do. Some of these figures are a child's parents, God, spiritual leaders, and even older people that have been put over us as leaders and rulers of certain areas of our lives, these we must obey without questioning.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, choices concerning your future and other relevant decisions in you life cannot be ruled by society and the way it works according to their own standards. Here is when questioning and reasoning comes to the picture. That is a moment in which, as previously mentioned, we must stop, sit down and ask ourselves a series of questions that will guide us to make the best decision according to our own morals and ethics.
It is somewhat troublesome to realize that most people are "humants". These same people are helping to avoid change for the better of our society. It is difficult to believe that after everything that has gone wrong due to humants like several global issues including poverty and global warming that people are still persisting to stay ignorant and fixed in their routined lives. We need to start using our free will, like you mentioned, to question and challenge ourselves in a way that will benefit our world.
ReplyDeleteHumants have always been around and they “follow the crowd” because they never question, they always think of what is happening, not what could happen or how they could change the world. I agree with this blog because that is how humants are and people that are like this are those who started the Holocaust, War ect. This should stop because as an individual we should take the time and effort to make our world more suitable and not only that but become somebody that can help our future be a more prominent place to live in. Free will, should be for everybody because how we are each made differently and think differently we can argue to what might be best for us/ future or what might not be. We should be taught to be empowered and stand up for what we believe so nothing happens as those tragic stories or at least we will be ready for it and make a difference so the same story wont repeat. I believe that humants should be taught to go out and make decisions that might help us and become somebody important instead of being someone else of the crowd. We should all be taught like this because this will not only help our world but also the person, so they feel more confident. If the humants keep growing in our community than less people will stand for themselves and the future will not progress but go back to how we started just like in the book “Anthem” which explain that we lived in the unmentionable times which is the time that we live in and they live in the future which is that they had to start from zero, because they left everything that we humans did in the past and made a new life of their own. Instead of living for themselves they lived for there brothers and those decisions that they made did not affect them as an individual but as a group. While this can happen, we can either help them get the human potential or we can just ignore it and then lets see how good our future will be. I’m pretty sure it wont be how we have all envision it.
ReplyDeleteThere is much truth in this blog but as a human species we are much different from ants. Ants do not have the choice of questioning their genetic pre-programming but we as humans can, and throughout history this has occurred. That is what allows use to thrive, to be successful as a species. We have a tendency to step up to the occasion when we find ourselves in trouble. Someone always goes from being a "humant" to a human and leads use through the correct path. The problem is that there might be the day in which this is not enough, a day when there is such a crisis that the human population just cannot fix it alone. A day when “humants” are needed change their ways and help as well. That is why I agree that we must change the way in which most of are species thinks. We must change are “humant”side. This must be done soon because through technology are lives are becoming more revolved around use. We have become reliant on this false world we have created and we have forgotten how cruel the real world truly is. If our “humants” do not eventually step up the occasion we will not only be incapable of further advancements but will be at a disadvantage if a crisis where to occur that may threaten are survival.
ReplyDeleteMost people ar humants, unfortunately. A lot of the time, they, unconsciously, do things to fit in or because they do not want to seem different. If we were all humants, then we would all be the same. We cannot arrive to this. we have to change our selfish ways so we can create solutions to global predicaments instead of following everyone, we have to start leading and creating our own paths.
ReplyDeleteIn this blog I agree with the opinions shared, there are too many humants in the world and we need more humans. For it is humans that become global leaders as to humants which rather take the simple way out of a situation and don’t do anything out of the ordinary because it would cause them to do extra thinking or to put extra effort into what they are doing. In order for there to be less humants and more humans students need to be taught since an early age that it is good to disagree and that it is good to question, because we want to here their opinions, their beliefs, what they think about the situation, and they do need to know that there opinion is important it does matter. It is the people that stop to question and analyze what others say that make a difference in the world. In the final analysis, humants are “followers” while humans are “leaders” we need more “leaders” in the world if we want to make our world a better place.
ReplyDeleteThat blog was completely correct and the analogy in creating civilization where all we have is more than one assignment where people should have a higher goal and more participation in life. Bees could be another example of being single assign and they just have one job. The definition of a humant is living to survive the next day and never planning further in life. For example a teenager going to work right after high school so they can try to survive and have an average life instead going to college to create a better future. In life you two choices to join the crowd or to separate from the crowd and take chances.
ReplyDeleteHumants "follow the crowd", they do not have their own individuality. This is why the Holocaust came about, and why the genocide in Africa is occuring. Educators need to begin teaching their students as individuals instead of humants, because in todays world with all of the many problems occuring; someone should be able to stand up and say that they dissagree with what is happening. With more humans instead of humants, the humans would be able to create a better world for those of the future.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that more than half of our world today is inhabited by humants instead of humans is a very daunting thought. We were once long ago a very primitive civilization which’s life goal was to reproduce, survive and feed. However that was our “humant” goal when our civilization first started, not today. We are an evolving civilization and along with that our life goals evolve too. It is no longer the time to become a blind ant following a set “life cycle”. It is time to modify that cycle and to adjust it to our current time, to adjust it for our survival in the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteDaily we see many students being held back yet another year in school for not passing a state requirement, the FCAT exam. Now I ask you how will an exam on basic math and reading be the determinant of weather our adolescents are failing in education or not? I often find various gifted students in intense reading or math for not being able to follow a simple format. Now I ask you is there a set format in our life? These students have not been gifted to waste their time on an exam preparatory class but in a class that will prepare them for the global life hardships that exist today. How will we be able to fix the ozone layer or formulate world peace when the possible leaders of our world are being failed year after year for not passing a “humant” designed exam?
We don’t have time to be wasting in pointless things when we must use all of our possible resources and ideas to find the cure for our society and save our world before it is too late. Many mistakes have been made in the past for the fear of thinking outside of the humant box and we can no longer afford that chance but instead we must all become true humans and take responsibility for our acts. We must break this vicious humant chain and we must begin to teach and learn in ways that will truly change our world.
-Gerry Rivadeneira
I think these are important questions to consider when thinking about free thinking and students. It's a complicated issue, which is why more discussion is needed. I cannot say right now that I have any steadfast opinions about this; I am exploring the possibilities in my mind and outlining them in this post.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible to twist this so that it is the 'humannes' who are the problem. After all, if not for them, the 'humants' could go on their daily way, working for the queen, going down their predestinated path. Ants have a pretty efficient society, don't they? It's the free thinkers who mess everything up.
Of course, going back to the other view, I think that 'humants' and 'humans' will always be at odds with each other. The humants are set in their ways, while the humannes want to change direction. This is made even more complex by the fact that not even the humannes can agree on which is the best path. Having worked often in groups full of strong-headed people, I can attest that two leaders will usually disagree, and often.
Perhaps we need humants. It is a dark and twisted possibility with unfortunate implications, but perhaps there are people who would be better off not thinking. The workers, the 'proletariats', if they just worked and worked and were happy like this, would 'enlightening' them be to their advantage? As far as they are aware, they are not being oppressed. They do not feel that something is wrong. Who are we to impose our 'superior' ways on them? Perhaps free will is not all it's cracked up to be.
The ideas I am suggesting are open-minded, perhaps too open-minded. I wanted to explore these possibilities: What if there were only humants? (society would be at a standstill, advances would be few and far in-between, if there would be any at all). What if there were only humannes? (in-fighting would definitely happen, and in-fighting is a sure way to weaken a community). Would it perhaps be better to have a mix of humants and humannes? (the humants would essentially be manipulated by the humannes. It is quite possible that the humants would be lower class citizens, and that any 'free thinking' lower class citizens would be brushed off as 'just drones' and not listened to). Is it possible that perhaps, humants want to be humants? If so, should we allow these humants to remain humants?
After reading this blog, our goal as citizens is clearly stated. Of course, our world will always have humants who lack the ability to think out of the box, promote change, and will always follow the norm. Yet, the persistence, vision, power to think broadly, and many of the other characteristics that humans possess will allow them to reshape our society and continue to resist the narrow minded humant mentality. Just like ants, humants have reenacted the behavior of following single minded duties and conforming. However, let’s not forget that the human species is more than just hill ants! We have the power to think, to express ourselves, to have vision for the future, and to challenge ourselves. If our potential is kept dormant then we will become humants who just accommodate. It is our choice to pick what we will be. There is no one to blame for the result. Humans and humants are both born with the potential to decide for their own. We may all have different views and goals but we must always keep in mind that our actions should always be for the best of our society and not only thinking about the present but also the future.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad fact that our fellow global citizens have reached a point where we do not question our actions, but we just follow a "leader", or simply do what we are told. Students go to school to eventually become succesful, however they do this not because they want to, but because this is what we were told was the right thing. Most students act like robots, and once they reach a certain age and must support themselves they realize that what they have done with their lives may not be what they wanted and may also question or not be paasionate about what they do. Men such as Galileo made a great step in the advancement of humanity precisely because they questioned what they were told. This is the same that we must do as the future of this globe, we must question everything and allow our personality to flourish, because every human can contribute to the empowerment of the huamn race in their own unqiue way.
ReplyDeleteHumans and ants differ in the view that we can choice what to do but after we have choosen then what we simply follow a procedure. But what sets us apart mainly is how we carry it out we can be what we want and where we want to with mo one to stop us technically but our selves. We choose to follow others because it is easier we always are told to follow in the foot steps of great men and women because the exceed in our sport/ subject or hobbie but we should follow nothing and make foot steps of our own for if we control the world how can it defeat us? It's simple from a young age we are told what is right and what is wrong but it just depends what end of the stick ur looking at. To sum up my blabering I niether agree nor disagree with this because simply we all can choose and must w.e. The choice is up to you regaurdless our colony of ants needs you.
ReplyDeleteHumants do what they are told. They do not think for themselves, question anything, and certainly do not have the mentality that they should challenge what they alredy know. It takes away their free will because they lack the initiative to act independently and decicively. This is the opposite of how humans should act. Why should we be a population that thrives on being pulled back from the direction of change and progress to only focus on that particular moment in time? No, that does not create a better world, just like it has been proven in the past. The situations that arose from so many terrible events could have been improved, if only the humants evolved into humans and led the population to more effective and peaceful solutions. The world today does not need more humants. The world today needs visionary humans, those who will break the mold and save humanity for the rest of the humants who will do nothing but try to prevent it. The real question is: will there continue to be humants? Not if we rise to the occassion as a thriving, progressive population with the desire to survive and become aware of the power we humans hold to change the world ourselves.
ReplyDeleteChrystie del Valle
Humants simply are not ones to question what they have been told, they do not think for themselves, and do not try to change what they already know. This sad reality does not seem to affect any of these humants as they do nothing about it living each day like they did the last, no change whatsoever. Humants are unable to act independently making them no different than ants themselves. However, while humants have the choice to act of their own will, they choose not to while ants have never had that choice to make. If humants began thinking for themselves, began questioning what they were being told, and began trying to make a difference, the world would be a much different place. So many disasters throughout history such as the Holocaust could have been prevented because there would have been someone who would have stood up to what was happening and would have tried to make it stop rather than letting things happen. Humans have the power to do as they choose and bring about a difference that can not only benefit themselves but can also bring about a change to the rest of the world. The humans in the world can change our society and the world that we live in when they realize that they have the power to do so. Of course there will always be the humants who do nothing but what they are told, but there will also always be humans who do think for themselves and make their own decisions having the potential to do great things together. What the world needs is more humans, not humants because humans are the ones that can solve the problems happening now and prevent many more from happening.
ReplyDeleteNot ALL “humants" not question society or rules. Some do question but that doesn’t mean they’re going to do something about it… Some are perfectly fine and comfortable with being “humant” because maybe they don’t like to stand out or be different because they don’t want to be thought weird or something compared to everyone else. Or they just want to fit in and follow the crowd. It kind of takes courage to be a “humant” because I guess you accept that you have different ideas and a different mentality than most of the rest of Earth’s population because you’re not like everyone else. If people are so worried that we should recognize that we must question things and not follow the crowd and be different and that it’s okay to be different, then they (teachers, parents?) should do something about it and give us a better education and not treat us like we really are insignificant ants and that we cannot make a difference in the world because we’re too little...
ReplyDeleteIt is very unfortunate that many people in our world today are humants. Not only has their personal opinion and free will been taken away, but they partake and allow it to happen. This is not solely their fault but the fault of the conditioning that they have gone through previously. This conditioning is what gives them the mindset and the inability to think for themselves. They go about their days without wondering what they can do to make the world a better place (not even aware that they are capable of doing so) and doing what they are told and following the “status quo.” This is quite disappointing because we humans have an incredible amount of potential to create a better world for everyone. The Humants in our world need to discover that there is a world and future beyond what we are told to do, and what the “crowd” is doing. Once they discover that we can accomplish marvelous and influential things in our future, then the former humants of our society can unite with the humans to create the beginning of a better humanity.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first heard the word "humants" I thought it was a foolish word that some person randomly came up with. This word should be used much more often because the majority of the people who inhabit our planet are, in fact, humants. Everyone is following someone else because they are afraid to take a stand and become a leader. Just because everyone is doing something one way does not make it right. The problem in our society today is that some people may know how to solve certain issues or may know of ways in which they can work to solve issues but they don't speak up. They don't acknowledge the fact that they know something because they don't want to change the direction everyone else is headed. People are so used to being "humants" that they have become comfortable with the idea and don't want to work to change that. They rather have someone else work and tell them what to do. The people who take charge and take steps into changing the world for the better are the ones who go down in history as leaders or heroes. Sadly, this is an extreme minority of people. I strongly agree with what this blog has said and I definitely agree with the fact that everyone is comfortable with "what is" right now. They don't think about what could be or what a better life would be like. Most people have ideas about how the world could be a better place or how we can improve our society but no one has brought these ideas out. No one has tried to make a change. For our students, being a "humant" is no longer an option; it is a disgrace. Now is when they have to start developing ideas so that tomorrow they can take charge and bring peace to our world.
ReplyDeleteAt first reading the word humant, I really did not know what it was. I thought it was a combination of two words. Humants are humans that start to lose their ability to think, question, reflect and challange. Humants lose sight of everything. They start to stop caring for anything. I believe that a student being a humant is very bad. They are the next generation to lead us and how could they lead if they do not know what is going on or do not care? Students should be able to lead us to a brighter future and make this world a better place to live in. Students should not be lieing around and not doing anything or not caring for their future and for other humans future. The role of leadership lies on students' shoulders. Their role is to lead and make this world a better place for everyone. Students should not be humants who follow a crowd. They have to lead. Humants have caused the Holocause and genocide around the world. They do not think about what is going on and just go with the crowd. Teachers should start to mold humans instead of humants that end up not caring at all. Students should not be allowed to become humants. They are the ones that will lead us in the near future.
ReplyDeletep.s. I had issues putting this comment up. I informed you in class. I figured it out. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHumans and humants. They both live in one world, one planet; millions of opinions, decisions to make, and responsibilities to be done. Although, they have different views of how to do just this. Humants do not opinion as openly and descriptively to mostly any situation or problem as humans do or would. It is not that humants do not have the capacity to become humans, but that they simply do not want to question certain issues. They would prefer to "go with the flow" of life, and not go against what they believe should be dealt with another way. Humans on the other hand, simply cannot refrain from opening their feelings, opinions, or ideas to society. Not only the society of America, but of all the nations. In South America for example, there are massive amounts of people and families that either have no place to live, no money for food, and/or do not feel safe because of the excess amount of violence in their country. Another reason is global warming because it is affecting our planet by creating more heat and destroying our ozone layer. One: Why be a humant if there is the availability to be or become a human?
ReplyDeleteStephanie Jiron
Humants in today's society lurk in every corner. It is only logical to wonder how many humants surround us in our everyday life. Mom? Dad? Maybe our Aunts or Uncles? Not one person can really know what they are capable of if they don't try new things. But what if people didn't want to try? There are people that just don't want to take the time away from their personal lives to get a decent education. They settle for simple things in life that instead of creating new possibilities, they take the same route as the generations before them. Until recently, many things have been done a certain way. A few people, a relatively small group of people decided that things not only weren't right, but needed to change. They have been called idealists, unrealistic, and many other things. Not one description fully describes them. To the rest of the humants, they did not do the things they were supposed to. Those few people decided to deviate from the rest of the crowd and take a new direction in life. They succeeded and made things change despite the hardships felt by the humants. Those humans decided not to succumb into the description of "humant" and become more. Now, as homo sapiens sapiens, or the humans who know that they know, we see the mistakes we've made in the past and are now trying to fix things. They've started with students, as is logical. They are the ones who will lead the world into the future. With proper education, humants will not be as common as they are now. The Global Education that is now being taught might relive the world of the humants and finally show the humans they can be. With their own thoughts, ideas, and judgments, one can only hope that things will change.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the fact that most people these days are humants and I dont think it should be this way. It is dissapointing when you think that a big amount of todays population are humants. Most of the time people chose to be humants because they dont want to be the wierd kid and just want to fit in with everyone else. They want to be the same instead of unique and different and having their own perspective to things and their own opinions. And it is true that if we all continue down this path, all of us one day will be humants and this cannot happen because then we wouldnt have any advances in technology or medicine because there wouldnt be any humans left to question and investigate the issues furthur. Another thing about humants is that they obviously dont care what happens to them or to us or to the entire world because they just live their life and mind their own business and dont set any goals to change their ways of thinking. So overall, this blog made me realize that there arent enough of us humans in the world and we need to change the ways of the humnats.
ReplyDeleteSociety today... Not only are people unchallenging, but they are sluggish at the same time, especially the young people of society today. From my perspective, I have seen many students that do not care about challenging themselves from school at all. All they care about is to just care about school as much to get a simple diploma. With this in mind, is it really possible for humans to start beginning to actually challenge themselves throughout life? The children and young adults of today’s world are supposed to be the leaders of the future. How will they become leaders with just a simple diploma and nothing better? I would not want a future leader of the United States to only have a diploma.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I do not believe that it is their fault entirely. I believe it is partially influence that should be taken at fault. All children are taught the “right from wrong” skill, where they need to figure out themselves starting as small children what they think is best for them. Although that is a smart way to teach a child, it can be a little biased. One’s parents can believe in what another’s parents does not, thus teaching different children a “curved right from wrong” skill. Notice how most children that I know follow through the beliefs of their parents, whether it be politically, religiously, or socially. They all end up going through the route of their parents. Of course, there is no way of changing this way of thinking unless the child itself decided to think differently, and that is where the fault of the child leads to, not thinking of whether they believe what their parents believe. In addition, we see children getting influenced through how the world is today. With the economy, the environment, and of course, their education, they feel that they will never get to that position as a global leader, so they suppose why bother?
However, it is not like parents do not know any better way to teach their children rather than the way they were taught themselves, and how were they taught? Yes, through their parents as well. The life of a human being in this family generation perspective is like a layered effect. Families all over the world add another person to the generation, which means adding a layer to that generation, leaving it alone and just letting the layers grow without looking back at those layers. What if it is time to start a new layer of this “generation thinking”? Our economy is at its worst, our environment is dying the more we ignore it, and our education is falling from the track that it used to be. What if there is a possibility in helping all that, but if young adults actually take a stand to it? These children of today believe less and less that they can make a difference for tomorrow because of all this, but they do not know how much they actually really can, and that is why no human being today is not challenged enough to think for themselves in that manner.
Humans and ants do view things very differently. Ants never question the way of life or what they have to do. We as humans question almost everything we do. Why do I have to work? Why do I have to go to school? Why do I have to do school work? I wonder why many of us question what we need to do. There are some people in this world that don’t question what they have to do and just do I’m yearning for the world to be more like ants and stop all the complaining.
ReplyDeleteAlthough as this post says, more and more people are becoming 'humants' simply teaching students to avoid becoming such organisms would not be enough. As stated above the problem isn't ignorance, or not questioning the environment. It comes to down a much simpler idea, sheer laziness. Once a human acquires a comfortable daily routine with a 'happy' job, there isn't much in the world that will force them out of that. Most people fear change, and nothing seems more terrifying than shifting out of something you've become accustomed to. For example, let us assume you have turned thirty-six. You have a job that you like, and make a fair amount of money. You have a husband/wife, three beautiful children, and a successful social life. One day a stranger from the government confronts you and tells you that you shall be moved to a rural village in a country on the other side of the world. You will leave behind all your possessions, as well as your wife/husband, kids, and friends. Not many people would accept that offer without questioning it. It is a similar issue with humants, they have reached something that they believe works for them. Although they are not 'free' in that sense, they consider themselves happy, and hence are nearly impossible to uproot from such a lifestyle. This is a disastrous problem, which if left unchecked, could rob us of one of our most important qualities as humans, our free will.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of a humant is usually not debatable, however the concept of accepting this fact is debatable. Many of us will not deny that we tend to follow the world's actions, without even looking at what we have just done. Because of humants we have been able to create trends, styles, and popular items, but then we have those individuals who are not humants and change these trends, styles, and popular items. The non-humants in the world have been able to create many things, they have made the world diverse. For example, if everyone in the world was a humant, we would not have America, we not have had explorers who wanted to travel, we would still be in the colonial times. Accepting the fact that we are not all humants can be hard sometimes, but the truth is, what would we be without non-humants? Non-humants have changed the world from are roots to our lifestyle today.
ReplyDelete~Francalancia
To begin with, I completely agree that humants and ants are basically identical. Of course, humants do have free will and they do not live based on their genetic dictate. Humants can think for themselves. Also, human beings (including humants) are the most “intelligent” species on earth. However, all of this simply makes being a humant that much worse. In some ways, ants are not like humants, they are superior to them. Ants take care of the “world” they live in. They are constantly improving, rebuilding, and enlarging their habitat. They defend their habitat, their world, against any danger. Well, humants do not defend the planet in which they live. What can be considered “intelligent” about that? By being simple humants and by not questioning society, not questioning the norms, and not looking to exceed the expectations that have been set, they are not only not assisting in making the world in which they live in better, but they are contributing to its deterioration. The world is slowly crumpling and the majority of people, which unfortunately do happen to be humants, just sit there and watch as events that could lead to the destruction of the earth occur. In terms of simply following society, students must be taught how to avoid becoming humants. In terms of defending their environment and making it a better place to live, they could actually learn some lessons from these diminutive ants. Humants do hold great potential, and this potential must be exploited and utilized for the benefit of this world. A single humant may already have the potential to find the cure of any of these incurable deadly diseases that are spread throughout the world or to find a solution to poverty or global warming. If humants are transformed into humans and stop accepting the status quo unquestioningly, begin questioning the norms and society, and try to exceed expectations, then and only then will the human potential be maximized. The small amount of humans that inhabit the planet have already been able to do so much to improve this world, and if this amount is doubled or even tripled, the possibilities are endless in terms of being able to make this world a better, more just, place for all humanity.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the comments left in this post, I cannot help but wonder how many of us are actually humants even though we claim not to be?
ReplyDeletePerhaps we are not humants in the sense that we are submissive and do what we are told,but many of us ARE following the crowd, if we are presented with a problem, or a situation to think about many of us will wait until our friends or colleagues form an opinion and then base it off them.
Before I continue I would like to make it understood that this comment is not meant to be offensive in any way, I admit that I am also influenced by my friends and colleagues.
To explain what I mean I will point out one example that is not only often used in this type of discussion but also in a variety of other topics. This example is the Holocaust, though a truly tragic event it has lost most of its impact force when used in discussions because of the frequency in which it is used, it has just become a name we throw around to prove something and is no longer really
effective in proving that. Just as an example to this, I would like to note that five people have already used it in their comments for this post.
Like KBR said,humants are usually happy with how they live and it is not until humannes start pointing things out or leading revolutions that they become unhappy with how they are living and want a change. In fact if it wasn't for hummanes isn't it possible the Earth would be in a better shape? That many extinct animals could still be alive today and that our enviroment could be sustaining us
instead of threatening to wipe us out? In all honesty, if hummanes did not exist then we wouldn't have made the mess that we need the same humannes to dig us out of?
In another perspective though we must see what hummanes are. We think of hummanes as leaders, those who will lead the humants to either stop being humants or to a better path where the destination is not self-destruction.
True Leaders, however are not what most believe a leader to be, they are not those who will the best decisions, nor are they the strongest,or smartest people. There is a quote that says "To be a good leader you need to be a follower first", and that is exactly what a true leader is, someone who listens to others' opinions, and takes advice, sure strength and intelligence might be important factors
but they are not the most important and can sometimes be done without. Hummanes with only strength or only intelligence will not last long as leaders to make a change.
People have issues realizing that their lives have turned into a daily routine where all they do is follow what they have been given to do and don’t ever question it. These people do not take the time to find away around their daily lives and find a new way to look at things. However, these same people might be living in your family right now. However, who can stop this? This is really a result when you have a responsibility and you have not seen any other ways to supply your need. People that have found a way that can reach heights at unspeakable distance are those who really do take their time to do so. It is hard because people dedicated a part of their lives in search for what they are questioning, to find what they are craving. Nevertheless, at a certain point, you think to your self, I need something that will sustain me and keep me living a decent way. So if we just find a time to satisfy this hunger for true free will, is if we can find the time to separate the free thinker to the working person. There is a time for everything.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the fact that most people that inhabit this world are humants and that the better thing for society would be for there to be more humans than humants. This of course is common sense. But, i must admit that i have to go with Lisdelys on this one. As she stated previously, it's not that people don't have the knowledge or the courage to be able to be a human, it's that most people just choose to "go with the flow". Why stand out when you can blend in? Maybe they do it out of fear of change or maybe they just prefer to go with the flow so that they are not singled out, as Lisdelys had said. I do agree that what would be best for students would be to become humans and be the leaders of the "pack", but i believe that is not the most important thing that should be considered. The point that should be made clear is that the students have the knowledge, the power, and the right to not only think for themselves, but to also be a human. It doesn't mean they have to become one. They can choose to be either a human or a humant, but if they are humant, they should remember to keep their own ideals and opinions. Not only that, but i believe the term human should not be used. I believe the correct term for describing what students should become is "individual".
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with the opinions presented in this post. There are a lot of humants all around the world, individuals who don’t stand up in society and make a change. Many individuals just continue to do what they see around them. Humants don’t ask questions, don’t do anything that will make a difference in the world. To become human rather than humants individuals should be encouraged to step up and challenge themselves in a way that they can become leaders in society.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the fact that most people that inhabit this world are humants and that the better thing for society would be for there to be more humans than humants. This of course is common sense. But, i must admit that i have to go with Lisdelys on this one. As she stated previously, it's not that people don't have the knowledge or the courage to be able to be a human, it's that most people just choose to "go with the flow". Why stand out when you can blend in? Maybe they do it out of fear of change or maybe they just prefer to go with the flow so that they are not singled out, as Lisdelys had said. I do agree that what would be best for students would be to become humans and be the leaders of the "pack", but i believe that is not the most important thing that should be considered. The point that should be made clear is that the students have the knowledge, the power, and the right to not only think for themselves, but to also be a human. It doesn't mean they have to become one. They can choose to be either a human or a humant, but if they are humant, they should remember to keep their own ideals and opinions. Not only that, but i believe the term human should not be used. I believe the correct term for describing what students should become is "individual".
ReplyDeletePS: Im anonymous sorry.. i had complications posting the comment.
-Leonardo Martin
Well in essence it is true; most humans can and are classified as being ‘humants’. Although this may appear to be bad and unbeneficial for mankind or the human race as a whole in actuality humants are needed to make our world function. This however does not mean that students should not be encouraged to be global leaders, and actual humans who think or question the order of society but it most definitely cannot be looked upon as something negative because in actuality if the humants are non-existent and all this world was made of was free thinkers, then who would carry out what needs to be done? There always in any society has to be the people who call shots, and the people who carry out what’s needed for their needs and what not. By this I do not mean that we are ruled as a dictatorship, all that I mean is that there are people who are encouraged and taught to think, to question, to challenge and envision better options for our world, however there needs to be an equal balance of what you call ‘humants’ to carry out these new options and ideas for our society. A balance is crucial, like with any other concept in life, too much of something is bad, if there are too many thinkers that’s bad, if there are too many humants that is also bad, what’s needed is that equilibrium of both humans and humants to keep the world flowing at an ease. More thinkers and actual humans though wouldn’t hurt, as they can bring about new ideas and technology that will in essence save our race.
ReplyDelete-Michael Pena
I think there needs to be a certain level of innate intelligence (by which I mean natural tendency and skill for analysis and creativity) to be a "human." If a person does not have that natural ability (or has done away with it over the years), all teaching will do is allow them to recognize there are other possibilities (when they are presented) and make them less resistant to change, but never will these aware "humants" be able to fully question/create in the same way a "human" does. Teaching breeds comprehension but it is up to talent (in this case the innate intelligence) and determination to bring forth (successful) application.
ReplyDelete"Humans" make themselves; I don't think a "human" can be created by external forces (although they CAN aid in the development). Global education aims to free "humants" from their shackles but it can only remove those applied through conditioning, not the natural limitations. If a "humant" does not have the natural limitations, then removing the conditioning will awaken them but I think this sort of "humant" to be very rare because innate intelligence warps conditioning and the majority of the time naturally leads to the analysis and creativity so fundamental to free will*.
*I think 'free thinking' is a more appropriate (and less confusion-inducing) defining characteristic of "humans". I understand that in the sense used in this blog it follows the reasoning that what "humants" want, they are trained to want but, reading the other posts, it seems others do not understand this because free will is generally thought as a natural ability of homo sapiens.
I can see why they are called humants, I understand the analogy. But I don't believe its right for them to be called that because its patronizing in a way. By calling them 'humants', we're indirectly boosting the ego of 'humans'. And that is never a good thing, for the pride of man is often man's downfall.
ReplyDeleteWho are we to judge others whose mind we don't know? We don't know their mind, we barely know ours. It's not right to put people into categories. In my personal opinion, sticking labels onto people is the beginning of separation. If we continue to call them humants, and ourselves humans; will there be discrimination among educators? Will students let this all go to their hotheads and pride and treat these humants as mere lackeys, minions, pawns? And if humans treatment of humants' got steadily worse, what would separate them from all the racists? The discriminators?
It is believed by many that change is one of the main erroneous paths that we can choose to take among the human society. As people, we were born humans, but seem to accept the ways in which humants live their life. Humants refuse or as of now, temporarily seem incapable of having free will, and having free thought. These two components and characteristics that we are each born with makes us unique to one another and make the world go round. It brings change and revolutions when it is needed. In addition, it is important to encourage the students of today to think like humans (they way we were meant to be) so that the next generation can have differences in society, and have the will to speak those minds that can bring the change that will possibly be needed in the near or distant future. The students of today are soon the people of tomorrow. When tomorrow comes it is essential to have different opinions and reclaim that ability to think for ourselves. If not, we are like ants, which is a shame because we were born with an intellectual insight and ability to comprehend which the ants, understandably, do not have.
ReplyDeleteI think that the term humant is quite clever as it morphs two words that have clear denotations to create one that has an even more significant denotation. Personally I agree that many humans have chosen a route in life in which they neglect their ability to question and analyze. However I have to express that to me our way of life is not the only thing that separates us from ants or any other organism. I think that also our ability to express both compassion and kindness, and hatred and cruelness separates us. I don’t think that to assert your human characteristics you have to go “against the grain”. As I think that the ability to rise among the masses, is something that people are able to do not because they’re more human, but because they have more courage. Courage is something that we all have, some more than others but not having enough to rise from the masses doesn’t make you less human. I think that what makes you less human is allowing yourself to be conditioned against your moral beliefs and boundaries, allowing yourself to be manipulated. As society can at times do this, but when you have free will and choice at your deposition in a society I find that not questioning doesn’t make you less human.
ReplyDeleteJust today i was thinking. I began to wonder where the hearts and souls were in today's generation. I began to wonder where the will to question and to have opinion have gone. I sat in a regular language class, unrelated whatsoever to a global perspective, and i listened to talk of Puerto Rico. The teacher spoke passionately about her joy of independance for those who deserve it, and she spoke about how we, the U.S., had been great assistance. Though, one child disagreed and spoke of how he believed that the treatment that Puerto Rico recieved as opposed to the other parts of our country were unfair. It seemed as though the instructor became angered by this, but only proceded to say that she would only teach what was in the book and not inflict her opinion upon others. When i saw the pause and the light in the eyes of the teacher at a chance to show her passion on her opinion of the subject i became excited. Though, as she continued on with her lesson, holding in whatever it could've been that she'd had to say, I found myself dissapointed. This generation, overall, is being prepared to be filled with humants. Opinions should be heard and respected, and more importantly, explored and questioned. All sides to the issue must be recognized. In doing so, minds are inspired! Though, it appears that todays society finds it more "appropriate" to simply not question, and read the straight facts. I fear for this new generation of humants.
ReplyDeleteIn this world there are us, the humans as we are called, we are the beings that take over for the time being and wait for our time to come. We are different yet all very similar based on who we are. We are different at the fact that we each have unique characteristics to each other than no one will have the same in another. We are similar because we are all equal as one being and nothing more or less. I believe that in our differences however there will be the group of people that you call humant. These people I don’t believe to be pre-programmed like an ant as you state; in fact I believe that because there we are characteristically different to each other these type of people have the quality that don’t let them think ‘outside of the box’. These people can have various reasons for beings this way whether they were brought upon since birth to think humant or whether they are afraid of what changes can bring to their lives, reasons that they keep to themselves. As for the many humannes like me we tend to or try to see past what others think as just an ordinary world. We humannes look for the reality, nature, beauty, etc. in our lives and in the world. Whether a humant or a humannes we are all one and as one we can help each other see what we are blinded to.
ReplyDelete-yesenia grisales
First of all, I don’t like the term humants being used to describe other people because it is a derogatory that makes the user of the word appear arrogant. No living person has the right to consider themselves above others because every living person is susceptible by the same emotions, the same pain, and they will all share the same destiny, which is death. Also, the reason some “humants” choose not to go against society is because they may have more to lose than other people. For example, a woman has a job where she is paid lower than another man but she cannot complain or make a scene for the simple fact that if she loses her job she will have no means to feed her children, pay her rent, or any means to obtain another job especially in today’s faltering economy. Where as another person, who is self employed, can speak out against this injustice without any serious repercussions. In a even more extreme case, the government or society itself can instill fear into the hearts of many and they do question the society they live, they do search inside themselves for answers but they cannot take any action for fear of death or arrest. An example of this is the country of Burma, now known as Myanmar, which has a dictatorship style government. During an event known as the Saffron Revolution hundreds of people and mostly monks(for which the revolution was named after) decided to protest. The next day the government cracked down on multiple monasteries capturing many monks and making them disappear. The opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been in house arrest for years with little hope of release. The “humants” as you call them see this and process this information. Any rational being would not blindly put themselves in danger knowing that they will reach the same end as thousands have. Another thing is that “humants” aren’t as ignorant as is lead to believe. They can tell what will be better for them and what will be worse. Not every single one of these “humants” will create a riot or vocal opposition because of change that is obviously better than what was previously present. Also, students are forced into being "humants" at school. They are told where to go and what to do and any opposition is met with punishment. It is impossible to find a balance between the two(how schools function and empowering students to be more than humants)at this time.
ReplyDeleteIn this world there are us, the humans as we are called, we are the beings that take over for the time being and wait for our time to come. We are different yet all very similar based on who we are. We are different at the fact that we each have unique characteristics to each other than no one will have the same in another. We are similar because we are all equal as one being and nothing more or less. I believe that in our differences however there will be the group of people that you call humant. These people I don’t believe to be pre-programmed like an ant as you state; in fact I believe that because that we are characteristically different to each other these type of people have the quality that don’t let them think ‘outside of the box’. These people can have various reasons for being this way whether they were brought upon since birth to think humant or whether they are afraid of what changes can bring to their lives, reasons that they keep to themselves. As for the many humannes like me we tend to or try to see past what others think as just an ordinary world. We humannes look for the reality, nature, beauty, etc. in our lives and in the world. Whether you are humant or a humannes we are all one and as one we can help each other see what we are blinded to.
ReplyDelete-yesenia Grisales
p.s . this is with spelling and grammar fixed
This blog is very true, humans are becoming less involved in the act to better their world that they simply just leave that decision making to the humans who which to pursue a brighter future. However, there is some misinterpretation involved in the blog. Humans have not lost their ability to think for themselves, they have simply ignored their true capabilities and have just been living in the moment instead of being a part of the change to make the world a better place. We have become ignorant to the world around us just taking it for granted. We say that in the future we will have flying cars and no diseases, instead of just acknowledging these possibilities why don't they practice what they preach. It is not that they do not have the power, we all have the power to commence greatness, and the real question is if you can conquer that greatness. Then possibilities will be endless. We all have the power to change the world, it does not have to be as significant as finding the cure for cancer, it can be a small gesture like not littering, being cautious of the environment. It is definitely the little things that count and people are simply ignoring this fact. Humans tend to ignore daily news that occurs globally like major crises, epidemics, and we simply just disregard these filters of information and commence with our own lives ignoring the big picture. People must come to realize that there are much bigger things happening on a vaster scale then your own personal problems. Even though they may be important to you cannot ignore news.
ReplyDeletePeople of our generation are being accustomed to technology and all of the beauties that it has to offer us. We use these devices every day in our daily lives and instead of being interested in how this IPod or cell phone was created and the commitment and dedication that was put to make it they are simply interested in how to use it. We must not be blindfolded but have open eyes and right now we are blind. Our ignorance will ultimately be our demise if we do not take advantage of what we have. We must use the gifts that were given to us that separate us from a wild animal. We have the tendency of being curious to the things around us, how trees grow, why the sky is blue, etc. It is these questions that we make that separate us from ants. That is why humants do not exist; humans have not gotten to the point where there free will has been deleted from our brains. This is why we are classified as the most complex organisms in the world, not because of our appearance, or our bodies, but the power of our minds. What we have done in the course of our history is absolutely remarkable and no other species has even come close to what we have accomplished. What we have learned through the course of our history is outstanding and it will continue to progress until our extinction. We have created beautiful works of art, instruments to play amazing music, and all the architecture is incredible. Do dogs build skyscrapers? Which brings me down to this; we cannot ignore who we are and what we are capable of, because it will lead us down the path of richosness. We are not robots programmed to do what we are told, we are not ants that have life obligations, we are masters of our own domain, the leaders of complex thinking and free will, and we are humans.
This is very true many humans are falling into the habit of everyday life and forget what they are even doing in the world. This makes these people humants. It is also true that it would be difficult to live in a world were humants do not exist. Now a days in schools teachers and faculty try hard to help students push their enveleope and break through the barrier of what is everyday life. This is in order for students to grow but in the process few actually take this apportunities and listen while others don't care for what is going on around them. These are the humants that just watch as the world goes by and just do what is necassary to survive as with the significance to comparing humants to ants. As the world continues there are still few who can break out of that shell that is a humant and grow into a human who has the power and knowledge to help better and change the society and everyday world we live in.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that more than half of our world today is inhabited by humants instead of humans is a very daunting thought. We were once long ago a very primitive civilization whose life goal was to reproduce, survive and feed. However that was our “humant” goal when our civilization first started, not today. We are an evolving civilization and along with that our life goals evolve too. It is no longer the time to become a blind ant following a set “life cycle”. It is time to modify that cycle and to adjust it to our current time, to adjust it for our survival in the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteDaily we see many students being held back yet another year in school for not passing a state requirement, the FCAT exam. Now I ask you how will an exam on basic math and reading be the determinant of weather our adolescents are failing in education or not? I often find various gifted students in intense reading or math for not being able to follow a simple format. Now I ask you is there a set format in our life? These students have not been gifted to waste their time on an exam preparatory class but in a class that will prepare them for the global life hardships that exist today. How will we be able to fix the ozone layer or formulate world peace when the possible leaders of our world are being failed year after year for not passing a “humant” designed exam?
We don’t have time to be wasting in pointless things when we must use all of our possible resources and ideas to find the cure for our society and save our world before it is too late. Many mistakes have been made in the past for the fear of thinking outside of the humant box and we can no longer afford that chance but instead we must all become true humans and take responsibility for our acts. We must break this vicious humant chain and we must begin to teach and learn in ways that will truly change our world.
-Gerry Rivadeneira
To be honest I know more humants than humans,and that saddens me deeply.Ihe real problem is not the people the real issue is the system that indoctrinates us to always accept what the authority says regardless of our stance on it.
ReplyDeleteFortunately some of us had either parents who encouraged and nurtured our inquisitiveness or an inner resilience that refused to be dimmed by the constraints that society places on us to keep us manageable and controled.In order to combat the rising swell of humants we must first fundamentally change the eduction systems so that creativity and inquisitiveness are encouraged not penalized.
when we do that then ......all of the mysteries and knowledge of the universe will fall into place like a stray autumn leaf that for some reason always ends up back on the river bank from whence it came.