Humans Are Special: Difference between revisions

Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
m (→‎[[Western Animation]]: clean up, replaced: [[The Simpsons| → [[The Simpsons (animation)|)
(update links)
Line 149: Line 149:
** In its sequel, Herbig-Haro, humanity encountered a race even more advanced than they were, and were conquered themselves.
** In its sequel, Herbig-Haro, humanity encountered a race even more advanced than they were, and were conquered themselves.
* In ''[[The Host (novel)|The Host]]'', humans not only have more senses than any other species the Souls use as hosts (point one in our favor) but also much more intense emotions. Meyer goes so far as to have Wanderer basically decide that although Souls give love somewhat unconditionally, humanity's tendency to be emotionally intense, confusing, irrational and even a tad fickle makes ''human'' love a lot more precious, precisely because it's rarer, harder to achieve and much more inexplicable (point two in our favor). Humans are also apparently the only species that's ever been remotely capable of retaining part of their original personalities when possessed by a Soul (point three in our favor). In contrast, the Souls, while very technologically advanced, very successful at taking over other planets, and naturally, unusually altruistic and kind... ''are dumb as rocks''.
* In ''[[The Host (novel)|The Host]]'', humans not only have more senses than any other species the Souls use as hosts (point one in our favor) but also much more intense emotions. Meyer goes so far as to have Wanderer basically decide that although Souls give love somewhat unconditionally, humanity's tendency to be emotionally intense, confusing, irrational and even a tad fickle makes ''human'' love a lot more precious, precisely because it's rarer, harder to achieve and much more inexplicable (point two in our favor). Humans are also apparently the only species that's ever been remotely capable of retaining part of their original personalities when possessed by a Soul (point three in our favor). In contrast, the Souls, while very technologically advanced, very successful at taking over other planets, and naturally, unusually altruistic and kind... ''are dumb as rocks''.
* In [[Ben Counter]]'s [[Warhammer 40000]] [[Grey Knights]] novel ''Hammer of Daemons'', when Alaric has confronted the mandrake and explained [[Feed the Mole|how he knew]] it was [[The Mole]]—and accused it of betraying a previous [[Gladiator Revolt]], thereby causing the death of another captive Grey Knight in celebratory games—it defends itself on the grounds that it had to survive. Alaric says that for humans, to survive is not enough.
* In [[Ben Counter]]'s [[Warhammer 40,000]] [[Grey Knights]] novel ''Hammer of Daemons'', when Alaric has confronted the mandrake and explained [[Feed the Mole|how he knew]] it was [[The Mole]]—and accused it of betraying a previous [[Gladiator Revolt]], thereby causing the death of another captive Grey Knight in celebratory games—it defends itself on the grounds that it had to survive. Alaric says that for humans, to survive is not enough.
* In [[The Bible]], humanity is special because they are the only creatures who bear the image of God (one Psalm specifically states that we're just "a little lower than angels"). [[Word of Dante]] says that the other reason for our specialness is "free will".
* In [[The Bible]], humanity is special because they are the only creatures who bear the image of God (one Psalm specifically states that we're just "a little lower than angels"). [[Word of Dante]] says that the other reason for our specialness is "free will".
* The out-of-print novel ''Earth Ship & Star Song'' uses this trope to suggest that humanity is destined to eventually take over the galaxy because we're the only race that ''doesn't'' breed ourselves for ever-stronger psionic capabilities of one kind of another. Apparently, no matter what planet you evolved on, psychic talents and fertility are mutually exclusive at a genetic level, and since [[Planet of Hats|every other race in the galaxy]] has evolved a society which drives them to breed towards ever-increasing psionic talent even as their race's fertility rate goes through the floor, they'll all go extinct in a few generations and we'll just move in. Um... yeah, OK, whatever.
* The out-of-print novel ''Earth Ship & Star Song'' uses this trope to suggest that humanity is destined to eventually take over the galaxy because we're the only race that ''doesn't'' breed ourselves for ever-stronger psionic capabilities of one kind of another. Apparently, no matter what planet you evolved on, psychic talents and fertility are mutually exclusive at a genetic level, and since [[Planet of Hats|every other race in the galaxy]] has evolved a society which drives them to breed towards ever-increasing psionic talent even as their race's fertility rate goes through the floor, they'll all go extinct in a few generations and we'll just move in. Um... yeah, OK, whatever.
Line 181: Line 181:
** The Vorlons tell Delenn that the humans would be important in the upcoming shadow war. Unfortunately that is not demonstrated convincingly; individual humans are important, and B4 and B5 are important. But humans in general seem to stay out of things.
** The Vorlons tell Delenn that the humans would be important in the upcoming shadow war. Unfortunately that is not demonstrated convincingly; individual humans are important, and B4 and B5 are important. But humans in general seem to stay out of things.
* In ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', humans (the few that remain) are not only special among other races, but the forefathers of literally every other race in the universe.
* In ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', humans (the few that remain) are not only special among other races, but the forefathers of literally every other race in the universe.
* In the ''[[V]]'' franchise, this was the explanation of why the Visitors didn't use their conversion process on all of humanity to make them compliant. According to Diana, humans are unusually strong-willed compared to other species, which makes mass conversion impractical—at least for the time being.
* In the ''[[V (TV series)|V]]'' franchise, this was the explanation of why the Visitors didn't use their conversion process on all of humanity to make them compliant. According to Diana, humans are unusually strong-willed compared to other species, which makes mass conversion impractical—at least for the time being.
** In the [[V-2009|2009 reimagining]], Anna desperately tries to figure out why her Bliss won't work on humans. She barely manages to Bliss a single human, although she is bleeding from the effort. She then tries to do the same to ''all 6 billion of us''. It takes {{spoiler|a [[Half-Human Hybrid]]}} to successfully do that.
** In the [[V-2009|2009 reimagining]], Anna desperately tries to figure out why her Bliss won't work on humans. She barely manages to Bliss a single human, although she is bleeding from the effort. She then tries to do the same to ''all 6 billion of us''. It takes {{spoiler|a [[Half-Human Hybrid]]}} to successfully do that.
* Prime example: ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'': Humans are the dominant race in the galaxy, with the Jaffa running a close second. Of course, it is worth noting that the Jaffa are themselves an offshoot of humanity, bred by the Goa'uld thousands of years ago to suit their purposes. Every other race they meet is either extremely arrogant, [[Exclusively Evil]], has questionable morals, or are otherwise 'inferior' to humans. Probably the only exception are the Asgard, who also owe their their lives to the humans ''multiple times'', despite being [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]]; and {{spoiler|they commit species-scale suicide at the end anyway}}. Even the Ancients themselves (also humans, of a "previous evolution", who actually bootstrapped the evolution of humans on Earth), while being the show's legendary race and "gods" who [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|ascended to a higher plane of existence]], are labeled as wrong in their morals, for the most part. (They are so adamantly against interfering with the mortal plane that they would sooner allow all life in the galaxy to be destroyed than step in.) Compare [[Rousseau Was Right]].
* Prime example: ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'': Humans are the dominant race in the galaxy, with the Jaffa running a close second. Of course, it is worth noting that the Jaffa are themselves an offshoot of humanity, bred by the Goa'uld thousands of years ago to suit their purposes. Every other race they meet is either extremely arrogant, [[Exclusively Evil]], has questionable morals, or are otherwise 'inferior' to humans. Probably the only exception are the Asgard, who also owe their their lives to the humans ''multiple times'', despite being [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]]; and {{spoiler|they commit species-scale suicide at the end anyway}}. Even the Ancients themselves (also humans, of a "previous evolution", who actually bootstrapped the evolution of humans on Earth), while being the show's legendary race and "gods" who [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|ascended to a higher plane of existence]], are labeled as wrong in their morals, for the most part. (They are so adamantly against interfering with the mortal plane that they would sooner allow all life in the galaxy to be destroyed than step in.) Compare [[Rousseau Was Right]].
Line 201: Line 201:
** Humans also have the ability to "fake out", i.e. convince an alien of just about anything, like draping carpets over your head makes for impressive evening wear, or that kissing is a perfectly socially acceptable way of greeting anyone. After all, humans are the coolest species in the universe, so they should ''know'', right?
** Humans also have the ability to "fake out", i.e. convince an alien of just about anything, like draping carpets over your head makes for impressive evening wear, or that kissing is a perfectly socially acceptable way of greeting anyone. After all, humans are the coolest species in the universe, so they should ''know'', right?
** It seems humanity is the only species to actually invent popular culture/entertainment at all. Hence, we have the best music, movies, clothes, soft drinks, etc. and any alien species will either import what humans invented in this line, or copy it. One of the sample characters is a [[Rubber Forehead Alien]] [[High School Hustler]] who explains that she can get the best tech from her homeworld simply by sending Earth music or fashion to them in trade.
** It seems humanity is the only species to actually invent popular culture/entertainment at all. Hence, we have the best music, movies, clothes, soft drinks, etc. and any alien species will either import what humans invented in this line, or copy it. One of the sample characters is a [[Rubber Forehead Alien]] [[High School Hustler]] who explains that she can get the best tech from her homeworld simply by sending Earth music or fashion to them in trade.
* In ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'', humanity's special trait? The fact that [[Humans Are the Real Monsters|they're more efficient bastards than everyone else.]] Traits other settings associate with humans - dynamic society, adapting technology, and optimism - are actually given to the [[The Alliance|alien Tau]]. Human civilization has been in decline for the past ten thousand years, a [[Machine Cult]] of [[Techno Wizard]]s quashes innovation and doesn't fully understand what technology still works, and humanity has dubbed the current era "The Time of Ending." The only things mankind has going for it are [[We Have Reserves|numbers]] and a [[I Did What I Had to Do|willingness to do]] [[Combat Pragmatist|whatever it takes to win]], no matter how many [[Earthshattering Kaboom|worlds get snuffed out in the process. Exterminatus anyone?]]
* In ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'', humanity's special trait? The fact that [[Humans Are the Real Monsters|they're more efficient bastards than everyone else.]] Traits other settings associate with humans - dynamic society, adapting technology, and optimism - are actually given to the [[The Alliance|alien Tau]]. Human civilization has been in decline for the past ten thousand years, a [[Machine Cult]] of [[Techno Wizard]]s quashes innovation and doesn't fully understand what technology still works, and humanity has dubbed the current era "The Time of Ending." The only things mankind has going for it are [[We Have Reserves|numbers]] and a [[I Did What I Had to Do|willingness to do]] [[Combat Pragmatist|whatever it takes to win]], no matter how many [[Earthshattering Kaboom|worlds get snuffed out in the process. Exterminatus anyone?]]
* In ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]],'' humans are treated as [[Puny Earthlings|foolish and immature]] due to their abbreviated lifespans. Yet, they're truly [[Jack of All Trades|capable of anything]], as the rapid pace of their lives leads them to be quickly adaptable as a race, and driven to professional excellence as individuals.
* In ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]],'' humans are treated as [[Puny Earthlings|foolish and immature]] due to their abbreviated lifespans. Yet, they're truly [[Jack of All Trades|capable of anything]], as the rapid pace of their lives leads them to be quickly adaptable as a race, and driven to professional excellence as individuals.
** In 1st and 2nd edition, they had no special abilities whatsoever, but could run the full range of ability scores, could belong to any class, and had no limit to what level they could gain in their class. Other races could belong to two classes at once in predetermined combinations, but only humans could change their classes after creation (although it was a pretty grueling process, requiring you to start from scratch until you regained the level you switched at).
** In 1st and 2nd edition, they had no special abilities whatsoever, but could run the full range of ability scores, could belong to any class, and had no limit to what level they could gain in their class. Other races could belong to two classes at once in predetermined combinations, but only humans could change their classes after creation (although it was a pretty grueling process, requiring you to start from scratch until you regained the level you switched at).
** In 3rd edition, humans again have no special racial powers, but instead gain a bonus feat of their choosing and can develop an extra skill, allowing them to excel right from the start. While other races have specific favored classes that don't count against multiclassing penalties, a human's favored class is whatever class he has the most levels in, making multiclassing a bit easier.
** In 3rd edition, humans again have no special racial powers, but instead gain a bonus feat of their choosing and can develop an extra skill, allowing them to excel right from the start. While other races have specific favored classes that don't count against multiclassing penalties, a human's favored class is whatever class he has the most levels in, making multiclassing a bit easier.
Line 238: Line 238:
** Though, humans have not that much competition with only Reploids being a rival 'race.' And some as Copy-X are programmed to serve/support humans so it's not their choice to do so.
** Though, humans have not that much competition with only Reploids being a rival 'race.' And some as Copy-X are programmed to serve/support humans so it's not their choice to do so.
* Lucasarts' ''[[The Dig]]'' uses this trope. The aliens who [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence]] as immortal [[Energy Beings]] eventually find that they are [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|doomed to be mere observers for all time]] without physical bodies. They want to come back home, but can't find the way, and the only surviving alien is certain that if the humans open the gateway, they too will find themselves unable to tear themselves away from the beauty of Spacetime Six and ultimately be trapped as surely as the aliens were. Fortunately, Humans Are Special and have [[Heroic Willpower]] (or sheer bloody-minded stubbornness) that allows them to resist the siren's song and hold the gate open for the aliens' return.
* Lucasarts' ''[[The Dig]]'' uses this trope. The aliens who [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence]] as immortal [[Energy Beings]] eventually find that they are [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|doomed to be mere observers for all time]] without physical bodies. They want to come back home, but can't find the way, and the only surviving alien is certain that if the humans open the gateway, they too will find themselves unable to tear themselves away from the beauty of Spacetime Six and ultimately be trapped as surely as the aliens were. Fortunately, Humans Are Special and have [[Heroic Willpower]] (or sheer bloody-minded stubbornness) that allows them to resist the siren's song and hold the gate open for the aliens' return.
* [[Big Bad]] [[AI Is a Crapshoot|Allied Mastercomputer]] from the videogame adaptation of ''[[I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream]]'' deeply envies humans because they can experience life in a way that AM, despite all its power and knowledge, can never hope to know. AM can't really see, taste, smell, move, or touch anything, and is a prisoner of the miles of circuitry that make up its physical form. Ironically, in the Bad Endings of the game, just like in the original story, AM inflicts a similar fate on the sole surviving human by turning them into an [[And I Must Scream|immortal blob]].
* [[Big Bad]] [[A.I. Is a Crapshoot|Allied Mastercomputer]] from the videogame adaptation of ''[[I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream]]'' deeply envies humans because they can experience life in a way that AM, despite all its power and knowledge, can never hope to know. AM can't really see, taste, smell, move, or touch anything, and is a prisoner of the miles of circuitry that make up its physical form. Ironically, in the Bad Endings of the game, just like in the original story, AM inflicts a similar fate on the sole surviving human by turning them into an [[And I Must Scream|immortal blob]].
* In [[Conquest: Frontier Wars]] manual on of the Celareon (energy beings) gives a long speech about humans and their virtues ending with "They may not look it, but they are a formidable enemy from the rest of the galaxy"
* In [[Conquest: Frontier Wars]] manual on of the Celareon (energy beings) gives a long speech about humans and their virtues ending with "They may not look it, but they are a formidable enemy from the rest of the galaxy"
* ''[[Halo]]'' also contains this in that, as recently revealed, Humans are almost genetically identical to the Forerunner, the ''Precursor'' civilization that was god-like technologically and is actually worshiped as gods by the genocidal Covenant. While not direct descendants, the fact Humanity is almost an exact genetic match, plus the fact that they are the only species which can operate Forerunner technology, AND the fact that the last act of the Forerunner known as Librarian was to save Humanity from certain death, they definitely qualify for this trope.
* ''[[Halo]]'' also contains this in that, as recently revealed, Humans are almost genetically identical to the Forerunner, the ''Precursor'' civilization that was god-like technologically and is actually worshiped as gods by the genocidal Covenant. While not direct descendants, the fact Humanity is almost an exact genetic match, plus the fact that they are the only species which can operate Forerunner technology, AND the fact that the last act of the Forerunner known as Librarian was to save Humanity from certain death, they definitely qualify for this trope.
Line 248: Line 248:
* In the [[Backstory]] of ''[[Galactic Civilizations]]'', it was the humans who have managed to develop a hyperdrive, thus allowing them to travel anywhere in the galaxy, as opposed to the [[Portal Network]] used by every other race. Then some idiot decided to [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|transmit the findings to everyone else]].
* In the [[Backstory]] of ''[[Galactic Civilizations]]'', it was the humans who have managed to develop a hyperdrive, thus allowing them to travel anywhere in the galaxy, as opposed to the [[Portal Network]] used by every other race. Then some idiot decided to [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|transmit the findings to everyone else]].
** The [[Word of God]] states another reason why humanity is unique - in their adaptiveness, they can splendidly get along with the good races, but if pushed, they can be as cruel and ruthless as the [[Complete Monster|Drengin]].
** The [[Word of God]] states another reason why humanity is unique - in their adaptiveness, they can splendidly get along with the good races, but if pushed, they can be as cruel and ruthless as the [[Complete Monster|Drengin]].
* In ''[[Starcraft]]'', the [[Humans by Any Other Name|Terrans]] are the descendants of Earth's unwanted sent on rickety colonisation ships to the toughest corners of the galaxy. Basically, [[Australia (continent)|Australians]] [[Recycled in Space|in space]], these folks are an incredibly divided [[Ragtag Bunch of Misfits]] surviving on [[Used Future|leftover junk]] and [[The Power of Friendship|brotherhood]] while fighting the [[Horde of Alien Locusts|Ze]][[Zombie Apocalypse|rg]], the [[Scary Dogmatic Aliens|Pro]][[Superior Species|toss]] and [[Civil War|each other]]. Yet, they [[Humanity Is Superior|hold]] [[Badass Normal|their]] [[Badass Army|own]].
* In ''[[StarCraft]]'', the [[Humans by Any Other Name|Terrans]] are the descendants of Earth's unwanted sent on rickety colonisation ships to the toughest corners of the galaxy. Basically, [[Australia (country)||Australians]] [[Recycled in Space|in space]], these folks are an incredibly divided [[Ragtag Bunch of Misfits]] surviving on [[Used Future|leftover junk]] and [[The Power of Friendship|brotherhood]] while fighting the [[Horde of Alien Locusts|Ze]][[Zombie Apocalypse|rg]], the [[Scary Dogmatic Aliens|Pro]][[Superior Species|toss]] and [[Civil War|each other]]. Yet, they [[Humanity Is Superior|hold]] [[Badass Normal|their]] [[Badass Army|own]].
** Later [[Deconstructed Trope|deconstructed]] by the fact that because of their developing psychic abilities, they are attacked by the Zerg, who wish to [[Lego Genetics|assimilate]] them so they can eliminate the Protoss and overrun the galaxy.
** Later [[Deconstructed Trope|deconstructed]] by the fact that because of their developing psychic abilities, they are attacked by the Zerg, who wish to [[Lego Genetics|assimilate]] them so they can eliminate the Protoss and overrun the galaxy.
* Both played straight and averted in ''[[Master of Orion]]'' series. Humans managed to dominate the Orion Sector twice and claim to be the direct descendants of the [[Precursors]]. However, their backstory states that they actually were created by another ancient race as a specialized bioweapon. Moreover, their creators were disappointed with the result, so the first humans were sent away into some backwards corner of the galaxy and quickly forgotten.
* Both played straight and averted in ''[[Master of Orion]]'' series. Humans managed to dominate the Orion Sector twice and claim to be the direct descendants of the [[Precursors]]. However, their backstory states that they actually were created by another ancient race as a specialized bioweapon. Moreover, their creators were disappointed with the result, so the first humans were sent away into some backwards corner of the galaxy and quickly forgotten.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Humans_Are_Special"