Please help me understand why people say "I am a human being" [angry question]?

Everyone makes mistakes.
Everyone is human.
Makes sense to me.

It’s saying that it is human nature to make mistakes. So if you make a mistake it’s alright because you’re not some perfect creature, you’re human. Do you see the connection?

To err is human, to forgive, Divine.

It means stop expecting more from me than you expect from any other human being. Stop expecting me to react differently than other human beings would react. Stop expecting me to be able to do things other human beings can’t do. Etc.

As I understand it, the person generally means that he’s not a god. He’s a human, so he makes mistakes, unlike a god who, presumably, does not make mistakes. It’s basically calling attention to the fact that we are not all-knowing, infallible beings who never mess up.

We are imperfect animals.

When fish float their time is generally over. When turds float you probably have too much fat in your diet. See. There is the difference. In human beings floating does not mean death. Therefore, I am a human being.

I’m sorry…an alien took over my keyboard

this saying does not really annoy me, but personally i say embrace failing and learn to live with it. its the only way forward. when you mess up, deal with it.

i think if anything, this saying should be used not as a consolation for failing, but rather as a warning to those who criticize failing to not go too hard on the person.

In my life I have made few mistakes, but I have had a hell of a lot of learning experiences.

people say that to remind someone (often themselves but usually others) that they can’t expect perfection.

The sooner you realize I am a perfect being the sooner we will all start to get along gooder. ~

I am a human being is generally a request to be treated with dignity and to remind the other person you have feelings and dreams also, a plea to be seen for who one is rather than just for what one has been able to accomplish….or not

this can clearly be used as a cop-out by someone who’s not willing to take responsibility for their mistakes, and the repercussion of their mistakes. It can also, as many above have commented, be presented as a request to you to deal with the fact that people make mistakes, and it’s part of being human.

One possibility is to explore what it is about this that angers you so much…if you take a moment now to kind of “sink” into your anger, at whom is it directed? Is it actually about this person? It may be, and it may not be. This kind of reaction can sometimes actually be about someone or something from long ago and far away….

Not trying to be a therapist .. just hoping to offer useful stuff that I’ve come across that’s drastically improved the quality of my life. : )

I think it is occassionally a cop-out. and if it is often a particular person’s comment I think it might indicate an iffy IQ

How about“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life”? who the hell other’s life are you looking out of ?!!!

It is merely the recognition of a terminal condition.. one which has lots of side effects.

In one way it makes no sense to say: (one doesn’t repeatedly say “I’m happy” whilst smiling)

In another way it makes perfect sense: (While puking someone might say “I feel sick”)

Is it just an excuse for Failing?
What is failing other than not meeting a prescribed objective of “someone”? And depending upon whose objective it is makes the difference in how much humanity is involved.

This kind of thing makes you mad? Why?

Why does this make you angry? You’ve never disappointed somebody and said “Well, I’m sorry, but I’m only human! And humans do make mistakes.” Really?

Humans are errant beings. That’s all the saying means.

What I find interesting is that most people who’ve answered said they’ve used this phrase to mean that they’re not perfect/a god when people expect too much of them. My first thought was that I use it when people are treating me like dirt/an animal/something subhuman.

I am human and I need to be loved…Just like everybody else does….

Acceptance is the answer to all of our “problems”. There will always be fallibility, there will always be those who will be unable to or unwilling to try to “see things your way”, think harder, get “smarter“or whatever. If it makes you angry then that can be pointing out a character flaw of intolerance which needs to be addressed within you most likely springing from the example of a rigid authority figure in your own life.
Go watch the genius of Beavis and Butthead and eat a Twinkie. You’ll be happier.