Something that I have noticed recently in the English language, and I do not know if it is something only a few other word-nerds would notice, is that when the word 'human' is used as an adjective, the phrase or term it is used in suddenly becomes much more pointed and relatable to the reader. If I were to say, "let's play murder scrabble," it would come off as a morbid attempt at humor, but with no substance. When John Hodgman, however, said, "we'll play the most dangerous game: human-murder-scrabble," the term feels much more real and connected to the entirety of the audience.
I believe it has to do with the inescapable label of 'human' that all readers and audience members subscribe to, by their being. To say something is applied to human's or is in someway related to the human condition means that it is in someway related to all of the audience, a sample of humanity. Humans, being individuals by nature, like to pick and choose their labels. When something is part of being human, particularly when murder is involved, humanity is forced to reconcile the sting of knowing that they are unable to escape the only requirement for mortality. For some, this is the fuel that causes them to rage at the dying of the light and become something more than human by being an extraordinary individual.
This leads me to believe that it is human nature, if not just a personal philosophy, that we should all strive to be something greater than human and individuals who rise above the crowd. - Cheers
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