# Why do we have observations of "Human"?

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/why-do-we-have-observations-of-human/13807>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [June 27, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/why-do-we-have-observations-of-human/13807 "2020-06-27T17:02:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![cmcheatle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cmcheatle/32/37_2.png) [@cmcheatle](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cmcheatle)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/why-do-we-have-observations-of-human/13807/2 "2020-06-27T17:14:02Z")

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They are permitted for a couple of reasons:

- humans are a part of the biosphere and the tree of life
- it is not uncommon for users learning to use the app or site to use a selfie etc. Suspending them or deleting their records could be demotivating to remain
- it is clearly stated in the help file that while permitted, they should be kept to a small number
- the same argument about recognition, distribution could be made for many species, Mallard as an example
- anything identified as human is automatically hidden from most places on the site unless you specifically choose to search for them.

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