The term 'earthling' is used to describe inhabitants of the earth from the perspective of a non-earth-dweller, originally God (when the term was first recorded in 1593), but later and most popularly aliens in science fiction. From this perspective, being an earthling isn't just a question of planetary residence. It's also about having distinct qualities that mark us out from other beings. The essence of earthlingness, if you like. These qualities are important, and we ignore or suppress them at our peril.

Earthlings are emotional. That's pretty obvious – Spock is always going on about it. We can be frustratingly illogical. But that's just the start of what makes an earthling an earthling.

Earthlings are funny. Aliens are not noted for their sense of humour, so this is a clear distinction. (On the rare occasions that aliens do display a sense of humour, as in the famous Smash 'Martians' ad once voted the best TV commercial of the 20th century, they can be very funny indeed.)

Earthlings are creative. They just can't stop drawing. Alien art is rare, at least in movies. Earthlings also enjoy dancing and attach immense importance to music, while aliens tend to prefer odd noises.

Earthlings are empathetic. Aliens often lack empathy to an extreme degree, like the alien in Alien. Empathy is often what enables earthlings to win in the end, which they do surprisingly often despite displaying copious amounts of rashness and stupidity at first.

Earthlings bravely resist subjugation. Don Quixote, Katniss Everdeen, and Will Smith in Independence Day are classic earthlings, remarkably brave even if they sometimes pick the wrong target.

Understanding earthlingness matters because things are moving pretty fast. There's lots to think about and lots to get right. Everyone feels pressure to produce, and to avoid mistakes. That's business. But it shouldn't lead us to forget that we are employing, partnering, or selling not just to efficient and subservient data points, but to earthlings, with all their intriguing features and curious qualities. When those are forgotten or suppressed then brands become boring, workplaces become bleak, and earthling ingenuity eventually finds another way.

*A reader has drawn our attention to a Tiktok that purports to show a Dalek actually dancing. So let's just say Daleks don't NORMALLY dance, OK? Anyway, for a real Dalek it looks suspiciously bouncy.