How easily people on the internet lose faith in humanity

LouieW

Abyss_Worm,
You've hit the nail on the head. Applying traits to an entire species
based on the actions of a few is rather absurd, not to mention falling
neatly into a common form of prejudice.

I agree with that statement. I think that saying that people are inherently bad because of one's negative personal experiences with others is similar to saying that people who are white are inherently bad because one was harmed by a white person.

On a somewhat related note, I think it is pretty silly to talk about how humanity as a whole is bad and that we need to exterminate people or take other drastic measures like that. I believe that approach is really just giving up. I find that ironic considering how often (though admittedly not always) such statements are paired with arrogant remarks about how one is better than everyone else and thus one should be able to overrule their wishes. I do not know many people who think that being a quitter is a positive trait after all. I certainly do not believe that one with such a trait is qualified to be some supreme judge of humanity.

Vorpy,
Atheists losing faith always makes me laugh.

If they can't have faith in God, a generally perfect being, then how can they even pretend to have faith in other humans?

I think the problem with that argument is that when people generally say they have lost faith in humanity,  I do not believe they go from a level of complete faith (i.e. the kind of thing you mention about a god) to absolutely no faith. I am pretty sure that when most people talk about having or losing faith in humanity they are referring to any faith whatsoever.

I doubt most people who do trust people do so to the same extent that an average Christian would trust God for example, so I believe losing faith in humanity is a lot different than losing faith in a perfect divine being.