Two "critiques" of Objectivism I've noticed over the past few months are:

1. "Ayn Rand did x therefore all objectvists would do it."
2. "Some objectivists are x, therefore all objectivists are x."

I use the term objectivist when most often people making these claims say "Ayn Rand fans."

Here's the problem with these claims, they're completely false because they ignore the number one factor that makes induction difficult when discussing people--individuality.

I posted an article this morning that demonstrates this type of thinking. It, as so many before it, critiques objectivism from the perspective of women on online dating sites disqualifying men because the men list Rand, Atlas Shrugged, or objectivism on their profiles. Somehow these women saying those men are dicks is supposed to mean that objectivism is an unrealistic philosophy.

Look, to be completely honest, I've encountered my fair share of objectivists who are dicks. But I've also encountered my fair share of non-objectivists who are dicks. The truth is, in any group and under any label, there are going to be bad people AND people you aren't going to get along with who there's nothing wrong with. By using induction improperly in the manner I've noted here, EVERY trait that could be used to group people would have to be disqualified.