Philosoraptor

Yes, putting your hope in man always leads to disappointment.

Is true hope necessarily limited to things that won't disappoint?

Possibly: According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Christian hope is “the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1817).

Ah so. I didn't realize true hope was a peculiarly Christian ideal. Eh, false hope is still better than no hope.

Man failed a long time ago. We've been screwed for centuries

That's an excellent point! Hope isn't a wager staked on a bet, and its validity isn't based on outcome. Its merit is in the palliative effect it has on the spirit. The gamble then, irrespective of circumstance, is how long a person can endure a hopeless existence.

At least when it comes to shit like battling cancer or waiting to find a missing loved one. Hoping for black 26 is a horse of a different color...