Whenever I set about to study the meaning of a term, the first thing I do is consult the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary (W1828). When I first discovered W1828, I was surprised to learn that many words that are in common usage today did not exist in English at that time. The terms "nihilist" and "nihilism" are two such words. The reason I recently looked into these terms is because I am often accused of being a nihilist, which, if you understand the proper definition, you begin to realize is a term that people apply their own morality or politics to and then attempt to wield as a weapon in their fantasyland (online) excursions, much like fascist or racist.

Oxford Online Dictionary defines “nihilism” as:

the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless

They add two references: the first philosophical, the second historical.

PHILOSOPHY

extreme skepticism maintaining that nothing in the world has a real existence

HISTORICAL

the doctrine of an extreme Russian revolutionary party c. 1900 which found nothing to approve of in the established social order

It’s clear that when you see the terms nihilist or nihilism hurled today, they rarely have any connection to the original meaning behind the terms. So what are they meant to communicate?

In my personal experience, the accusation that one is a nihilist is used by smooth-brained people you may happen to disagree with on practical solutions, especially when discussing cultural and political matters. Apparently, if you do not adopt their vision of how to fix society, no matter how asinine it may be, you reject all religious and moral principles and believe that life is meaningless. The question is then raised as to why you would even consider allying with someone after they prove themselves to be functionally retarded.

If I disagree with your solutions as to how to cure the cultural and political crisis we suffer, I’m going to tell you just that: I disagree. I might even ask why you’re not wearing a foam helmet because it’s obvious you’re struggling with some kind of mental disorder and are in danger of hurting yourself by bumping into sharp objects. However, I’m certainly not going to use the term nihilist if you are genuinely looking for answers, because that act alone would negate the term.

If you get out of bed in the morning, worry about your family, and do everything you can to make their lives better than your own, you’re not a nihilist. If you examine the solutions I recommend and think I should be the one wearing a helmet while continuing to do things you believe are best for you and yours, neither of us are nihilists. We both want what’s best for those we care about and the world around us. The people hurling the term nihilist around are in the same class as those who throw around any other pejorative that has been made meaningless by the fantasyland that is social media. We need to keep moving forward, building what will best help us to not only survive but thrive. When you think about it, we know instinctively what the best solutions are to get us past the horror much of this society has become. The only thing to do now is act on those solutions. Once you do, I promise, you won’t want to stop.