A Study In Nihilism
I love Wisecrack because it makes you think. Philosophy has long been one of my favorite hobbies. One of their latest videos really hit me and made me reflect on why nihilism has always resonated with me. I can't say I've read all of the books on the subject(only Nietzsche) and these guys always throw new philosophers at me. Check out the video then check out my reflection of self.
All nihilists are substance abusers because that's their way of fighting the physiological chemicals that constantly try to tell them things have meaning(i.e love physiologically making the connection needed to breed and care for offspring). Notice I said abusers not addicts. I suspect most of them know this that's why you always see them abusing substances but never addicted to them. When you know the purpose you can't become psychologically addicted. When you're in full control psychologically the physical addiction isn't allowed to manifest because on a subconscious level you're controlling the chemical process that would cause physical addiction.
Thinking about this all I think I'm a different kind of nihilist. A hybrid of the two if you will. I don't have a name for it but I'm that type of person that almost nothing bothers me. I call this "nihilistic peace". I know nothing matters except for the meaning I assign it. I know these meanings are chemical reactions in my brain but I can direct the neuropathways to continue this meaning or discontinue it(habit built through repetition). I guess you can think of it as self-programming. The more you practice the easier it is to do. In a word: choice. Life has meaning because of these choices. Life in the general or overall sense has meaning because everyone in the world makes these same type choices even if they aren't aware of it. So collectively these IS meaning but only that we've collectively assigned. Most aren't aware so I never judge anyone too harshly. I find it fairly easy to see why they made the choices they did at the most basic level. There's not much weight of responsibility on me to cause anxiety because I'm the one who determined the basis of the responsibility 1,5, or 1000 choices ago. It's all on me. And when you realise that your free to make the world as cool or as shitty as you want.