Editor's Note: Smile, You're Gaming

[Cowabungaa]

One thing I've noticed in various places around the Internet is a growing trend of nihilism. And while I understand the concept intellectually, I don't understand it emotionally. Things like, if you hate everyone, then why the heck are you involved in a forum at all? Then it hit me - it's "cool" to be nihilistic, just like it was "cool" to be an anarchist in the Punk era, and "cool" to be depressed and suicidal in the Emo era (which we appear to finally be leaving). And to a "cool" nihilist, what could be cooler than destroying nearly everything?

That is not what nihilism means.
"Nihilism (from the Latin nihil, nothing) is a philosophical position that argues that existence is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. Nihilists generally assert that objective morality does not exist, so subsequently there is no objective moral value with which to uphold a rule or to logically prefer one action over another."
You are mistaking "being a dick" for "being a nihilist," and while I am, on occasions, a bit of both, I'd prefer you didn't mix the two.
Sorry, that just bothers me.

Nihilism is what you said, yes. "Cool" nihilism is hating everything and wanting to destroy it all. No offense intended to any 'real' Nihilists out there. The word is developing a second meaning based on how the average person percieves and understands it. That's how a living language works.

In the same way, REAL Anarchy is a state where leaders are not required, because people have the intrinsic ability to self-govern. Anarchy as too many people portray and understand it is pure chaos where the government is overthrown and people fend for themselves.

I think that's how Anarchy is portrayed because it's not actually a viable system. The reality is, very few people are capable of self-governing, so the world would probably fall into a state of disarray without laws and leaders, I'm sad to say.
And no offense taken.

Not just that, it's simply now how humans work, If government would be overthrown, and there would be no leaders, weaker people would gather behind stronger people and form tribes, and voila: there are the leaders again. Humans are hard-wired to be pack animals, our current nation system is as natural as it can get

 

[Valandar]

Not to mention that there are people out there that just aren't 'wired' to self-govern. Some through stupidity, others through sociopathic tendencies.

And interesting as this is, it does show why a lot of people don't like PVP online gaming. No true leaders, or leaders with no real authority, with hordes of people unleashing whatever chaos they want to because they can get away with it. At least, that's been my experience with PVP MMO's.

 

[Tirmoggles]

I'm not sure it's an 'either or'. I enjoy a challenging game, and even if I'm swearing, throwing the controller onto the couch, or pleading to an uncaring gawd for some divine guidance, I am having fun. But after a night of, say, trying to get the Legendary Axe in Fable II, I love to unwind with Castle Crashers.

Although 'unwinding' after playing a game seems a bit odd, but there it is.