I've noticed like many words in philosophy and religion, there is a connotation and denotation to the words "nihilism" and "nihilist." It's like many -ism words, in that people often use them in ways that are connotations, and not the actual denotation.
It's like stoicism; most don't know what it is or anything about it. Nihilism isn't necessarily this horrible, negative, empty thing that makes people evil or hateful. Here's an example: is killing wrong? Most would immediately say "Of course it is!" But what if that person is torturing a child and will murder that child? Well, suddenly killing that bad guy doesn't seem all that bad. Is stealing wrong? Of course it is! What about the old tales of starving people stealing for their families?
Thinking that values are subjective and that there is no overlying rhyme or reason or some deity overseeing us isn't necessarily horrible. Make your own purpose, make your own goal, and make your own decisions.
But that's just, like, my opinion, man.
