As much as some people would lead us to believe otherwise, freedom to do as we please is not true freedom. The perception of autonomy bringing happiness lends itself to addictive practices, loneliness, isolation, and torpedoing relationships. Who likes to be in a relationship with someone who is self-centered?

In April 2025, the FBI began using the term Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) to describe a new and deeply troubling type of attacker, someone who harms or kills simply because they believe nothing really matters.