The conservative broadcaster/provocateur Charlie Kirk—murdered this week during a visit to a Utah college—had tweeted some life advice this summer: "When things are moving very fast and people are losing their minds, it’s important to stay grounded. Turn off your phone, read scripture, spend time with friends, and remember internet fury is not real life. It’s going to be ok."
Kirk was not himself always a great role model for staying grounded, thoughtful, or caring to others. He was better known for "look at me" stunts like offering completely unsolicited commentary upon Taylor Swift's engagement, calling the singer a "cat lady" and telling her to "engage in reality more," to "reject feminism," and to "submit to your husband" because "you're not in charge."
But his advice itself isn't all bad. Social media so often feeds most hungrily upon our darker emotions; constant reinforcement of anger, fear, frustration, and even jealously (FOMO, anyone?) cannot possibly be good for us to marinate in so often. Maintaining a connection to the physical world and the physical presence of others can be immensely stabilizing—sometimes even helpfully "boring"—after we become too addicted to the rush of emotions caused by one more Internet outrage.
Kirk was wrong about two things in that tweet, though. First, "Internet fury" is quite clearly real life. And two, things may not "be ok" even after you set down the phone and are sitting beneath a tent in Utah, talking to students.
Authorities announced today that, after several incorrect detentions, they are reasonably certain they have arrested Kirk's shooter. Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, said at a press conference that the shooter's bullets were covered with various bits of graffiti, including:
“Notices bulge OwO what’s this?” (online meme involving furries)
“Hey fascist! Catch!”
“Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao”
“If you read this you are gay LMAO”
There was also a series of markings described as "up arrow, right arrow, and three down arrow symbols." The New York Times described these as a possible "reference to a sequence of controller moves that unleashes bombs in the popular video game Helldivers 2."