NEW: The Messages on the Bullets are From a Video Game
The phrases engraved on the bullets found by law enforcement during the investigation into the shooting of Charlie Kirk come from a video game called Helldivers2
I’m noticing the corporate media is relying heavily on the fact that the shooter - now in custody - engraved anti-fascist rhetoric on some of the bullets found at the scene. But to tie those phrases to actual anti-fascist movements, or Democrats, is a mistake.
The phrases engraved on the bullets include “Hey fascist! catch!”, “Notices, bulges”, “If you can read this, your’e gay lmao”, the lyrics to O Bella, Bella Ciao, and a series of arrows. As Anna Bower from Lawfare put it: Watching the cable news commentary on the bullet engravings is wild because none of these people seem to realize that the content of the engravings are indicative of extremely online meme brain rot.
Alexandra Matheiu sums it up nicely: A friend and I have been debating whether the alleged Kirk shooter was either a "dirtbag left cumtown chapo stupidpol poster" or if he was an "irony poisoned, terminally online, neonazi groyper type" given the gun casings, which shows just how impenetrable this is going to be for MSM.
But most of these phrases come from a video game.
In the game, you are from Super Earth in the 22nd century, which is now a united planet under a system called “managed democracy.” Managed democracy is an authoritarian state that uses propaganda to convince citizens they’re in a democracy. The game satirizes authoritarianism and nationalism. So “Hey fascist! Catch!” is irony. It’s self-referential. The players are essentially role playing as the bad guys while engaging in dialogue that criticizes the regime they serve.
O Bella, Bella Ciao is an anti-fascist anthem used ironically in montages from the game. The series of arrows, which the WSJ reported as signifying “transgender ideology” is actually the controller sequence to drop a 500kg bomb in the game.
From a Helldivers2 Reddit
Finally, “Notices, bulges” and “If you can read this, you’re gay lmao” are online gaming insults/memes.
The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is registered as a non-partisan voter in Utah. His parents are both registered Republicans. So I’m going to go with “irony poisoned, terminally online, neonazi groyper type,” but I’m sure we’ll learn more soon.
~AG
I hope this gets through the noise. You’re a gem AG. Thank you!
As someone who actually wrote a memo about Discord and the rise of fascism in the gaming communities there when I had an office at West Point, all I can say is thank you! Nobody is paying attention to what these sad lonely creatures are doing there. Jack Teixeira posted his battle plans there. My favorite videogame for the past several years has been Workers and Resources: Soviet Republic. The only thing my bullet casing would have said is: "Invest early and often in infrastructure and education, or else your shit will go south." It's a great game, but someone needs to call attention to this facet of society and how it's programming young men.