"The moment I saw your "I'm leaving Twitter for good" tweet, I could practically hear my friends preparing their condolences. Yes, it's that serious.
See, I’ve kind of given myself this honorary badge of being your non-intrusive stalker. (harmless, I promise). In fact, it's something I think I'm pretty good at. No matter the accounts you create or the number of times you change your handle, just from the way the words are put together, the voice tucked between the lines, I can tell it's you. I remember when you switched from vunderkind to xylemic, I was unreasonably proud of myself for recognizing you immediately while others needed a few tweets (and possibly an announcement) to catch on. The smugness was real. You'd think I was winning an award.
I genuinely loved reading your tweets - particularly the ones about your girlfriend because who doesn't love love. And somehow feeling a sense of parasocial knowing. Along the way, I picked up bits of your story: your faith (past & maybe upcoming present?), your family, the dog you legit fostered (how’s he doing, by the way?). In truth, I loved your tweets because they made my mind giggle - a respite that I was always happy to see pop up on my feed.
Tbh when I saw "here's my eulogy" I chuckled, definitely didn't expect something half as serious, and I did think...eulogy for social media, isn't that a bit much? But it isn't. There's so much effort to grow a following (trust me, I'm trying to make a living at this) - it's no small feat to say goodbye to what's been a big part of you, who you are, your life, something that's documented you.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Twitter, Elon, Rick & Morty, MCU and truly about Fey. I want to say you'd be missed, but really this isn't a piece asking for an opinion. It's one of looking back and working through some hard shit.
(And also, full transparency: the algorithm already led me to you on other platforms. Not creepily! Just... algorithmically.)
Rooting for you always. Shalom & farewell, @vunderkind.(still the superior handle – we don't claim xylemic in this house)
I am sorry about the loss of your friend. I don’t believe I can imagine the pain you feel, being disconnected from someone you deeply care about. I understand what it means to want to give someone your love, time, and care and be hindered for reasons beyond your control. And I send my deepest condolences.
Reading this brought a mix of clarity, discomfort and sadness. You might not remember me reaching out on threads, but it feels nice knowing you never stopped writing or sharing your random musings.
Finding your account was one of the best things that happened to me. And this was when I newly created mine. In a sea of content creators and engagement farmers—tautology—I’d never seen such a beautiful writer and multitalented person before.
The best part about discovering your account was knowing that all of your talents weren’t innate. You spent time and energy crafting each and every skill. Your account brought knowledge and comfort in a sea of misinformation and shitposts. Thanks to you, I still try to improve my writing. I see life as a constant journey of learning, and I know it is possible to become exceptional at the many interests I have.
You are the reason I understand what “is this loss” means. The reason why I read so many explainers on the use of em dashes and semicolons in my second year. The reason why I started reading poetry so I can become a better writer. The reason I even listened to “The Guy” album, and probably much more. I am nowhere close to writing as good as you do, so seeing Elon make the internet worse—again—is deeply heartbreaking.
I still keep a lot of screenshots of your tweets, lol. I would prefer it if you didn’t delete this account, so posterity would have a chance at getting a glimpse of what life on Twitter was before führer bought it.
I found you through Twitter and you probably don't know if but you talked me through one of my darkest moments via curious cat. Left Twitter myself 2 years ago or so. Thank you for being, Vundie. Sending you all the peace and love in the world in grappling with Fey's departure 🖤
I remember the incel discourse and I still maintain my stance on how the word has somehow benefitted from the volatility that accompanies politics of naming. The conversation was a nuanced one but people on twitter often see things in black and white.
Sorry about the loss of your friend, Fey and thankful for our conversations on the app. It’s nice to still have you on Substack and looking forward to your next post!
The true mystery of that Twitter is that it ever existed. A space where ordinary people could do the online equivalent of shouting half-formed thoughts into a vacuum, with the risk of being heard, but with little lasting cost to themselves.
Nowhere else gave people permission to process thoughts so publicly, unpolished, in real time, with the chance that someone might answer back.
As the crowd grew, the scrutiny did too. People brought their most curated selves and demanded yours too.
Perhaps the everyday person was never meant to have a space that doubled as a journal and watering hole. But it was really a gift to get into the minds of witty, intelligent, and strange people while we had the chance.
I met you through Twitter and for that I am immensely grateful. I'm sorry for your loss with Fey. I pray it gets easier for you to manage as time goes on. Stay awesome man.
This feels surreal. Knowing you for as long as I've known you, it already feels like I'm losing a part of my community.
I bought a book for you once because I wanted to let you know that I appreciated being connected to you in some way. It was my way of (physically) thanking you for being who you were on Twitter.
The app is no longer what it used to be but with you and others like you in it, there was always a reason to log back in and be mesmerized by how you made such a difference in what has become a cesspit.
Still, I wish you all the best Justin, Vunderkind, Mogwai, Xylemic.
I didn't know you through Twitter but I use to read your comics when life was a bit hard back then, it made be laugh. Life is still hard but for a whole different reason. I hope to know you better with time.
I never really knew you personally but I had come across your tweets a couple of times and I'm not sure if it was just a crazy coincidence, but whenever I saw them, it was always a stance or opinion I disagreed with.
This was mostly because I didn't know you well enough. You came off like someone who always wanted to be contrarian for the fuck of it. It was a bit much — I didn't understand why someone who was apparently as smart as you seemed, would need to be contrarian for the sake of it, and not because you really believed in the unpopular opinions you held on a lot of issues.
Having read this article, I have come to realize that I didn't really know you well and I might have jumped into conclusions based off a few stances I didn't agree with. I might not have agreed with many of your tweets but in the grand scheme of things, a lot of nuance and context gets lost between all the noise on Twitter. It's one of those things I've made my peace with, and now I just curate my TL based on people who I think are reasonable (my attempt not to throw the baby away with the bath water).
As someone who gets misunderstood a lot (in real life and on social media), I can relate to a lot of things you said and I understand your decision. Twitter has become an echo chamber of negativity and herd mentality. The "feminists" and "meninists" are the worst factions that make it unbearable (air quotes empazising the ones who have bastardized the true meaning of the ideology).
However, unlike you, I do not have a cult following and I frankly do not give a fuck what people online think or say about me. I would die before I let online trolls get me to lock my account, let alone delete my Twitter.
That being said, I understand you putting your mental health and your real life well-being above this virtual persona and all that came with it. I kind of wish I got to know you in person, I'm sure we would have got along much better. I also wish you were stubborn / unwavering enough to not care so much when people on the Internet misunderstand you or intentionally misconstrue your tweets to push their agenda. Disingenuity is now the order of the day and agenda is an orphan.
I do hope that you realize that a lot more people appreciated you and what you stood for, than those that didn't.. and going by the comments to this article alone, albeit a small sample size, you did leave a positive impact on a lot of people.
I wish you the best in your endeavors and I hope you come back at some point, because fuck em!
I have followed you for more than a decade across all my Twitter accounts because I thought your mind was among the most brilliant I've ever had the pleasure of encountering.
I still hold the same view-even as I type this.
I watched as you evolved through the many forms it took for you to become this person....I am glad I had the pleasure to observe it albeit from a distance.
Sorry about Fey, grief is an inexplicable thing. The forms it takes and the ways it manifests can get quite frustrating. I hope with time you will find a way to coexist with it(it never really goes away).
I'm so sorry for your loss Justin. Your mark on TwitterNg (Bunsoir, still tickles me till this day)will resonate through time. I hope we can one day correct course. We will all leave twitter, one way or another. Take care of yourself, Mogwai.
Why do I relate with many parts of this article? I didn’t know of you on Twitter and given my reputation there, we may have had an exchange. I recently left Twitter too—hard, but it was a necessary evil to preserve myself, refocus on heavier conversations and be far from propagandists who tainted my image with their half baked opinions over ideological differences.
I remember in 2013 or so, when I was a teenager and started interacting with the things you used to write on Twitter.
You made writing look so cool to teenage me, who quickly created a WordPress account, “The SomethingSomething of Awesomeness” I think I called it that, and I interacted with you regularly. You always RT’d and dropped comments on the blog as well, just to show some encouragement.
I don’t know if you actually liked my writing or if you were simply encouraging some guy who was relentless in tagging you to hot mid, but it gave me confidence, and I carried that into other things in my life.
I no longer write now, but I never forgot Vundie.
You don’t know me, but seeing you post your “eulogy” made me feel like someone I know will be gone for good. It felt a little like that after you changed handles, but even more so now.
So, I’m here to say thank you.
I’m also sorry about everything you had to push through, especially the loss of your friend. Please accept my sincerest sympathies.
I really wish you the best in everything else you are up to.
ah well, we will miss you on Twitter. Maybe one day, we would join you to leave it behind too. I hope you at least enjoyed the finale of Rick and Morty S8 - I thought it was great.
I've followed you on twitter forever, your wit is unmatched. Its sad to see you leave twitter but everyone understands that the place has gone to shit. I hope you continue to write here on substack though.
I remember days when I used to come back from lectures and lay on the bed reading your tweets on the diverse topics you commented on. You've had an impact in the way I view the world and I thank you for that.
Also love your style of writing and sense of humor, Sweet lad.
Sorry for the loss of your friend.
You will be greatly missed Justin.
pls don't delete the account though, 'cause I still visit your page to read your tweets.
"The moment I saw your "I'm leaving Twitter for good" tweet, I could practically hear my friends preparing their condolences. Yes, it's that serious.
See, I’ve kind of given myself this honorary badge of being your non-intrusive stalker. (harmless, I promise). In fact, it's something I think I'm pretty good at. No matter the accounts you create or the number of times you change your handle, just from the way the words are put together, the voice tucked between the lines, I can tell it's you. I remember when you switched from vunderkind to xylemic, I was unreasonably proud of myself for recognizing you immediately while others needed a few tweets (and possibly an announcement) to catch on. The smugness was real. You'd think I was winning an award.
I genuinely loved reading your tweets - particularly the ones about your girlfriend because who doesn't love love. And somehow feeling a sense of parasocial knowing. Along the way, I picked up bits of your story: your faith (past & maybe upcoming present?), your family, the dog you legit fostered (how’s he doing, by the way?). In truth, I loved your tweets because they made my mind giggle - a respite that I was always happy to see pop up on my feed.
Tbh when I saw "here's my eulogy" I chuckled, definitely didn't expect something half as serious, and I did think...eulogy for social media, isn't that a bit much? But it isn't. There's so much effort to grow a following (trust me, I'm trying to make a living at this) - it's no small feat to say goodbye to what's been a big part of you, who you are, your life, something that's documented you.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Twitter, Elon, Rick & Morty, MCU and truly about Fey. I want to say you'd be missed, but really this isn't a piece asking for an opinion. It's one of looking back and working through some hard shit.
(And also, full transparency: the algorithm already led me to you on other platforms. Not creepily! Just... algorithmically.)
Rooting for you always. Shalom & farewell, @vunderkind.(still the superior handle – we don't claim xylemic in this house)
This was beautifully put.
I am sorry about the loss of your friend. I don’t believe I can imagine the pain you feel, being disconnected from someone you deeply care about. I understand what it means to want to give someone your love, time, and care and be hindered for reasons beyond your control. And I send my deepest condolences.
Reading this brought a mix of clarity, discomfort and sadness. You might not remember me reaching out on threads, but it feels nice knowing you never stopped writing or sharing your random musings.
Finding your account was one of the best things that happened to me. And this was when I newly created mine. In a sea of content creators and engagement farmers—tautology—I’d never seen such a beautiful writer and multitalented person before.
The best part about discovering your account was knowing that all of your talents weren’t innate. You spent time and energy crafting each and every skill. Your account brought knowledge and comfort in a sea of misinformation and shitposts. Thanks to you, I still try to improve my writing. I see life as a constant journey of learning, and I know it is possible to become exceptional at the many interests I have.
You are the reason I understand what “is this loss” means. The reason why I read so many explainers on the use of em dashes and semicolons in my second year. The reason why I started reading poetry so I can become a better writer. The reason I even listened to “The Guy” album, and probably much more. I am nowhere close to writing as good as you do, so seeing Elon make the internet worse—again—is deeply heartbreaking.
I still keep a lot of screenshots of your tweets, lol. I would prefer it if you didn’t delete this account, so posterity would have a chance at getting a glimpse of what life on Twitter was before führer bought it.
I found you through Twitter and you probably don't know if but you talked me through one of my darkest moments via curious cat. Left Twitter myself 2 years ago or so. Thank you for being, Vundie. Sending you all the peace and love in the world in grappling with Fey's departure 🖤
I remember the incel discourse and I still maintain my stance on how the word has somehow benefitted from the volatility that accompanies politics of naming. The conversation was a nuanced one but people on twitter often see things in black and white.
Sorry about the loss of your friend, Fey and thankful for our conversations on the app. It’s nice to still have you on Substack and looking forward to your next post!
The true mystery of that Twitter is that it ever existed. A space where ordinary people could do the online equivalent of shouting half-formed thoughts into a vacuum, with the risk of being heard, but with little lasting cost to themselves.
Nowhere else gave people permission to process thoughts so publicly, unpolished, in real time, with the chance that someone might answer back.
As the crowd grew, the scrutiny did too. People brought their most curated selves and demanded yours too.
Perhaps the everyday person was never meant to have a space that doubled as a journal and watering hole. But it was really a gift to get into the minds of witty, intelligent, and strange people while we had the chance.
I met you through Twitter and for that I am immensely grateful. I'm sorry for your loss with Fey. I pray it gets easier for you to manage as time goes on. Stay awesome man.
This feels surreal. Knowing you for as long as I've known you, it already feels like I'm losing a part of my community.
I bought a book for you once because I wanted to let you know that I appreciated being connected to you in some way. It was my way of (physically) thanking you for being who you were on Twitter.
The app is no longer what it used to be but with you and others like you in it, there was always a reason to log back in and be mesmerized by how you made such a difference in what has become a cesspit.
Still, I wish you all the best Justin, Vunderkind, Mogwai, Xylemic.
I didn't know you through Twitter but I use to read your comics when life was a bit hard back then, it made be laugh. Life is still hard but for a whole different reason. I hope to know you better with time.
I never really knew you personally but I had come across your tweets a couple of times and I'm not sure if it was just a crazy coincidence, but whenever I saw them, it was always a stance or opinion I disagreed with.
This was mostly because I didn't know you well enough. You came off like someone who always wanted to be contrarian for the fuck of it. It was a bit much — I didn't understand why someone who was apparently as smart as you seemed, would need to be contrarian for the sake of it, and not because you really believed in the unpopular opinions you held on a lot of issues.
Having read this article, I have come to realize that I didn't really know you well and I might have jumped into conclusions based off a few stances I didn't agree with. I might not have agreed with many of your tweets but in the grand scheme of things, a lot of nuance and context gets lost between all the noise on Twitter. It's one of those things I've made my peace with, and now I just curate my TL based on people who I think are reasonable (my attempt not to throw the baby away with the bath water).
As someone who gets misunderstood a lot (in real life and on social media), I can relate to a lot of things you said and I understand your decision. Twitter has become an echo chamber of negativity and herd mentality. The "feminists" and "meninists" are the worst factions that make it unbearable (air quotes empazising the ones who have bastardized the true meaning of the ideology).
However, unlike you, I do not have a cult following and I frankly do not give a fuck what people online think or say about me. I would die before I let online trolls get me to lock my account, let alone delete my Twitter.
That being said, I understand you putting your mental health and your real life well-being above this virtual persona and all that came with it. I kind of wish I got to know you in person, I'm sure we would have got along much better. I also wish you were stubborn / unwavering enough to not care so much when people on the Internet misunderstand you or intentionally misconstrue your tweets to push their agenda. Disingenuity is now the order of the day and agenda is an orphan.
I do hope that you realize that a lot more people appreciated you and what you stood for, than those that didn't.. and going by the comments to this article alone, albeit a small sample size, you did leave a positive impact on a lot of people.
I wish you the best in your endeavors and I hope you come back at some point, because fuck em!
So long!
I have followed you for more than a decade across all my Twitter accounts because I thought your mind was among the most brilliant I've ever had the pleasure of encountering.
I still hold the same view-even as I type this.
I watched as you evolved through the many forms it took for you to become this person....I am glad I had the pleasure to observe it albeit from a distance.
Sorry about Fey, grief is an inexplicable thing. The forms it takes and the ways it manifests can get quite frustrating. I hope with time you will find a way to coexist with it(it never really goes away).
All the best & keep been true to yourself...
I'm so sorry for your loss Justin. Your mark on TwitterNg (Bunsoir, still tickles me till this day)will resonate through time. I hope we can one day correct course. We will all leave twitter, one way or another. Take care of yourself, Mogwai.
Why do I relate with many parts of this article? I didn’t know of you on Twitter and given my reputation there, we may have had an exchange. I recently left Twitter too—hard, but it was a necessary evil to preserve myself, refocus on heavier conversations and be far from propagandists who tainted my image with their half baked opinions over ideological differences.
I remember in 2013 or so, when I was a teenager and started interacting with the things you used to write on Twitter.
You made writing look so cool to teenage me, who quickly created a WordPress account, “The SomethingSomething of Awesomeness” I think I called it that, and I interacted with you regularly. You always RT’d and dropped comments on the blog as well, just to show some encouragement.
I don’t know if you actually liked my writing or if you were simply encouraging some guy who was relentless in tagging you to hot mid, but it gave me confidence, and I carried that into other things in my life.
I no longer write now, but I never forgot Vundie.
You don’t know me, but seeing you post your “eulogy” made me feel like someone I know will be gone for good. It felt a little like that after you changed handles, but even more so now.
So, I’m here to say thank you.
I’m also sorry about everything you had to push through, especially the loss of your friend. Please accept my sincerest sympathies.
I really wish you the best in everything else you are up to.
It was a pleasure, mogwai.
ah well, we will miss you on Twitter. Maybe one day, we would join you to leave it behind too. I hope you at least enjoyed the finale of Rick and Morty S8 - I thought it was great.
I've followed you on twitter forever, your wit is unmatched. Its sad to see you leave twitter but everyone understands that the place has gone to shit. I hope you continue to write here on substack though.
I remember days when I used to come back from lectures and lay on the bed reading your tweets on the diverse topics you commented on. You've had an impact in the way I view the world and I thank you for that.
Also love your style of writing and sense of humor, Sweet lad.
Sorry for the loss of your friend.
You will be greatly missed Justin.
pls don't delete the account though, 'cause I still visit your page to read your tweets.