--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had called Brooke 'it'. That was…" description: "\"“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of a seria..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/dan-wells-2142_killer_i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-t_26680.jpg" --- # I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That… ![“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of a serial killer - they didn't think of other people as human, only as objects, because that made them easier to torture and kill. It was hard to hurt 'him'…” quote by Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/dan-wells-2142_killer_i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-t_26680.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/dan-wells-2142_killer_i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-t_26680.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/dan-wells-2142_killer_i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-t_26680.jpg) > ““I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of a serial killer - they didn't think of other people as human, only as objects, because that made them easier to torture and kill. It was hard to hurt 'him' or 'her', but easy to hurt 'it'. 'It' didn't have any feelings. 'It' didn't have any rights. 'It' was just a thing, and you could do whatever you wanted with it.”” [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on how dehumanizing language—referring to people as 'it'—facilitates cruelty by stripping away empathy and moral restraint. **In simple terms:** Language shapes moral perception. Key Takeaway Dehumanization enables violence. Themes psychology ethics language violence empathy Mood somber reflective cautionary Type philosophical warning testimonial When to use this quote - discussing hate speech - analyzing criminal mindsets - teaching empathy - examining propaganda - reviewing legal language Key Concepts objectification moral disengagement cognitive bias Practical Applications - ethical training for professionals - designing humane AI interfaces Questions to Reflect On - How does language influence our willingness to harm? - Can changing terminology reduce dehumanizing behavior? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brooke Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brooke-stupid-413962/) [Called Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-brooke-413960/) [Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer/) [Killer Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer-didn-413961/) [Serial killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serial-killer/) ## Related quotes > [“I fought a killer and didn’t even smudge my makeup.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-pressey/i-fought-a-killer-and-didn-t-even-smudge-my-makeup/) [Rose Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-pressey/) > [“Call me small again, and I’ll make sure you sing soprano for life.” Because this pint-sized killer didn’t take shit from nobody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-langlais/call-me-small-again-and-i-ll-make-sure-you-sing-soprano-for-life/) [Eve Langlais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-langlais/) > [“BODY OF LIES When he looked at her again, he gestured toward her attire. “I take it you haven’t packed anything yet.” “No.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deirdre-savoy/body-of-lies-when-he-looked-at-her-again-he-gestured-toward-her/) [Deirdre Savoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deirdre-savoy/) > [Physically, no one would ever consider me for the serial-killer lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/physically-no-one-would-ever-consider-me-for-the-serial-killer-lady/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [“For what it was worth he already knew he resembled a pissed off serial killer most of the time, he was completely fine about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/for-what-it-was-worth-he-already-knew-he-resembled-a-pissed-off/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [Since 1966, hundreds of books have been published that follow murderers along their paths of destruction. Every serial killer, it seems, now has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/since-1966-hundreds-of-books-have-been-published-that-follow/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [I wouldn't call and tell anybody on him, but I'd probably move. But I'm not gonna call and be like, 'The serial killer's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-ron/i-wouldn-t-call-and-tell-anybody-on-him-but-i-d-probably-move-but-i-m/) [Cam'ron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-ron/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“I don't think he could ever be a serial killer. He's way too shy. That Ted Bundy guy, he was pretty outgoing , from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/i-don-t-think-he-could-ever-be-a-serial-killer-he-s-way-too-shy-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“It was quite obvious that without severe behavior modification, this boy would grow up to be a serial killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-was-quite-obvious-that-without-severe-behavior-modification-this/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [Often, a serial killer has no felony record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-brown/often-a-serial-killer-has-no-felony-record/) [Pat Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-brown/) > [For me, the scariest thing about a serial killer is that there's somebody who lives next door to you, running power tools late into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/for-me-the-scariest-thing-about-a-serial-killer-is-that-there-s/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [“There are questions that run through your head when you find out that you’re a serial killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-human/there-are-questions-that-run-through-your-head-when-you-find-out-that/) [Charlie Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-human/) > [“Serial killer aren't creative." "Watch a little Dexter and get back to me on that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/serial-killer-aren-t-creative-watch-a-little-dexter-and-get-back-to/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [You know, I read the papers and I watch the news a lot. I watch 'Dateline' and '48 Hours'. And I think we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/you-know-i-read-the-papers-and-i-watch-the-news-a-lot-i-watch/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) ## More by Dan Wells > [“I’ve picked a side,” she said darkly. “And everyone’s on it. And that’s exactly who I’m going to save.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-ve-picked-a-side-she-said-darkly-and-everyone-s-on-it-and-that-s/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“You're talking to me and I'm not scary." Said Kira. "Yes you are!" said Afa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/you-re-talking-to-me-and-i-m-not-scary-said-kira-yes-you-are-said-afa/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Curing RM is in the realm of magical pixies and talking dogs that piss whiskey. It's impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/curing-rm-is-in-the-realm-of-magical-pixies-and-talking-dogs-that/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“She thought no one could see her. I thought she was beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/she-thought-no-one-could-see-her-i-thought-she-was-beautiful/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Facts are too busy being true to worry about how you feel about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/facts-are-too-busy-being-true-to-worry-about-how-you-feel-about-them/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [My wit is like your legs," said Xochi. " It would be selfish of me to keep it hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/my-wit-is-like-your-legs-said-xochi-it-would-be-selfish-of-me-to-keep/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“If you can’t know the truth,” said Isolde, “live the most awesome lie you can think of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/if-you-can-t-know-the-truth-said-isolde-live-the-most-awesome-lie-you/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Skousen remembered a world falling apart. Kira remembered a world pulling together to save itself. That was the difference. That was why Skousen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/skousen-remembered-a-world-falling-apart-kira-remembered-a-world/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Finally Marcus stepped forward. "If you insist on going through me to get him, it's your call. But I warn you, I will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/finally-marcus-stepped-forward-if-you-insist-on-going-through-me-to/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“We're taking you to the hospital,' it said, 'you're going into shock. Can you tell us how you feel?' 'I feel ...' What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/we-re-taking-you-to-the-hospital-it-said-you-re-going-into-shock-can/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [I stared at her closely, studying her face, her eyes, everything. This was the angel that tamed a demon; the soul that trapped him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-stared-at-her-closely-studying-her-face-her-eyes-everything-this/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“So, your plan is to murder a superior enemy army," said Tovar, "and then outrun the wind. I'm glad it's so simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/so-your-plan-is-to-murder-a-superior-enemy-army-said-tovar-and-then/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Love's not the point. We just do what we always do, and we get by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/love-s-not-the-point-we-just-do-what-we-always-do-and-we-get-by/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Even a paranoid clock is being followed twice a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/even-a-paranoid-clock-is-being-followed-twice-a-day/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) [Explore all 175 Dan Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) ## More Killer quotes > [I've heard from the movie marketplace that James Cameron did such a killer job with 'Titanic' that it's almost impossible to do anything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/i-ve-heard-from-the-movie-marketplace-that-james-cameron-did-such-a/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [I love making movies, and being in any that I can be in. I'd like to be in those giant movies, as the fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-making-movies-and-being-in-any-that-i-can-be-in-i-d-like-to-be/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [You know, I read the papers and I watch the news a lot. I watch 'Dateline' and '48 Hours'. And I think we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/you-know-i-read-the-papers-and-i-watch-the-news-a-lot-i-watch/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [Sterility: killer of motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/sterility-killer-of-motherhood/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“If by ‘foe’ you mean a brutal killer, then I suppose I’d fall into the ‘friend’ category,” I replied cynically. “Although in your case,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/if-by-foe-you-mean-a-brutal-killer-then-i-suppose-i-d-fall-into-the/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [“Serial killer aren't creative." "Watch a little Dexter and get back to me on that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/serial-killer-aren-t-creative-watch-a-little-dexter-and-get-back-to/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [Fear is a killer, when it comes to the creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baldwin/fear-is-a-killer-when-it-comes-to-the-creative-process/) [Adam Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baldwin/) > [I stepped on a Cornflake, and now I am a cereal killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-stepped-on-a-cornflake-and-now-i-am-a-cereal-killer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Killer Joe' provides a lot of red meat for the theater. Pam MacKinnon is the perfect director to shepherd a group of actors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-provides-a-lot-of-red-meat-for-the-theater-pam-mackinnon/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Greg Jackson is a sport killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-white/greg-jackson-is-a-sport-killer/) [Dana White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-white/) > [The trainee knew he should leave, but he was unable to look away. He'd never seen anything snap out so fast or strike so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-trainee-knew-he-should-leave-but-he-was-unable-to-look-away-he-d/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“A real friend is not always busy.Not when he has all your money. -The killer(comics).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matz/a-real-friend-is-not-always-busy-not-when-he-has-all-your-money-the/) [Matz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matz/) > [I bought tiny infant onesies while still in college and compiled a killer toy collection throughout my 20s and 30s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/i-bought-tiny-infant-onesies-while-still-in-college-and-compiled-a/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [“There are questions that run through your head when you find out that you’re a serial killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-human/there-are-questions-that-run-through-your-head-when-you-find-out-that/) [Charlie Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-human/) > [“If I am to choose between integrity and wealth, I will go for integrity because I believe that lack of integrity is the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-i-am-to-choose-between-integrity-and-wealth-i-will-go-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) [Browse all 506 Killer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of a serial killer - they didn't think of other people as human, only as objects, because that made them easier to torture and kill. It was hard to hurt 'him' or 'her', but easy to hurt 'it'. 'It' didn't have any feelings. 'It' didn't have any rights. 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