--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody gets mean stuff on the…" description: "\"“Everybody gets mean stuff on the Internet, Mom. You shouldn’t take it so seriously. Just ignore them. They’ll go away.” That, I think, is a maddening ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/rachel-caine-217_fantasy-world_everybody-gets-mean-stuff-on-the-interne_2892629.jpg" --- # Everybody gets mean stuff on the Internet, Mom. You… ![“Everybody gets mean stuff on the Internet, Mom. You shouldn’t take it so seriously. Just ignore them. They’ll go away.” That, I think, is a maddening thing to say on so many levels. As if the Internet is a fantasy world, inhabited by imaginary people. As if we’re ordinary people in the first…” quote by Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/rachel-caine-217_fantasy-world_everybody-gets-mean-stuff-on-the-interne_2892629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/rachel-caine-217_fantasy-world_everybody-gets-mean-stuff-on-the-interne_2892629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/rachel-caine-217_fantasy-world_everybody-gets-mean-stuff-on-the-interne_2892629.jpg) > ““Everybody gets mean stuff on the Internet, Mom. You shouldn’t take it so seriously. Just ignore them. They’ll go away.” That, I think, is a maddening thing to say on so many levels. As if the Internet is a fantasy world, inhabited by imaginary people. As if we’re ordinary people in the first place. And most of all, it’s such a young male thing to say, this automatic assumption of safety. Women, even girls of Lanny’s age, don’t think that way. Parents don’t. Older people don’t. It reveals a certain blind, entitled ignorance to how dangerous the world really is.”” [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Internet toxicity is often dismissed, but it reflects real dangers, especially for women and younger users. **In simple terms:** Online hate is real, not just fantasy. Key Takeaway Take online harassment seriously. Themes gender online safety culture Mood concerned serious Type social reflective When to use this quote - social media - parenting - education - policy making Key Concepts digital harassment psychological impact gender bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect vulnerable users? - What responsibilities do platforms have? A Different Perspective May overlook positive aspects of internet community. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantasy world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-world/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Older people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-people/) ## Related quotes > [“It was a nice thing for her to say. In her way. With Greta you have to look out for the nice things buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-rifka-brunt/it-was-a-nice-thing-for-her-to-say-in-her-way-with-greta-you-have-to/) [Carol Rifka Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-rifka-brunt/) > [Every time our cat tries to hiss she has all choked up. That's what she gets for being mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-our-cat-tries-to-hiss-she-has-all-choked-up-that-s-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you talk you always end up with politics, it gets nowhere. I mean man it's strictly from the soft typewriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/if-you-talk-you-always-end-up-with-politics-it-gets-nowhere-i-mean/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [An ignorant person is, by the very fact of his or her ignorance, a very dangerous person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-willem-van-loon/an-ignorant-person-is-by-the-very-fact-of-his-or-her-ignorance-a-very/) [Hendrik Willem van Loon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-willem-van-loon/) > [Losing our ignorance can be dangerous because our ignorance is a shield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/losing-our-ignorance-can-be-dangerous-because-our-ignorance-is-a/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Ignorance is not too dangerous. If you combine it with power, then this is a toxic mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/ignorance-is-not-too-dangerous-if-you-combine-it-with-power-then-this/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Ignorance is a dangerous and spiritual poison, which all men ought warily to shun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/ignorance-is-a-dangerous-and-spiritual-poison-which-all-men-ought/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [There's nothing as safe as ignorance or as dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/there-s-nothing-as-safe-as-ignorance-or-as-dangerous/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > ['Push back' is the word; that's what we gotta do against ignorance. I see so much of it, and it's dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/push-back-is-the-word-that-s-what-we-gotta-do-against-ignorance-i-see/) [Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/) > [It is not the insurrections of ignorance that are dangerous, but the revolts of the intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-not-the-insurrections-of-ignorance-that-are-dangerous-but-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“Knowledge is a beautiful servant; ignorance is a dangerous master.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/knowledge-is-a-beautiful-servant-ignorance-is-a-dangerous-master/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I'm not sure Riot Grrrl would have been as big a deal if the Internet had existed back then. Because there's so much stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-m-not-sure-riot-grrrl-would-have-been-as-big-a-deal-if-the-internet/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [The sad thing in this day and age is kids have access to all sorts of horrible stuff on the Internet and they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/the-sad-thing-in-this-day-and-age-is-kids-have-access-to-all-sorts-of/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [Why would anyone say this stuff about themselves on the Internet? It's crazy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/why-would-anyone-say-this-stuff-about-themselves-on-the-internet-it-s/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [There's too much stuff on the Internet. Like, my buddy has kids and tells me all these things they're pulling up on their phones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/there-s-too-much-stuff-on-the-internet-like-my-buddy-has-kids-and/) [Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/) ## More by Rachel Caine > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Hell,' Shane spit in disgust. 'I can't hit a girl. Here, Claire. You hit her.' He tossed her the bat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/hell-shane-spit-in-disgust-i-can-t-hit-a-girl-here-claire-you-hit-her/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“If she were any friendlier, she'd be giving you a lapdance right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/if-she-were-any-friendlier-she-d-be-giving-you-a-lapdance-right-now/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I get maudlin. Some people drink; some get depressed; some run around having sex with anyone with a pulse. Me, I get philosophical. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-get-maudlin-some-people-drink-some-get-depressed-some-run-around/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I felt I should repeat it for the other slipper, in case there should be any bad feelings between the two. One should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-felt-i-should-repeat-it-for-the-other-slipper-in-case-there-should/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“As he filled the mug with coffee, Michael waited for Shane to make some sense. Which Shane finally did, holding up the cheaply printed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/as-he-filled-the-mug-with-coffee-michael-waited-for-shane-to-make/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [There is a certain freedom in giving up all hope. One is no longer bound by the cords of dread or fear; you simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/there-is-a-certain-freedom-in-giving-up-all-hope-one-is-no-longer/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Shane talking to Claire - "Hang on - Slow down. I'm not going anywhere. You know that, right? You don't have to put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-talking-to-claire-hang-on-slow-down-i-m-not-going-anywhere-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Oliver laughed - actually laughed."I like this new Claire," he said. "You should work her this hard all the time, Myrnin. She's interesting when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/oliver-laughed-actually-laughed-i-like-this-new-claire-he-said-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Here," Myrnin said, his voice still gentle and low. "Amelie said you had to work. No one said you had to work alone." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/here-myrnin-said-his-voice-still-gentle-and-low-amelie-said-you-had/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [shane:you only love me for my abs clair:shut up loser shift off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-you-only-love-me-for-my-abs-clair-shut-up-loser-shift-off/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Maybe I should, I don't know leave? Because this is starting to sound like one of those reality shows I don't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/maybe-i-should-i-don-t-know-leave-because-this-is-starting-to-sound/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) [Explore all 872 Rachel Caine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## More Fantasy world quotes > [Science fiction is a weird category, because it's the only area of fiction I can think of where the story is not of primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/science-fiction-is-a-weird-category-because-it-s-the-only-area-of/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [If this were a fantasy world, there would be ten of me and we would each be doing what we wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-this-were-a-fantasy-world-there-would-be-ten-of-me-and-we-would/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [“I don't want to be without you anymore. Somewhere in the middle of this fantasy world you created, I fell in love with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-lea-thomas/i-don-t-want-to-be-without-you-anymore-somewhere-in-the-middle-of/) Wendy Lea Thomas > [As a player I set out to become the best player in the world. Obviously I don't live in a fantasy world, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-barton/as-a-player-i-set-out-to-become-the-best-player-in-the-world/) [Joey Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-barton/) > [Also, worldbuilding touches all aspects of your story. It touches plot and character as well. If you don't know the culture your character comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/also-worldbuilding-touches-all-aspects-of-your-story-it-touches-plot/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [At home, when the heating pipes made noises, I imagined a tiny person was in there skipping with a rope. The fantasy world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-wigan/at-home-when-the-heating-pipes-made-noises-i-imagined-a-tiny-person/) [Willard Wigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-wigan/) > [“Those who think godly living makes them invulnerable to trouble are living in a fantasy world. - 2 Timothy 3:12”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-c-stedman/those-who-think-godly-living-makes-them-invulnerable-to-trouble-are/) Ray C. Stedman > [They say the first World Series is the one you remember most. No, no no. I guarantee you don't remember that one because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/they-say-the-first-world-series-is-the-one-you-remember-most-no-no-no/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Glamour's my thing. The glamour is what got me into this business in the first place. I lived in a fantasy world in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-randle/glamour-s-my-thing-the-glamour-is-what-got-me-into-this-business-in/) Theresa Randle > [Playing baseball is not real life. It's a fantasy world... It's a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-murphy/playing-baseball-is-not-real-life-it-s-a-fantasy-world-it-s-a-dream/) [Dale Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-murphy/) > [I guess housewives like to get away from reality and enjoy the fantasy world for a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanam-saeed/i-guess-housewives-like-to-get-away-from-reality-and-enjoy-the/) [Sanam Saeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanam-saeed/) > [“Perhaps the one unanswerable question in life is why so many of us choose to live in a fantasy world of our own creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashavan/perhaps-the-one-unanswerable-question-in-life-is-why-so-many-of-us/) [Ashavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashavan/) > [If you're building a fantasy world that exists outside of the rules of our real world, why would you write it to conform to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachlan-watson/if-you-re-building-a-fantasy-world-that-exists-outside-of-the-rules/) [Lachlan Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachlan-watson/) > [Game of Thrones' is a fantasy show not dedicated to any specific time, but it seems to exist in sort of a 1400s medieval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendoline-christie/game-of-thrones-is-a-fantasy-show-not-dedicated-to-any-specific-time/) [Gwendoline Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendoline-christie/) > [“We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality" says Iris Murdoch. But given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/we-live-in-a-fantasy-world-a-world-of-illusion-the-great-task-in-life/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) [Browse all 183 Fantasy world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Everybody gets mean stuff on the Internet, Mom. You shouldn’t take it so seriously. Just ignore them. They’ll go away.” That, I think, is a maddening thing to say on so many levels. As if the Internet is a fantasy world, inhabited by imaginary people. As if we’re ordinary people in the first place. And most of all, it’s such a young male thing to say, this automatic assumption of safety. Women, even girls of Lanny’s age, don’t think that way. Parents don’t. Older people don’t. 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