Yeah, people can be down right mean and cruel..it is what makes the human species the least admirable of all the species on our planet. And those jokes or rude comments about rat poison, etc, just come from ignorance about what wonderful creatures rats are. Zephye, boy, if I had a friend who advised rat poison for a terminally ill rat of mine, that person would instantly become a non-friend to me. That is monstrous to say something like that. I would have zero tolerance for that.
People who do not know about them or have never interacted with a pet rat tend to lump ALL rats together and make up their (tiny) minds that the word RAT means vermin, filth, disease, etc.
The way rats are portrayed in media/films does not help. But knowledge brings understanding and compassion, so do not lose hope. My mother, who is in her 70's, was creeped out, scared and did the "ewww" thing when my husband and I adopted our first rats.
All it took was having her come to visit, interacting with our rats and learning about their loving and sweet natures, and now she cannot wait to come and see them (well, now it is just Achilles, since Maximus passed away) and give them a treat or hold them, etc. She even picked up a few things from thrift stores for them as "presents from Grandma". WOW.
This kind of thing happens all the time when people lose their prejudice by getting to know the charms and sweet natures of rats. If it can happen to my mother, there is hope for all out there! :dance:
Just take every opportunity to educate others about rats when you talk to people. When someone says, "Eww, I can't stand rats" or whatever, ask that person how many domesticated pet rats they have interacted with or spent time with. Chances are the answer is, none. So there you go. Ignorance breeds fear. Take that fear away with information and education, if that makes sense.