Hah...
Never had an hostility to rats until I had two young children. Then suddenly the sight of a rat caused me on a deep lizard level to want to kill them...all of them.........ugh...knuckles dragging on ground.
So while on an objective level I get the dislike of sport killing (share that myself), with rats I think I could enjoy a 2 hour film of rats being shot and killed. It would be most satisfying seeing them dispatched and I Have a natural fondness of rat killing dogs.
I think there must be some survival instinct based on northern European family history. No idea why that is the case, but it is. Also never felt anything like it until I had young kids, then ...wow it was like a switch turned on.
“I think there must be some survival instinct based on northern European family history. No idea why that is the case, but it is. Also never felt anything like it until I had young kids, then ...wow it was like a switch turned on.”
I have noticed a similar effect while teaching women to shoot. Many say they could never shoot another human.
Then I ask: What if they were attempting to kill or rape your child?
The answer is always a savage “I would kill them!”
I have never noted a hesitation. I believe the response is hardwired in.
There are lots of youtube videos of rats and other vermin being "controlled" - usually with pellet guns.