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Originally Posted by GarthB
Having worked in four states and having close friends in at least ten others, I know the term RAT to be common in many areas of the country.
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I have found that those who are irresponsible in their treatment of one class of people are typically irresponsible toward several classes of people. The excuse is often parlayed that its locker room talk or that no one really means what they are saying. That is also not true. Insulting and degrading behavior is meant to be exactly that.
No one can change how people treat each other. I would like to think that umpires would be above such childish language, that they would have a higher opinion of themselves and their fellow man. That isn't the reality.
Rat used as you admitted, in a cruel and degrading sense, serves no positive purpose. In the end, it reflects poorly on the user, nothing else. That reflection boils over on all officials which is a reality and a shame concurrently.
In the past, I tried to make light of coaches, players, parents and fans who have asked me about people who use pejorative terms like Rat but I don't anymore. I tell the questioners they have it right. The user is a dunce and I that I intend to separate myself as far as possible from the abuser and the abusive language.