Comments on: A Rat’s Life Ends in a Penn Station Bloodbath

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Great proverb, Katha, and great story! I’m glad you and your uncle won out in the end!

By: kathakali.chatterjee

kathakali.chatterjee — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:35:08 +0000

Wow. So much fireworks just for a rat. It reminded me of a proverb in my language – “…firing a machinegun to kill a mosquito…”…
I belong to a tropical village and there is a small river pretty close to our house. We used to see all kinds of weird creatures crawling in our backyard. I remember having a 5 ft long, adult, king cobra (I am serious, Gordon!) as a guest once. My father noticed it first in the yard at night, he was naturally petrified and called our neighbors as he was clueless about what to do with it. The cobra was even more scared with all the hoopla made by our neighbors and it took shelter behind a couple of huge flower tubs we had there. All our neighbors wanted it dead and was planning for the required “ammunition”…it was one of my uncles who wanted to find a way to get the snake back to the river and it was the “little me” who kept on crying saying “…don’t hit it, let it go…”
Finally, my uncle and I won. It was almost close to a rocket science to plan a safe escape for the grand cobra without being beaten but that’s a different story.
Feel for the poor rat, a clean gun shot would have been more humane indeed.

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:26:54 +0000

Love that invention! Much kinder, smarter and healthier for everyone involved.

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:25:47 +0000

You’re right that they could not use a gun and the cop probably did the only possible thing available when dealing with a frightened crowd of people.

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:23:19 +0000

I just found an article about a Brooklyn father and son team who invented a humane rat trap. Perhaps the city should invest a little in it? http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/02/26/2008-02-26_pop_and_son_build_a_humane_rat_trap-1.html

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:22:10 +0000

I wonder if they didn’t use the gun because of “safety” reasons — or didn’t want to start a panic in the crowd from the loud sound a gun inherently makes. I hope no child was scarred from the incident. I know I was.

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:04:37 +0000

I agree, Gordon! Why not have lots of humane trap? One could’ve been used right there in the elevator!

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:49:48 +0000

I guess I saw all of them and one of me and thought, I’m in the super unpopular minority here! In the Aaron story he knew that he was the sole voice of reason and that the people were so worked up that they could kill him! I’m very curious as to why they don’t have humane traps at every mta station given the abundance of rats. Tells you where they stand on the grand pecking order!

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:02:37 +0000

This is a great article, Gordon! Your empathy and passion shine through. Can you explain more about the Aaron story and why that stopped you from getting involved rather than stepping forward?
The rat was more terrified than the people. If it had been offered a safe escape, I certain nobody would’ve ever seen it again in Penn Station: Rat Lesson Learned.
I guess we should be thankful the police officer didn’t use his gun! One clean shot, however, would’ve been a much more humane end.
It was a good thing you were there to document the crowd mentality in images and their want, nay need, to kill. When their bloodlust was met — they were able to continue on with their lives… which is sadly what they should’ve done in the first place.