Maybe it was a bad analogy.

If rattlesnakes are consistent in how they rattle before striking, then rattlesnakes are all cool with me. From what I've read (no direct experience), it was my impression that this was not true: some (or in some moods) they're very eager to strike and in others they're not. Rattling is a defensive warning--if men are just rattlesnakes that would actually be pretty cool because if you don't want to get bitten you could just listen for the rattle. (Wouldn't necessarily stop them from trampling all over women's rights, but warning is better than no warning either way, I would think.)

I also don't have experience with copperheads. I do with eastern brown snakes. If they get mad, they might even chase you (and they're fast). I don't hate them either, but I am glad that 50% of the human population does not consist of eastern brown snakes.