Everyone has their own opinion on how pets could be used or treated, for their own amusement and the amusement of others.
I sometimes handle my mantids, and even bother them to try and get a threat display for a photo. Also, some of us go to great lengths to help some pets to eat, by dismembering feeders, and other unnatural means of feeding, I know I have. I am the type of person that still feels bad for the feeders, but I do what I do anyway.
:mellow: I do feel that some people might go too far when it comes to amusing themselves at "any" animal's expense, whether it is a pet vertabrate, or "just a bug".
I like to take into account the particular species, and what they can tolerate. My dog loves to get hooked up to a lead for a walk, but I am pretty sure the rest of my pets could do without any interaction from me, other than meeting their needs like feeding and keeping their containers clean.
I have had certain pet bugs that seemed mellow enough to tolerate something like a lead, but I can also imagine that many could become so stressed or frightened that they could be injured or even killed by that sort of treatment.