Poorboy covered it very well.

As for getting upset about your thread getting shut down, well they have had someone new ask that question at least once every 2 months. Gets kind of old after many years. They are tough on new members, but even that has mellowed over the years.

Think of the HAMB (and any forum) as a big garage with a bunch of guys that have been hanging out for years. If you walk in and shout "I got a bitchin' Camaro that's got 700HP and gets 20 MPG!" you will get ignored or worse. If you walk in, wander around and listen, learning what the group is about and what they are talking about, then ask intelligent on-topic questions or share something new, you will fit in. There is a lot of great info there even if you and your car don't fit the focus of the site.
You can still learn welding, parts swapping, history and what the difference is if you lurk and not post.
BTW, I'm SO happy they finally did a sticky on titles. That was getting really annoying.

If you type "Rat Rod Definition" into Google, there are 99,000 results. Just like the term "Hot Rod" the meaning is different to different people and it changes over time. It actually started in an article in the early nineties about an LA club of traditional guys. The term grew and morphed from a simple name into an often derisive label.

And finally, if you prefer the non-traditional, bare bones, exaggerated stance and crudely accessorized rides, try http://www.killbillet.com/.
They have a lot of members who also don't like HAMB.