its just another type of hot rod, for example dodge has a charger and a demon two different class of cars. In my opioion i would think it must be hard to describe something you dont have or want or like. to me a ratrod is a piece of art, collecting old iron from god knows wear and putting them together to make a driveable car . example 27 t body , 32 chevy frame, 41 chevy headlights, 77 dodge motor, 76 ford rearend . takeing a old sign and making the floor but still be able to read what the sign says, that adds charactor to it, or leaveing the welds unground more charactor. Remember, this is my car what i think adds charactor is different then what you think adds charactor to yours. i never say its a olskool rod or trad. rod these also are a different styles of hot rods. So if the term rat rod is offensive it wasnt ment to be it was meant to describe a certain type of hot rod. It takes alot of integrity to have a ratrod, you only could know this if you had one or stood up for what a rat rod is