For the record, and as a point of clarification---
upon reflection, I am concerned that my comment here could be misinterpreted as me being "driven away" by Rick, which is not at all what I was trying to say.
dirtdorphins said:
True story Rick: your posts at NARGS talking about all the nice, but ignorant, "general public" type gardeners at ATP is what led me here and away from there 
likely to the delight of all the purists!
Rick introduced me to ATP--I had never seen or heard of ATP until I read about it in one of Rick's posts. Rick did not use the word ignorant to describe anyone, btw, and Rick did nothing whatsoever to drive me away from anywhere--here or there! He merely "led me here", as I said, for which I am very grateful, because this is a great place!
I have edited the comment to add Thank you
Furthermore, I want make clear that although I clearly have a whole bunch of strong and negative feelings about the conflation of "rock garden" with "alpine garden", I do NOT have a whole bunch of strong and negative feelings about Rick, personally or generally.
Obviously, I quoted Rick extensively to begin this thread -a polemic- because he provided the words that he did and I found them germane to quote.
It was my intention to dispute the conflation of "rock garden" with "alpine garden", seek discussion and clarity regarding what is and is perhaps not applicable content for the rock garden forum, figure out something to call my gardens with rocks, state my objections to imposed alpine limitations, etc.
However, in attacking the idea it appears as though I have attacked the man.
@Leftwood Rick, I am truly sorry. There are about a million other ways that I could have, should have introduced the controversial argument such that it would not appear to be about you and directed at you.
