Cat Man,
First off I believe your apology was commendable. I know you didn't start the post and for all it's worth, having a post locked is something I haven't seen yet. But Nicko had his reasons. This isn't meant to sound like I'm squaring off with you. I just wanted to give you a professional Chef's view of the topic (or at least a personal one.)
For the most part being a Chef is difficult at best. In most places around the industry, there is always someone (from the person that is supposed to be closest to you like your Sous Chef all the way down to the w/w you just chewed out) that wants to plant a knife square in your back. This goes on everyday in and out of the restaurant.
When topics like the Bobby Flay one appear, it takes it from the local level and opens it to the world. Heck I even cringe when I see the ones about RR and......Now I'm dang sure Chef Flay visits here every now and then or at least I'd like to think he would. I for one would love the opportunity to sit and talk to him in a setting like this. So, If you were Chef Flay and saw posts like this, how often would you feel welcomed?
I'm not sure what you do for a living but for conversation sake let's say you make widgets and also have a show to promote those. There happens to be a widget forum and someone starts one of many topics on how horrible of a job you do at yours. Now this person has absolutly no professional background in widgets (or atleast doesn't disclose they do) yet for what ever reason, they feel so strongly that you are so horrible at your job they have to announce it to the whole world. Now, what is your opinion of that person, the site and the people that contribute to and run that site.
There used to be an unwritten rule among Chefs that you wouldn't bash another for your's or any one elses gains or entertainment. I understand you are not a professional Chef but this holds true of the forum you participate in. Ribbing is one thing but bashing is another. I'm not exactly sure what the powers that be want this forum to portray. Yet since I am of the same training and background as many of them here I can only perceive that the forum is here to help educate, entertain, promote, inform and support those interested in the Culinary Arts and food in general. These are the same things that most of the folks are doing when they have either a TV show or run a restaurant.
I can't remember who said it already but these guys on FN (The FN originals and this includes Bobby Flay) have been doing this for a long time and also have successful restaurants. With that said, a name can only carry you so far. Eventually you're gonna have to posess the talent of cooking or Managment ability to back it up. Whether these guy's actually do all the cooking or hire someone to do it for them it's being done to thier specifications and standards. I can't always agree with what or how they do things. But as long as it doesn't promote anarchy or is subversive it's not our place to openly berate or belittle them because they have become and are capitalizing on their success.
I've wanted to say this for months. Now it's off my chest.
Mr Nicko sir, Permission to speak sir 
