Michael
First of all, we all know and accept that this is not only a wonderful resource, a great place for the exchange of ideas (not only photographic) and that it is YOUR site, and by virtue of posting here, I think we display that appreciation.
Pulling the plug on that thread was, in my view, somewhat premature because nobody really became too offensive - a little heated, yes, but doesn´t everybody now and again, particularly when they hold strong views about something?
Now Ray, as I see him, is not a prude, as his photography of Far Eastern nightlife shows; perhaps he is less prudish than many others here - I don´t know and it doesn´t affect me one way or another - and whilst symbolism of a sexual nature was not the first thing to strike me on seeing James´s picture, there is little doubt that once one has been made aware of such a connection, it can be seen, as with anything else that falls within similar shape parameters. If you choose to look for it.
If I interpret James´s references to blocking a certain poster, I suspect he refers to Ray; if I am mistaken, then apologies all round, and please spell it out for me.
Ray has strong views on MF digital capture as he has on other easily accepted reports of various cameras and their popularly claimed superiority over others, claims that are not always definitively substantiated. More power to his elbow - perhaps more critical or skeptical minds all round would put some perspective into the crazy world of camera evolution and supposed progress. I might be falling into the Luddite trap, if so, then fair enough, but I am personally far from thrilled by all the shiny new toys thrust onto the photographic marketplace, not least because I fail to see photography getting any better because of them, than it was many years ago. On the professional level, in fashion and beauty of which I do know something, the reverse might well be claimed, with reality becoming ever more distant and, with it, soul, the essence of communication.
James is not a baby - he has walked the walk for quite some time and has the proof on his site; if he chooses to block somebody then fine, but that does not invalidate the blockee´s (neologism?) point of view nor, I would have thought, his right to express it, particularly when he can do so so well.
Finally, I´m a little disappointed too that you didn´t get into this thread yourself. You have a gallery and are well versed in the material that other galleries present - some input about contemporary art and its norms might have been of considerable interest within this subject, commercial art and artist´s art being ever more the same damn thing. A lost opportunity?
Again, thank you for this site - it helps me keep my sanity as I pass my days on this rock, in Napoleonic, if self-imposed, exile!
Rob C