Sadly I ahve to agree that sometimes private is pointless - or worse. the one benefit to public exchanges, however ill-advised they may sometimes appear, is that one MIGHT get an open hearing/debate on whatever the issue is. While that can sometimes be clouded by canny (not to say outright sly or combatant) members, it seems to usually resolve amicalby-ish and fairly. At least, from what I've seen (and I'd so LOVE to see a public reaction to some of the IM comments I've received!)