Quote Originally Posted by KalinOrthos View Post
snip.
It's not a false equivalency, it's perfectly apt. The only element that needs to be present for it to fit this context is embarrassment, which it provides in a way that's simple for all of you to grasp. Through that example it's made clear WHY causing public embarrassment for a person isn't the best way to approach offering criticism. Do it in private.

And, in this context "public" refers to the group you're in. If you're on a team there are certain things you do in front of the team and certain things you do in private with individual members of the team. When offering criticism you do it in private. Doing it in front of the team is demoralizing and embarrassing.