[dang]

If you're posting publicly on the site, it's appropriate for moderators to respond publicly on the site. Moderation comments are important not just as a one-to-one conversation, but as a signal to the community.

[hatware]

If you publicly intimidate users with a bias, you are not facilitating a fair and safe place to share ideas.

It's a concept called inclusivity, I think you should read up on it a bit.