"I have been arguing with the undemocratic union of archaeos who seem to think that they are the public voice and knowing what is good for the public is all that matters re Silbury. Talk about white Silbury's, views in and out, etc., are used as the public being preoccupied as Causebon (Elliot - Middlemarch) and that the issues are for others to decide."

What an infuriating and terrible state of affairs you paint.

Of course, people can only pretend to superior knowledge and superior judgement if they do so in private since otherwise there's a risk that the inferiorati will ask the devastating question - "On what do you base that assertion?" So, they do it in private.