well, for some (ler and lee alike) the embarrassing aspect is half the fun. Of course for others, the embarrassment is the reason they hate it. I won't drag this down with the psychobabble about the whole Ler/lee, Dom/sub, power exchange analytical stuff surrounding humiliation and embarrassment but that is all there for those with an inclination to look for it.
In a group setting public tickling can be fun teasing or cruel harassment.
I remember once in college being on the stage crew for a play. We spent a lot of time just off stage waiting to change scenery or move props and such. One of the girls on the crew slipped her shoes off during a long wait. One of the guys on the crew trapped her ankles and tickled her bare feet. She struggled with all her power to escape to no avail. Her feet were quite ticklish. She had a terrible time keeping quiet while the play went on just feet away from us. She turned beet red. The rest of us had to stifle our own merriment at her ticklish predicament. Finally the stage manager gave us all a stern look and the tickler released her from his grip. Was that all in fun or was it harassment? Whichever she never slipped her shoes off again.
The absolute best public tickling method I've found is having my very ticklish mate insert a small egg shaped wireless remote controlled vibrating egg in that extra sensitive place between her legs. Then in a store or mall or - best of all - at a party when she least expects it I press the on button on the small remote in my pocket. For her it is an extremely ticklish feeling from the inside out. No one is touching her. I'm not even near her but it takes very little time for her to be beside herself trying to maintain any composure. There is absolutely no way for her to escape the tickling nor know when it may start or end except as I may wink at her just before pressing the button. This is all consensual public tickling since she has to insert the little egg but once inserted she is completely at my tickle mercy. This remote control tickling also happens to get her quite turned on.
