Fighting Shy

If there's no such thing as bad publicity, why do so many people take steps to avoid it? Expensive steps at that, sometimes. Or awkward steps, that engender tricky questions and even downright hostility. The exemplars of apparent sanity who are seeking to switch off the spotlights range far and wide. The Roddicks, the powers behind the UK's Body Shop, are said to be contemplating taking their company private: after courting publicity for their smelly shops and campaigning causes, they are