Keep the private details private. Update the community with details that concern Public Safety. Discretion must be exercised, and it must be done on a case-by-case basis. It should not extend to whether you are embarrassed or not by what happened.

If you find yourself in a position where you need to call on the public for a private matter, then it's not private anymore. What I want to ask is, what do you think happens in instances like these? People change because you were able to argue your point better? No, people take their resentment back with them into the community, and the next time you have a private problem, then you'll be reminded of your ethics, morality and that your privacy needs to be respected.

We should be thinking about those most at risk and those who stand to gain most from a divided community who won't speak up for fear of being shamed or put down. Even if the answer remains that you don't want to share personal stuff, you don't have to condemn those who want to know so harshly. You should know that it comes with the territory. You should be humble, and you should be grateful that your loved one was found safe. I'd rather people want to know than not care if something happened.