Privacy...is it that important ?

Just a few hours ago, I went to a police station in Malvern. I went there to get some documents certified. For people who don't know, in Australia (and maybe everywhere else around the world except Indonesia) when you photocopy a document, it must be certified by somebody (police officer, lawyer, etc). I guess it's to prevent people 'modifying' the photocopy so that it's a true copy (what else could it be for ?).

Anyways, back to the story. When I went into the police station, there was this old lady in front of me who was apparantly lost her suitcase or bag or whatever and she was making a report for it. I did not listen in detail cause I don't want to be intrusive. Anyways, so I waited there and couldn't help hearing what this old lady was saying. She had lost her bag last week, during her bus ride home (or was it a train ride ? - not important). The police officer asked her several questions regarding the incident. And then the police officer asked, "What is you telephone number mam ?"....silent.....I thought that she was giving him her phone number cause old people might have a weak voice. But I was wrong, she did not say anything and the police officer was as confused as me.

Then, she breaks her silence, she said, "I'm trying to avoid the telemarketers". I was like WTF, you're trying to ask the police to help you find something and you can't even supply him with your telephone number.....(feeling like taking a chair and throwing it to her...like what they do in cartoons). The policeman was totally CONFUSED, I could just see it in his face. He raised his voice a little bit and said, "...how are we going to contact you then ? if we do find your items". She's still not assured. It was not until a few minutes later that she finally give her number and she insisted on writing the number herself onto the form.

I am just amazed on how Australians value their privacy. I really don't understand why she would think that the police will give out telephone numbers to telemarketers. I mean you could at least trust them right ? I know that telemarketers are really annoying but which one is more important, a few telemarketers calling you or your item retrieved ?

When the policeman asked of the content of her missing bag, she mentioned prescription sunglasses. She thinks that the thief knows that the sunglasses' frame are expensive and stole it. But I have never even heard of the brand and by the look at the policeman's face, he didn't know about it either. Along with the sunglasses, there was a big plate that she wants to return (to her friends maybe) and some Christmas decorations. I am just wandering whether that deserves to be reported, waste of police resources ? But hey, it's not my place to say that cause maybe the bag has a sentimental value or something like that.

Anyways, I hope that the lady get all her stuff back cause I know the feeling of losing something is crap (I just lost my friend's keys) and maybe we can be a have little bit more common sense in handling things. Privacy is important but we live in the world with other people and we should be aware of other people as well and not only think about ourselves.