As lukus said, "Context is everything."

A.k.a., "situationally dependent."

In my mountains, cautious and respectful intervention would in certain circumstances be appropriate.

In other parts of the world, such action could place *me* in a survival situation.

I can tell you that if I were a tourist/trekker in a foreign land, I wouldn't go near another person's gear. Simply put: I don't know the rules, and therefore I mind my own business. Kinda sad, but there it is.