Unless I am responsible for them (and I am not responsible to or for everyone I meet on the trail, even if they are ignorant and I happen to know the answer) or they are someone I am familiar with, I do not provide unsolicited information. No matter how I try and deliver it, they've most often seemed to take offense to my sharing, so I don't bother anymore. It's kinda like trying to warn people to slow down before they get to the speed trap.

From an ethical and moral perspective, none of us as regular civilians are compelled to render aid and assistance, except in the case of actual duress where someone is unquestionably a victim and may not be able to request aid, as in performing CPR if you are so qualified to do it.

This is not to say I wouldn't invite a query, such as asking someone how they are doing, but it would have to be fairly evident that they are struggling to begin with, and are refraining from asking for assistance out of pride or fear of being put down or ridiculed. Usually that is a difficult call to make, and I would tend to err on the conservative side of that choice.

I am hard pressed to think of a situation that people cannot avail themselves of the requisite information beforehand in order to gain the proper perspective about a given undertaking. Sometimes it is okay to boldly go, but anyone worth his salt ought to be able to discern when it is time for further education, and take it upon themselves to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to excersize due diligence. Those who stubbornly refuse to pretty much deserve what they get should things go wonky. As the judge says, ignorance is no excuse.