I’m not saying you said anything, I’m just not sure of your point.

People get stressed? How to not stress people out? That websites need better UI and webmasters? Do we need better communication methods? That’s a different discussion. And I am still not entirely sure what you are getting at.

However, if you’d like to clarify your thoughts, I invite you to write about it and post on your website or other social media channel in a separate article and link over here.

Come on. I didn’t say don’t go out. I tried to say, what would my mother do? Where would she go to get news? when the 24/7 media rumblings start. Out in the middle of nowhere a digital device may not work. You may not be able to phone home. You may not even know there’s an incident. You may be in an information black hole. But the roar surrounding an event could grow & scare my mother. I was thinking of all the people back home stressing out. And the phone calls my mom did get in 1990. And the phone calls alot of mother’s received just recently.

Bear and pepper spray are much like a firearm in the sense that

A) Different jurisdictions have different rules and regulations (esp. in populated AT-like areas. Mass requires a firearm permit, for example)
https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/pepper-spray.html

And while bear spray is (mainly) legal to carry in most areas, it’s effectiveness on humans may not work for aggressive attackers:
https://www.selfdefenseninja.com/bear-spray-vs-pepper-spray-whats-difference/

And the legality of pepper spray on Federal lands is murky. Technically, the AT (and some other National Scenic Trails) are under NPS administration:
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:AB-Ko_u_YUMJ:https://nextdoor.com/city/post/104664069/+&cd=14&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Go a place like Arches NP or Yellowstone on other trails, routes, and just a general backpacking trip, and you might not be able to carry pepper spray.

B) Requires some knowledge and practice to use effectively

C) If not careful, you could cause more harm than good. Pepper spray on a windy day could backfire, for example.

Having said all that, because people are now more concerned about perceived safety issues on the AT in particular (with its high user base), I think it is only a matter of time before there are accidental bear macings…or worse.

I’m not sure what you are saying? Only go out if there is a good user interface on a trail website? Plus there’s more to the outdoors than thruhiking trails.
So, it is on us.

What can I say, I prefer British (Welsh) understatement to Gonzo journalism. 😀