I don’t think the parent comment was saying that having a safety net is bad, just that it is different.
And having a safety net definitely changes the dynamic of travel. I can’t imagine not having my phone with me, especially on a journey. And that’s not bad.
I think we have collectively, unwittingly entered a transhuman state. Our phones are as much a part of us as anything else.
For me, and maybe it's because I did so much travel pre-smartphone and then pre-international data, it's not so much about the lifeline/safety net.
It's more about the ready availability of information--which is more or less important (and available online) depending upon where you are. Trekking in Nepal I'm guessing things aren't as different from 20 years ago as they would be in a random Asian capital where I find having a smartphone makes getting around easier/better compared to even 5 years ago.
And having a safety net definitely changes the dynamic of travel. I can’t imagine not having my phone with me, especially on a journey. And that’s not bad.
I think we have collectively, unwittingly entered a transhuman state. Our phones are as much a part of us as anything else.