It still comes down to the individual circumstance.
Bears can be dangerous if surprised, foraging for food, or especially protecting their young.
And many people still don't know that.
While archery hunting along a gasline, I had a bear come out and sit 20 yards from my stand and start eating grass. Knowing that deer aren't going to come around while it was there, I started waving my arms and telling it to shoo.
He's sitting there looking at me wondering what type of idiot bird I am.
So I decided that if he was going to just sit there, I'd get a few pictures. When the strap broke on my backpack (where I had my phone). It hit the ground and he took off running like it was just shot in the butt!
But on another instance, I was scouting and setting up game cameras. Seeing light through the cedars, I wedged through a small opening to come into a clearing about 25-30 yards in diameter.
Coming from cross wind, the black bear on the other side of the clearing was as surprised as I was.
Started drooling and clicking it's jaws.
I pulled my sidearm. Walther PPS 9mm. Yup, all 7 rounds of 115gr Sierra JHP at my disposal.
Bear stood up and growled. Ok, roared.
Came back to all fours and took a step towards me.
I put a round out in front of it.
It luckily stopped and I slowly backed through the opening in the cedars.
Just goes to show that you never know when a black bear thinks it's a grizzly.
Oh, and I don't carry my PPS while scouting anymore.