danger and stupidity

Danger and Stupidity
There is a vast difference between doing something dangerous and doing something stupid. Any dangerous activity can be made arbitrarily safe by taking suitable precautions and making adequate preparation. Crossing oceans in rowing boats is certainly dangerous but setting out without all the extensive preparation required for such a trip would be plain stupid.
Now it seems to me that paragliders are the rowing boats of the skies and I would ask those who regard paragliding as unsafe to reflect on this idea. I think it is time we looked seriously at just what a paraglider provides in relation to what it consists of and then realise that there are bound to be limitations to paragliding which we must accept in the same way that rowing boat owners accept the limitations of their small craft.
I expect most people can row a boat although a few just never seem to get the hang of it. Nevertheless the first experiences are likely to have been on some very calm and still water somewhere. Who would consider anything else? As experience and confidence increases we might be tempted onto larger expanses of water with small waves and a bit of wind about, but always within our proven capabilities. So far, so good.