PEOPLE - No other source has the potential to kill you without your even knowing it's happening.

There is no certification process so how is a noob going to know if their impromptu teacher is just an idiot about to get them killed? There is certainly no way for a noob to learn what not to do from someone who does all of the wrong things.

I would substitute that "PEOPLE" with "PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE QUALIFIED".

Maybe if a few people are around at the same time, the odds of them all failing int he same way is low enough to make total strangers fairly safe. If they disagree on something, just run away.

Dave