My father is a paraglider, and has always tried to get me into it. I didn't like it because I thought, oh, it would be super exciting [i'm FLYING!!] and such but after going on a tandem flight it's one of the most peaceful things in the world to do, everything's so quiet. I didn't need more relaxants in my life then, i needed more excitement (plus an money sink...).
Anyway, kiting (just moving around with the thing over your head on a flat field) around without lessons is an ok thing to do, but please, please PLEASE do not attempt to launch w/o knowing what your doing, and if your really going to be stupid, at least practice on a small hill first. I've had my dad's instrutor's friend fall to his death because he didn't secure his harness properly one time (the crotch strap) and recently one guy who was rusty didn't do a launch properly and had to be carried away for several fractures and breaks in nasty spots and his stuff spread all over the forest.