Most I know who have been stung either hooked them or stepped on them. I generally try to release them unharmed if I inadvertently hook one.
MrEd wrote:
I have seen videos of people petting sting rays too. There are some that have been fed and treated to almost everything they like and divers are taken there to feed them and play with them. As long as you do not try to confine them or treat them badly, they will not attack. That's how Steve got killed by one. He made the mistake of grabbing one and it felt threatened. There has never been an instance of anyone being attacked unless they did something wrong.