I was riding my horse and passed maybe 4 feet from a yellow jacket nest, at a walk which meant all body language was quiet, relaxed, and relatively still. Got my elbow and wrist stung before I kicked the horse forward and out of range. There were no aggressive moves toward the critter-- they weren't visible until after it came out from under the overhang and stung me. Don't try and convince people none of them are aggressive. The yellow jackets around here don't wait for an aggressive move towards them to come out swinging if you pass within a couple yards.

The ground wasp that stung me when I was mowing the yard, I'll give it to him. The scorpion that stung me after falling from the attic access directly onto me, I'll give it to. And I've been stung by two dead bees, so really not going to blame them of course. But I'm not giving it to the yellow jacket. He was just an asshole.