Disagree from my experience, it is easy to injure yourself and recovery from back injuries can be slow. I am very careful and analytical about learning new activities, read the whole of starting strength carefully and practised filming myself while learning, and still hurt my back after 4 years of squatting, probably due to a momentary lapse in form. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, but there are probably less risky exercises to do.
I have had a similar experience, even though I am still much better off because of SS. Then again, I had been doing martial arts before, and the injuries I had seen there were far worse.
I wonder if lifting with a good coach would significantly reduce the risk of injuries.
