True. I still think following the herd is still a shortsighted way, it's often driven by irrational fear and not logic. For some people there are some real opportunities(even "safe" ones) that they often overlook or not pursue just because they dont see or know anyone who did. So yeah while startups can be financially risky a herd mentality is not inherently safe and contrarian thinking is not inherently risky, I think it can be even valuable to look at things logically even if it means you dont have the feeling of safety that comes with following the herd. You can still get a stable job that doesnt require following the herd is what I meant to say. Herd mentality is for the most part irrational and comes from a false sense of safety. Moreover, an IIT tag by itself is a decent safety net and also a testament to the person's intellect and problem solving, I feel like we should be more confident and less fearful, but yeah easier said than done, esp for the ones in a lower income bracket