Not wise to follow the crowd.
There can always be a schizo-type among that crowd who will whack innocents if given the opportunity.
I wouldn’t need to follow the crowd. (Our tribe is pretty much set.)
I’m saying what if the crowd follows YOU?
If you want a fairly realistic look at what’s coming in a societal breakdown, read One Second After.
The book is fiction but the scenarios he paints are far too feasible. I know there’s debate about the effect an EMP would have, but there are other things that could take down the power grid and disrupt the supply chain.
That book got me really serious about prepping.