Yeah, that sounds right, and I don't agree with making it opt-out. I think it should be opt-in and like you am now almost completely certain that it isn't.

Maybe it’s a lack of imagination, but I can’t think of why any kind of YC experience should be shameful, provided lessons were learned and no one ended up in jail.

That said, I still agree it should be opt-in.

He had to drop out due to still-unresolved mental health issues, and the source of his shame is mostly that he didn't deal with those issues earlier, and still isn't dealing with them now.

Hmm, I see. Can relate too. I still see that as no reason for shame, even though from within that situation it can feel shameful. The journey to getting better can be a long and challenging one that’s hard to make sense of from the outside.

I would like to give you some feedback; nobody cares if you see something as shameful or not, least of all the person feeling the shame.