Fear is no excuse to remain ignorant, nor something one should blame others for.

[His response to it is neutral. It's a fact he's well aware of; neither compliment nor insult.

It does insult the other refugees to suggest they're just too shy to speak to him, but he doesn't really care about that.]

Not in any significant way. I wouldn't offer if it did. Think of it as... unlocking a certain potential within those mechs I engage.