Zone has been stuck in one mindset since practically the start of this game. He was called scum once, experienced a healthy dose of toxicity, and practically gave up. He did not once say that the people calling him scum are wrong, or acting scummy in doing so. He continued to focus on himself, talk about himself regretting to sign up, he got all emotional. Later on he then started trying to justify his lack of a reaction to the scumreads thrown at him. He still isn't calling anyone scum as far as I can tell.
The justifying part is the newbie mistake I mentioned a bunch of times. When you're town and realize you messed up you try to understand where the other townies are coming from and accept their reads. You don't go further in your hole and say you're being right, while also not denying that they are being right. Only exposed scum do that.
Take this as a tldr of the back of my head.