Roughshod

I'd like a second opinion on something---I've talked about this in a few other posts and statuses, but I'm wondering whether Zephyr's behavior really adds up: the episode intended for the root of his problem to be a lack of confidence, but the symptoms of that were: laziness, manipulation of others, and apathy. Can a lack of self-confidence really have those symptoms?

I believe low self-confidence can contribute to a person being apathetic and lazy but usually isn't the only factor. His reluctance to change as well as the effort he put into pressuring and deceiving others actually suggests some confidence on his part in getting what he wants in the end. He formed a behavioral pattern based on self-aggrandizement and self-sabotage while leaving others to pick him up when he inevitably fell. It's very indicative of a narcissistic personality.

I see what you mean.

Plus, I realized after I made these posts that, if someone is going to be lazy, then they also need to be manipulative, because if they don't manipulate someone else into doing it for them, then either (a) they need to get off their lazy gluteous maximus and do it themselves, or ( it won't get done. So...it's very plausible, disturbing though it is...!