User blog comment:Total Drama Wiki! Wars/Week of February 8, 2015/@comment-4516085-20150213045245/@comment-24152851-20150214104220

@TDPIScarlett, there's a difference between someone never getting the chance to do something (because a psychopath has restricted their entire life), and being incapable of doing it. She's never been allowed to do anything, but that doesn't mean she voluntarily chooses not to. Zoey on the other hand, was actually incapable of making friends back at home.

Besides, I got quite a clear view on what usually happens when she approaches a new person, from her interactions with Jasmine. She would love to make a new friends, but is scared of the consequences so keeps holding back. As to how the world sees Samey, Amy and Chris provided a glimpse of that in episode 1.

The whole nice thing is kind of besides the point. But in any case, she only did those "mean" things after being encouraged by Jasmine, and it wasn't exactly uncalled for considering she received a life-time of abuse. Prior to that she would never provoke others. She isn't "actively nice" as past characters, but that plays into being hesitant to reach out to others.