For instance, he does seem to have some : insight in how to handle Vila. E.g. he is aware how Tarrant's handling of : Vila in "City" is a bad idea.

: So I suppose what I'm saying is that the "Avon doesn't give a damn" : viewpoint is misleading. He may well not give a damn on a personal level, : but he is surely aware that how he presents himself is important.

Ah, but I (and I suspect Kathryn) see that "City" scene differently. I think Avon is hurt by Vila's obvious fear in that scene. He has to come up with a pragmatic reason Tarrant shouldn't have done it before he'll speak up about it, because as Kathryn says he feels the need to show only the pragmatic aspect of himself--"A talented thief is rare"-- but I think he definitely has personal feelings involved, of friendship toward Vila.

I think Avon does have a good idea of some of the ways to influence people... and that his "I don't give a damn" attitude is part of him trying to NOT use that knowlege to his advantaage. He hates the idea of being manipulated. He also complains when he thinks Blake is manipulating the others. So he tells himself that by acting as if he's no one's friend, no one will follow him for the 'wrong' reasons. So, in essence, I think the opposite of the original poster. Avon *does* care what people think of him, in the sense that humans are social animals and one can' help but have a little desire to be well thought of. But he *tries* not to use what he knows of human emotion to get what he wants. Of course, I'm probably projeecting a lot of myself onto this. Had a discussion with Allan on Sunday about whether I should have told a friend I was worried I was hurting his feelings.

Helen