Look at John. Look at him right here.

While Tavros wasn’t wrong persay, he and John both went to support Jake. The way Tavros went at it was telling Jake all the things that he didn’t consider as positive about himself. John is instead affirming that Jake’s choices and preferences are valid.

Again, both ways are good, and Tavros would have probably worked if Vriska didn’t interrupt. But I like John’s way a bit more.