If Jack were a golden retriever, his ears would perk up at the word war, given it's been a global hobby of his world's as long as he can remember. Still, that's not one he's heard of before.

"The Cold War?" His eyebrows perk up, if not his ears. Is that a real thing, or a Wayward Pines thing? Shit, better not to ask--he's getting them off topic.

There's a brief, considering pause before Jack slowly starts to nod. "Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying, actually. I mean, not the thinking part, but the vocal part. That's why people are give you a wide berth." Huh. This guy's pretty quick on the draw. Jack been ready for a hair-tearing, clothes-rending, lack-of-indoor-voice meltdown, but maybe this dude'll catch on by himself.

At no point just Jack try to justify that this is normal, because it sure as hell isn't that, but it's necessary to keep a low profile. Playing along seems like the safest best when the people in charge have every tactical advantage, up to and including the ability to fiddle with people's minds.