I will say that I don’t think Max is stupid. In fact, I think he’s intelligent.
Which is why I find it troubling that he seems so determined to use his intelligence to rationalize himself into being a shitty, selfish human being, completely devoid of kindness and compassion.
Some people like to use small acts to spread kindness. To me, a good tip is an easy way to accomplish that goal. I see that extra dollar as a way to lift the spirit of another human being for a little while, and it’s well worth it to me. It’s part of my “if everyone in the world did this, would the world be a better place” philosophy of life.
When I listen to Max waste so much time and energy convincing himself that the other person doesn’t deserve that dollar bill, won’t benefit from that dollar bill, convincing himself that he is somehow being cheated or abused or otherwise put on the wrong side of a transaction if he doesn’t hang onto that one little scrap of dresser change, my already low opinion of him sinks even lower.
Then there’s that fucking annoying habit he has of digging through the shitty behavior of shitty people looking for little lumps of something that isn’t shit, and holding them high like they constitute some sort of vindication.
I replied to this with a quote from a favorite movie
To be fair, Hitler was better looking than Churchill. He was a better dresser than Churchill. He had more hair! He told funnier jokes! And he could dance the pants off Churchill!
And it went right over his tone-deaf pointy head. He actually thought I was making a point about Hitler, not about him and his shit-mining habit.
Now, I don’t think Max is irredeemable. But it’s sad to see an intelligent young person trying so hard to be callous and uncaring because he thinks it’s a necessary life skill, or something. I hope he changes.