I want your opinions on this situation, whatever they may be. I am too close to the situation to be impartial, so am hoping for some fresh eyes. I am intentionally being vague in a few things so that I don't unduly influence any of you one way or another. Thus all names are completely fictitious.
Cocktail creating bartender contest. Harry is hoping to win. Sponsor announces that there is a tie for first, setting up a tiebreaker. Harry is not one of the two tied for first. Upset by this, Harry leaves, not waiting to find out the final results. The following is a text conversation after this between Harry and Dennis. Dennis showed up to support and cheer for Harry, and stayed when Harry left.
DENNIS: You came in third. Get back here for the prize.
DENNIS: Btw, first, second, and third were separated by 0.1, according to [Judge].
HARRY: At [Bar]. Soon to be at [Other Bar]. Collect it for me. I'm a lousy miss congeniality. And basically third place against these competitors means I suck.
HARRY: And I'm the 0.1 who lost out and didn't get a chance to win. You're not really helping my mood.
DENNIS: 0.1. And everyone knows you don't suck. Unless its for money, and then it's cool.
HARRY: 0.1 means I lost. And you saw the rest of the competition. I'm sure 4th through 7th wasn't even close.
DENNIS: Probably not. But they did get the right top three.
HARRY: Gee thanks. Because I don't want to win or place. Showing is good enough.
DENNIS: Stop being a dick. Not saying you shouldn't have won. You should have. But the top three they picked were the best three. So stop being a whiney little brat and start acting like the adult and the professional we both know you are.
HARRY: I'm not whining. I lost. You can color it every way you want but I was in this to win it. Third prize is only another way to say second loser.
DENNIS: I expect my friends to tell me when I'm being a bitch. You always come through in that regard. Right now, you're being a bitch. Leaving once you knew you hadn't won was a bitch move. And I'm saying this not to be a dick or rub it in, but because I expect better from you. You're [Harry's age] and one of the best bartenders I've ever known. Start acting like it.
HARRY: My mom's still alive. I'll let you know when you can tell me how to live my life. And I've told you many times about how customers perceive you and try to help you be a better bartender and your response was always "I'm funny, fuck them." So your hippocracy is kind of funny.
DENNIS: I've always appreciated your honesty, even if I have not always agreed with your assessment. Likewise, I will not lie to my friends, as I would never want them to lie to me. So while I would never tell you how to live your life, I will tell you that you were far less than gracious tonight. I don't want to argue with you, Harry. So I'll simply say that I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.
HARRY: Are you going to keep trying to be right, which is so important to you, or are you going to be my friend, and just hang with me?
DENNIS: I'm not trying to be right. Just trying to be a friend. I love you like the brother I never had, and no amount of disagreement or arguing will ever change that. I hope you never forget that.
HARRY: Of course you argue and type a response and don't just find your friend. #2 reason why this ain't my home-friends who can't be bothered.
DENNIS: Not finding you because I'm trying to give you space and you're at a very negative place I don't want to be at. Has nothing to do with "can't be bothered." I would hope you know me better than that.
HARRY: Really? I FUCKING TOLD YOU WHAT BAR I WAS GOING TO BE AT BUT THAT BAR DIDN'T WORK FOR YOU. LUCKILY I SAW MY FRIEND [BEN] PLAYING AND THAT'S WHY I CHANGED MY DESTINATION. IF YOU ARE SO DUMB THAT YOU COULDN'T UNDERSTAND MY DISAPPOINTMENT YOU OWE [RICK] AN APOLOGY. CAUSE HE'S OBVIOUSLY SMARTER THAN YOU. I LOST, I LEFT, I APPLAUD YOU WAITING TO SEE HOW CLOSE I WAS AS A LOSER, HE WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED I WAS PISSED AND WANTED A FRIEND.
DENNIS: Have a good night, Harry.
HARRY: I wanted a friend to hang out with. Guess I don't have any.
Comments? Opinions? Thoughts?
Cocktail creating bartender contest. Harry is hoping to win. Sponsor announces that there is a tie for first, setting up a tiebreaker. Harry is not one of the two tied for first. Upset by this, Harry leaves, not waiting to find out the final results. The following is a text conversation after this between Harry and Dennis. Dennis showed up to support and cheer for Harry, and stayed when Harry left.
DENNIS: You came in third. Get back here for the prize.
DENNIS: Btw, first, second, and third were separated by 0.1, according to [Judge].
HARRY: At [Bar]. Soon to be at [Other Bar]. Collect it for me. I'm a lousy miss congeniality. And basically third place against these competitors means I suck.
HARRY: And I'm the 0.1 who lost out and didn't get a chance to win. You're not really helping my mood.
DENNIS: 0.1. And everyone knows you don't suck. Unless its for money, and then it's cool.
HARRY: 0.1 means I lost. And you saw the rest of the competition. I'm sure 4th through 7th wasn't even close.
DENNIS: Probably not. But they did get the right top three.
HARRY: Gee thanks. Because I don't want to win or place. Showing is good enough.
DENNIS: Stop being a dick. Not saying you shouldn't have won. You should have. But the top three they picked were the best three. So stop being a whiney little brat and start acting like the adult and the professional we both know you are.
HARRY: I'm not whining. I lost. You can color it every way you want but I was in this to win it. Third prize is only another way to say second loser.
DENNIS: I expect my friends to tell me when I'm being a bitch. You always come through in that regard. Right now, you're being a bitch. Leaving once you knew you hadn't won was a bitch move. And I'm saying this not to be a dick or rub it in, but because I expect better from you. You're [Harry's age] and one of the best bartenders I've ever known. Start acting like it.
HARRY: My mom's still alive. I'll let you know when you can tell me how to live my life. And I've told you many times about how customers perceive you and try to help you be a better bartender and your response was always "I'm funny, fuck them." So your hippocracy is kind of funny.
DENNIS: I've always appreciated your honesty, even if I have not always agreed with your assessment. Likewise, I will not lie to my friends, as I would never want them to lie to me. So while I would never tell you how to live your life, I will tell you that you were far less than gracious tonight. I don't want to argue with you, Harry. So I'll simply say that I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.
HARRY: Are you going to keep trying to be right, which is so important to you, or are you going to be my friend, and just hang with me?
DENNIS: I'm not trying to be right. Just trying to be a friend. I love you like the brother I never had, and no amount of disagreement or arguing will ever change that. I hope you never forget that.
HARRY: Of course you argue and type a response and don't just find your friend. #2 reason why this ain't my home-friends who can't be bothered.
DENNIS: Not finding you because I'm trying to give you space and you're at a very negative place I don't want to be at. Has nothing to do with "can't be bothered." I would hope you know me better than that.
HARRY: Really? I FUCKING TOLD YOU WHAT BAR I WAS GOING TO BE AT BUT THAT BAR DIDN'T WORK FOR YOU. LUCKILY I SAW MY FRIEND [BEN] PLAYING AND THAT'S WHY I CHANGED MY DESTINATION. IF YOU ARE SO DUMB THAT YOU COULDN'T UNDERSTAND MY DISAPPOINTMENT YOU OWE [RICK] AN APOLOGY. CAUSE HE'S OBVIOUSLY SMARTER THAN YOU. I LOST, I LEFT, I APPLAUD YOU WAITING TO SEE HOW CLOSE I WAS AS A LOSER, HE WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED I WAS PISSED AND WANTED A FRIEND.
DENNIS: Have a good night, Harry.
HARRY: I wanted a friend to hang out with. Guess I don't have any.
Comments? Opinions? Thoughts?
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