It is the hazing mentality. "I had to survive through it and so should you." In the end, some people are just unsympathetic assholes regardless of their experience.

As someone who spent years working service jobs, it's more like - I know that you don't have to be an incompetent asshole just because you're running a cash register or whatever.

> Shared experiences don't necessarily translate into compassion.

Good point, it explains why well-traveled people often end up being insufferable racists.