The kid you describe must have a tough life, if that's the way he approaches it. I feel bad for him, but I can also understand why people likely don't bother with him too much.

I'm always torn on these things. It's another of those issues many people seem to go all-or-nothing on: if you extend some understanding of circumstance, you're excusing behavior. If you don't extend any understanding of circumstance, you're a heartless ass. I think I'm more of a gradient type; there are differences between an excuse and an explanation.