So, if someone else does well, somehow that detracts from the person's sense of significance and worth. Unfortunately, many would feel less successful, and this would motivate their desire not to help the friend succeed. They are measuring their success relative to those they know, and they want to be on top. That is the bane of win-lose thinking. Today's dynamic entrepreneurial economy invariably means tremendous variations in the relative success of individuals.
Intellectual talent is the driving force of the economy.
We do not live in a Jane Austin fixed-class system. What you can assure is that the person will remember you as someone who showed no interest in helping his idea. Or, worse, someone who laughed at it. What the anti-menschites miss is that while you might feel a bit poor when you are around all your buddies, having one, two, or three friends all of whom have founded and built little empires, is a tremendous asset for you. Those who have goodwill toward you are strong.