Stupid, lazy coward! That's me. The problem is that you can say them of anyone. They are subjective. I think it is a good policy not to judge people when you don't have a good reason to. While that seems so simple that it needs no explanation, why don't people live that way? 

Consider how accusations are also excuses. To accuse someone, means that a claim is made about responsibility. If the someone is to blame, then others are not to blame. Every accusation of an individual is an excuse on behalf of society (and our position in it). The hidden claim is that the status quo is good enough. (Why else is there a saying, 'life is not fair'?) It is not so much a matter of social acceptance, as it is a matter of social encouragement or discouragement. We take on roles so readily that we don't even realize when we do. Doing our own thinking takes too much work. 

If a hard luck story comes your way, it does no good to go adding your own excuses (to sooth myself). What you have to do is decide what you are going to do (if anything). You might offer advice; You needn't expect it to be welcome. Patience is an investment in your own edification. While there is a tendency for low status individuals to be less reliable, the tendency to blame low status individuals is much stronger.