I just don't think that Richie is a genuenly good person, or at least he's going trough a phase that he might have grown out of had he gotten enough time (and therapy), where he acts like an asshole.
I think Richie is trans. (that is not the phase or the bad part) And I think even before he came out he had a reputation for being weird. So I think that as a coping mechanism for both the bullying and dysphoria he ends up leaning a little too heavy to the stereotypical masc side. The tought process being that he was previosly bullied because they tought he was a girl and it will stop if they see he is actually a "real man".
So he goes trough a list of what "men" like:
1. Sports: Richie doesn't like excersiceing especially cause he gets really sweaty really fast and Jagerman doesn't let nerds to see the games so, he becomes the mascot, cause that is interest enough in sports.
2. Alcohol and parties: well, he doesn't get invited so that one is out.
3. Women: Richie is, and I cannot stress this enough, very gay. He only likes the idea of women *cough cough. Anime body pillows. cough cough*
4. Hating anything feminine: this is the only point that Richie can fully and complitely lean into. So he does.
There are some comments in the show that just seem a lite objectifing towards women, like the whole "hit it and quit it" like bro, you are talking about one of your only friends and encouraging Pete to treat her like that. And while we are on that, I do not think that Ruth's mental health problems mix well with Richie's problems. Cause like, Ruth doesn't seem to have very much confidence and respect for herself. And her biggest character trait is that she is just horny all the time. Richie doesn't interact with many girls so what does that tell him about women?
Like I said, I like to belive that that is something he could work trough in therapy if he lived long enough to do so, but for now, no he is not a good person in my eyes.
