That's where the nature versus nurture thing comes in. I think Phil was that socially awkward kid in school, even when people tried to be friends with him, people realized that he's an asshole. A spoiled asshole, at that too. I remember during the "ReeAck" to 80's toy commercials, he went "I had that one, that one, and that one.' and he went into detail about what they did, etc...and he would get mad at the local kids because he wanted them to put it back in the toybox.
I think Phil was not just spoiled, but just that kid who was an asshole because he liked being an asshole. Behind your back, of course. Because while Phil is confrontational behind a screen, he's nice to you in person.