Yeah, that is not it. You have discovered a different conflict
The conflict between Rich (Man of Blues) and Fred really is NOT between Rich and Fred, it just seems that way, even to them probably. But the root cause goes further back and only applies to one of them. And that cause left a raw, bloody and open sore in one of their psyches. The other one came along and it started off with the second one simply occupying a spot the first was <sort of> driven out of. And so the friction began. Really, as I see it, this is nothing more than a perfectly predictable conflict arising out of an initial situation and exacerbated by the personalities involved (not saying anyone is 'bad', just that each has personality facets that are sensitive to this kind of friction). Once the game was in motion, it was merely a matter of time IMO. Sort of like add water, bring to a boil, and you have soup.
There are very predictable human (and maybe even mammal) behaviors that are entirely predictable even though we seem to want to be surprised every single time. For example: 10 people work in a dept, with one [manager, leader, whatever the title] and nine [workers, underlings, again whatever term you like]. For whatever reason, and regardless of any fault or the lack thereof, the lead person is put into the batch of workers, and another worker is selected to be the manager. Maybe after a medical leave of absence, for example. Everyone says they are fine with the arrangement but that is almost certainly a fib on at least one person's part: that person, the one who was demoted, resents it and begins 'sniping' at the new manager, as well as stirring up malice among the rest of the workers. This either continues on an open- ended path, or deteriorates until someone or both parties are forced to leave (forced from outside, or internal emotions, makes no difference). All of which was perfectly predictable. What is amazing about it is that we have seen this for 100,000 years and yet every-time it comes up, we are again surprised because others surrounding the situation think they have done a great job of smoothing things over. But we cannot suppress human (maybe mammal) emotions, and predictable reactions.
There are other conflicts all over the world as well as in forums. Sometimes they are subtle, sometimes obvious. It has always been this way and will always be so IMO.
Further changes will follow, along with conflicting interests and motives mixed in, just to make it fun (that was a sarcastic joke but really the emotion is sadness). Some people want certain things and will be drive to try to get them; some will try to do 'the right thing', others will be driven by ego, and some will be driven by profit. And so it goes, as it has since man settled in the fertile triangle (Easy Boys, not THAT fertile triangle!).
As far as the chicken and the egg thing, sometimes you can even get a song out of it; 'Mother and Child Reunion' was inspired by a chicken and egg dish served at a diner.
Brian
ACtually I have a pretty good idea of the history especially given one of the sticky links on here somewhere 
Bloody Politics
Anyways stayng on specifics it doesn't matter which first the chicken or the egg, the result is still something to eat 
