No, other self, you're not a cautionary tale. You're a fucking role model. The word choice doesn't bother Wash at all. It's the least-bullshitty thing that's been said all evening.

The thing is, the other Wash doesn't have to keep being a cautionary tale. The fact that he's so dead-set on it is pretty irritating. Wash sighs.

"And how can I help? I'm useless, remember?" Wash delivers the last sentence to his other self rather than to York. He's throwing his twin's hurtful words right back at him.