The manager of a very posh store in New York City has this weird habit of touching her employees’ lunches. She has picked up sandwiches and taken bites out of them without permission. She even sticks her finger into their donuts or muffins while they are eating them.


She laughs and thinks it is funny. I find it disgusting and rude. What is wrong with this woman? People have said things to her, but she continues to abuse her authority. Since she rules the store, what can they do?

Mardi

Mardi, there is one thing they can do about this woman’s behavior. Make her disappear! They can do this permanently by quitting, or temporarily, by eating out or eating elsewhere.

Obsessions, compulsions and morbid habits are deeply rooted. Her brain is stuck on impulses you will probably never understand, but even if you did, you lack the power to change them. It is sometimes said people who act this way get no pleasure from their behavior, but there is a clear gain to her actions.

Every time she touches her employees’ food she reinforces her superiority and their inferiority. In a way, that is the essence of poshness. The word “posh” means elegant, expensive and upper class.

Knowing the right wine to order from an extensive wine list may be wonderful, but only if you already know what is truly important. For that reason, being posh implies the ability to make unimportant distinctions, while being blind to what is truly important. In that sense your manager and her store are truly posh.

Wayne