Don’t Mess With The Starbucks Chihuahua

Summary

In a Starbucks encounter, a woman named Joelle with a chihuahua named Peanut in her Gucci bag reacts haughtily when the dog shows affection to another customer, Mae, leading to an exploration of social ethics and projection of insecurities.

Abstract

Joelle, a seemingly affluent woman with a concealed chihuahua named Peanut, enters a Starbucks with an air of superiority. She engages in a brief, superficial exchange with Mae, a doctoral student working on her dissertation on Social Ethics. When Joelle's dog, Peanut, escapes and befriends Mae, Joelle's reaction is one of entitlement and false concern for the dog's health, demanding that Mae not touch her pet. The incident prompts Mae to include this interaction in her dissertation as a case study on how individuals may project their insecurities onto others through haughty behavior. The case study is later published in "Ethics Today," emphasizing the importance of not feeling inferior when faced with such attitudes.

Opinions

Joelle is portrayed as someone who uses her clothing and possessions to assert superiority over others, as seen in her interaction with Mae.
Mae is characterized as humble and grounded, focusing on her academic work and not initially engaging in the superficial conversation initiated by Joelle.
The author suggests that Joelle's overprotective and dramatic reaction to Peanut's interaction with Mae is a reflection of her own insecurities.
The incident is used to illustrate a broader social ethics issue, where individuals may use various means, including pets, to assert dominance or superiority in social settings.
The publication of the case study in "Ethics Today" underlines the relevance and educational value of such everyday social interactions in the study of ethics.

Microfiction

Joelle enters Starbucks with a chihuahua named Peanut hidden in her Gucci bag. She is ready to get down to business with her talent agency job.

“I love your outfit,” says a mousy 20-something girl with dishwater blonde hair, standing in line behind Joelle.

Peeking out from behind her dark sunglasses, Joelle says, “Thank you. It’s very…expensive…” She can tell the girl can’t afford such clothes: black Lularoe leggings and a smart cream-colored cashmere sweater from Ann Taylor, not to mention her London Fly shoes.

“Well, anyway. You look very smart.” Joelle does indeed look smart. “My name is Mae. Hope you have a nice day.” Mae reaches for her iced coffee and goes to sit at a two-top table. She is working on her Social Ethics doctoral dissertation.

Joelle sets her bag on the cold ceramic floor to get her frappuccino from the bar. Peanut sneaks out of the bag and finds Mae’s sandaled toes. He starts licking them. Mae looks down, wondering what the heck is happening. She sees the cutest chihuahua and bends down to pet him, wondering where he came from and why he’s in the store. Probably belongs to the snotty lady.

Joelle heads back to her table and sees what is happening. “Don’t touch Peanut! He’s allergic to everything. You may be causing him to get sick. Stop it! Give him back!”

Peanut looks up at Joelle’s angry face and snuggles deeper into Mae’s toes. Mae sighs, scooping up the dog, and handing him to Joelle.

As Joelle storms off in a huff, Mae begins adding a new case study to her dissertation.

Later it is published in Ethics Today: Don’t Feel Inferior When Someone Projects Their Insecurities on you through Haughty Behavior and a Chihuahua Named Peanut: a case study.

Don’t Mess With The Starbucks Chihuahua

Microfiction

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