Invidious comparison eating, or ICE, manifests when someone indirectly claims superiority over a dish by emphasizing how they make it better, which can be rude.
Historically rooted in social class dynamics, ICE reflects a desire to assert culinary superiority while simultaneously putting the host's cooking down, showcasing their own social status.
Thorstein Veblen's research illustrates that invidious comparison is a long-standing behavior among the affluent, where showcasing one's culinary prowess becomes a marker of class distinction.
The phenomenon of ICE not only makes the dining experience uncomfortable but also highlights deeper issues of social status and personal insecurity that emerge during communal meals.
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