Americans!!! please confirm or deny this happens?

dunkman

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

dunk, I agree with what you're saying in terms of how it *should* be. However, while traveling in foreign countries, you really should adhere to what is customary while you're there. it's just common courtesy. Really, in the US, it is acceptable to tip LESS for poor service not not at all, unless it is REALLY BAD for some reason, like ok, if I witnessed the waiter spitting in my soup or something...For average service, you tip average, which is 20% for dinner. It is NOT the best system, but really I would not travel to scotland and not adhere to local customs. it just seems very wrong. that "average" waiter is depending on that tip, because it is how the system works.

just because its customary doesnt mean that the system is flawed and stinks to high heaven... ergo i will complain about it.

its customary in Liberia to hack off the clitoris of a new born girl.. doesnt mean i shouldnt complain about it... (cue a Trixie comment of your ANALogy is crap)

ok... i've remembered one.. its a custom in Scotland that you cant buy alcohol on a sunday before 12.30pm... that fucking sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!

see... i could try and defend that one but i realise its a shit historical thing to do with churches and that god bloke.. so i call it out on its shitness.. just as tipping is a shit custom.

GreenTeaDisease

dunkman wrote:

just because its customary doesnt mean that the system is flawed and stinks to high heaven... ergo i will complain about it.

its customary in Liberia to hack off the clitoris of a new born girl.. doesnt mean i shouldnt complain about it... (cue a Trixie comment of your ANALogy is crap)

ok... i've remembered one.. its a custom in Scotland that you cant buy alcohol on a sunday before 12.30pm... that fucking sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!

see... i could try and defend that one but i realise its a shit historical thing to do with churches and that god bloke.. so i call it out on its shitness.. just as tipping is a shit custom.

...and people talk about rude AMERICAN tourists...

We're talking about tourism here, dunk, not female circumcision. When I go to a different country, I read the rules for tipping and I do what it says. period. as trixie says, it's up to you not to tip, but you WILL look like an ass.

dunkman

TrixieCat wrote:

erm...that was 2 years ago...what happened?

And Dunk, the whole busdrive ANALogy was pretty lame.
When you come here either tip or don't tip.
It is obviously your own personal choice.
But don't be surprised when you make an ass out of yourself.

freudian slip my dear

i wont make an ass out of myself... if i get lousy service and i dont tip then how does that make me an ass? if the owner comes out i'll give him a traditional scottish Glasgow Kiss, which as you know is a custom over here if someone is shouting in my face about not tipping

dunkman

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

...and people talk about rude AMERICAN tourists...

that they do.. world renowned for it

http://www.ehow.com/how_2152123_not-be-typical-american-tourist.html

thats an actual serious answer on a website and yet its geuinely comedic in content

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

We're talking about tourism here, dunk, not female circumcision. When I go to a different country, I read the rules for tipping and I do what it says. period. as trixie says, it's up to you not to tip, but you WILL look like an ass.

i wont... i'll tip if i need to, i wont tip if i dont.. i'm on my vacation there so if the restaurant is shite then i just wont go back (hereby rendering the "oh i'll give you Jerk Chicken my non-tipping enemy" argument)

as i said.. it may be customary but that doesnt mean its not a flawed system... and i like to think i can spot the flaws about things in my country... i'd like it if americans did as well, but they're probably to busy making flags to notice

TrixieCat

dunkman wrote:

freudian slip my dear

i wont make an ass out of myself... if i get lousy service and i dont tip then how does that make me an ass? if the owner comes out i'll give him a traditional scottish Glasgow Kiss, which as you know is a custom over here if someone is shouting in my face about not tipping

But you don't tip over there so why would anyone be shouting in your face about not tipping?


It's just rude, Dunk.
That is all we are saying.
Rude.

GreenTeaDisease

TrixieCat wrote:

But you don't tip over there so why would anyone be shouting in your face about not tipping?


It's just rude, Dunk.
That is all we are saying.
Rude.

exactly, it's OFFENSIVE. it's like walking into a house in some asian countries and not taking off your shoes, or going to some muslim countries as a woman and wearing pants. it's just what's done. you might not agree with it, but you do it to be a gracious guest. that waiter you don't tip will NOT MAKE ANY MONEY. Don't you understand that? There ARE waiters that deserve that. As I said, if they spit in your soup, you have my permission not to tip. But for average restaurant service, you have to tip, it is our system and if it is flawed (and I said I agree on that) that's just too bad, it's how it works.

TrixieCat

dunkman wrote:

that they do.. world renowned for it

http://www.ehow.com/how_2152123_not-be-typical-american-tourist.html

thats an actual serious answer on a website and yet its geuinely comedic in content





i wont... i'll tip if i need to, i wont tip if i dont.. i'm on my vacation there so if the restaurant is shite then i just wont go back (hereby rendering the "oh i'll give you Jerk Chicken my non-tipping enemy" argument)

as i said.. it may be customary but that doesnt mean its not a flawed system... and i like to think i can spot the flaws about things in my country... i'd like it if americans did as well, but they're probably to busy making flags to notice

According to your little link, we aren't allowed to look at a map...lol
I still look at the subway map from time to time if I am not sure which train stops where...local or express.
But thanks for enlightening us.

dunkman

TrixieCat wrote:

But you don't tip over there so why would anyone be shouting in your face about not tipping?


It's just rude, Dunk.
That is all we are saying.
Rude.

because the location setting was your home country... thats why i said i wouldnt make an ass of myself.. how could i make an ass of myself if i was here?

its rude for americans to come over here and try and tip barmen in my country... but the vast majority try and do it... the barmen hate it, of course being scottish they take the money, but it doesnt mean they'll get served quicker or better... far from it... they consider it to be a sign of trying to be 'flash with the cash'... no-one likes a show-off with money... "here poor barman pauper have a $5 for that $2 beer!!!"... showing off

TrixieCat

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

exactly, it's OFFENSIVE. it's like walking into a house in some asian countries and not taking off your shoes, or going to some muslim countries as a woman and wearing pants. it's just what's done. you might not agree with it, but you do it to be a gracious guest. that waiter you don't tip will NOT MAKE ANY MONEY. Don't you understand that? There ARE waiters that deserve that. As I said, if they spit in your soup, you have my permission not to tip. But for average restaurant service, you have to tip, it is our system and if it is flawed (and I said I agree on that) that's just too bad, it's how it works.

I wouldn't go as far as these examples.

GreenTeaDisease

TrixieCat wrote:

I wouldn't go as far as these examples.

well maybe not, but you get my point, about traveling to places where you are a GUEST.

dunkman

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

exactly, it's OFFENSIVE. it's like walking into a house in some asian countries and not taking off your shoes, or going to some muslim countries as a woman and wearing pants. it's just what's done. you might not agree with it, but you do it to be a gracious guest. that waiter you don't tip will NOT MAKE ANY MONEY. Don't you understand that? There ARE waiters that deserve that. As I said, if they spit in your soup, you have my permission not to tip. But for average restaurant service, you have to tip, it is our system and if it is flawed (and I said I agree on that) that's just too bad, it's how it works.

and i've repeatedly said when i;m over there in the states i will tip accordingly.. but if i get poor service then i wont.. simple as that... i still think the system sucks and thats why i'm moaning about it...

and think about those other customs.. they are genuine customs related to genuine reasons.. Japanese ones of taking off shoes is hygenic, their tatami mats get dirty,etc etc .. the muslim one is religion based and should be respected.... but tipping 20% to someone is the american custom???? i'd be ashamed if my countries main custom was to do with the splashing of cash

GreenTeaDisease

dunkman wrote:

because the location setting was your home country... thats why i said i wouldnt make an ass of myself.. how could i make an ass of myself if i was here?

its rude for americans to come over here and try and tip barmen in my country... but the vast majority try and do it... the barmen hate it, of course being scottish they take the money, but it doesnt mean they'll get served quicker or better... far from it... they consider it to be a sign of trying to be 'flash with the cash'... no-one likes a show-off with money... "here poor barman pauper have a $5 for that $2 beer!!!"... showing off

so...if it is rude for americans to tip in scotland, then it is rude for scots NOT to tip in america. you just made our point. Those americans didn't pay attention to the rule not to tip, and you're not paying attention to the rule TO tip...if you don't tip, you will look exactly the same as the americans who do tip in scotland, like an ass.

dunkman

TrixieCat wrote:

According to your little link, we aren't allowed to look at a map...lol
I still look at the subway map from time to time if I am not sure which train stops where...local or express.
But thanks for enlightening us.

i didnt enlighten you.. i merely provided the words of another fellow american... i just thought it was funny.

if i could find the US tourist scene in Trainspotting for you then i'd post it but i cant

TrixieCat

dunkman wrote:

because the location setting was your home country... thats why i said i wouldnt make an ass of myself.. how could i make an ass of myself if i was here?

its rude for americans to come over here and try and tip barmen in my country... but the vast majority try and do it... the barmen hate it, of course being scottish they take the money, but it doesnt mean they'll get served quicker or better... far from it... they consider it to be a sign of trying to be 'flash with the cash'... no-one likes a show-off with money... "here poor barman pauper have a $5 for that $2 beer!!!"... showing off

Well, probably because the American took one look at the barman and gave him 3 extra bucks to go out and buy some self tanner. Get a little color on that skin. :eek:

No, GTD, I still am not agreeing. I would equate your examples with things like not removing your hat when the Star Spangled Banner is playing at a ballgame or cutting off a funeral procession or talking in church.

Steve Dunne

this thread is making me ill.

dunkman

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

so...if it is rude for americans to tip in scotland, then it is rude for scots NOT to tip in america. you just made our point. Those americans didn't pay attention to the rule not to tip, and you're not paying attention to the rule TO tip...if you don't tip, you will look exactly the same as the americans who do tip in scotland, like an ass.

http://forums.pearljam.com/showpost.php?p=5202148&postcount=72
first few words yet again.... i will tip, i've always said i will unless something causes me to think otherwise.



but NO american sticks to that custom of ours... they ALL try and tip the barman... not one of them adheres to the custom... therefore its your own countrymen who are insulting our barstaff on a regular basis.. i'm pretty sure its a tiny tiny minority of British travellers who will refuse to tip when in the States.

TrixieCat

dunkman wrote:

i didnt enlighten you.. i merely provided the words of another fellow american... i just thought it was funny.

if i could find the US tourist scene in Trainspotting for you then i'd post it but i cant

Was it the scene where all the Scots are wearing Chuck's and listening to American rock music and wearing Levi's?? Oh, that one wouldn't be in there because no one wants to admit they desire most things American. Except the things you choose to make fun of like obesity, guns and fast food.

GreenTeaDisease

TrixieCat wrote:

Well, probably because the American took one look at the barman and gave him 3 extra bucks to go out and buy some self tanner. Get a little color on that skin. :eek:

No, GTD, I still am not agreeing. I would equate your examples with things like not removing your hat when the Star Spangled Banner is playing at a ballgame or cutting off a funeral procession or talking in church.

it's all customs though, be they economic (tips), religious (say, covering your head as a woman), whatever. the point is that with any custom, you can prepare before you travel, and if you chose not to adhere to it, then you wind up looking like the ass, and no one cares if you are trying to make point. Hell once in ireland I reached for a guinness before the head was ready and got chewed out by the bar tender for not knowing the custom.

GreenTeaDisease

dunkman wrote:

but NO american sticks to that custom of ours... they ALL try and tip the barman...

you've personally witnessed EVERY american who travels to scotland? shit, you've got a lot of free time on your hands.You HEAR about the ones that don't because they're the ones who are going to get noticed. No one's going to repeat a story or take notice when someone does something that is the NORM. Dude, I haven't been to scotland, but I've been to other countries where you don't tip, and I haven't tipped. Neither has anyone I've been with. And last I looked at my passport, it was american.

GraySaturday

I don't want to fight with anyone about this, but when I was a waitress in college we made 2.83 an hour and that was standard in PA. They paid you that and you made up the rest in tips. I can tell you HONESTLY that I got a zeroed out pay check every single week because the entire thing went to taxes. When someone would leave no tip, there were times I actually cried because then I wasnt getting paid. Honestly if you don't tip (at most places in America) you're not hurting anyone but the server who (hopefully) busted their ass to do a good job so you would tip. I worked with people that would refuse to take a table if the people were foreign. I think that's wrong and descrimintory. However, it was so hard to get a shifty tip or no tip sometimes because then I couldnt pay my bills I'd buy food or what not. Its a crappy system but for the time being not tipping directly hits the waitstaff :(