Gern Blansten said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

speaking of tipping, and sorry it's off topic, but my last experience at a massage spa (not a rub n tug) was odd. I took my wife there for the day. Massage, access to the nordic thermal spa, and lunch. Like a $600 day. the massages themselves were each $130. At the end of the massage, the therapist hands me this envelope. It's a fucking tip envelope that I can fill and leave at the front desk. 

at other spas they have the dignity to just let you do it when you pay at the front desk. although they do ask if you want to, instead of just leaving it up to you like they do at restaurants. 

I got to thinking......what the fuck do these people need tips for? they are registered massage therapists, trained professionals, who can get paid anywhere between $30-$70K. Why the fuck are they asking for tips? Am I going to be asked to tip my fucking dental assistant next?

it just seems to delegitimize the profession. 

Yeah sometimes it gets real confusing as to who to tip.  I've never understood my wife tipping her hair stylist.  

rgambs said:

jeffbr said:

Gern Blansten said: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE8j5ay_UU&t=229s

Here you see Dad starting off Euro and Mom doing the switch 14 seconds in.  Then Mom does a Euro around 1:16 but switches hands again at 2:41 and seems to follow the American style through until 4:37.

Daughter has clearly been taught by proper human beings as we never see her knife (edit...we do see it around 3:06 but she then switches hands before eating).  She has properly cut everything first and eats with fork in correct (right) hand.

Ah, but pre-cutting meat beyond a couple of pieces/bites is a breach of etiquette. Same with buttering bread. You don't grab a roll or slice of bread and slather butter on it. You tear a piece, butter that piece, and pop it in your mouth. Tear off and butter the next piece when you're ready for the next bite. 

I was taught table manners early on and of course taught American style. But after spending time in Europe and quickly adopted the European method of using a knife and fork I find it much more efficient and practical.

Inefficient and borderline double-dipping.
Keep your fingered bread out of my butter, thank you.

PJ_Soul said:

kce8 said:

Gern Blansten said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

speaking of tipping, and sorry it's off topic, but my last experience at a massage spa (not a rub n tug) was odd. I took my wife there for the day. Massage, access to the nordic thermal spa, and lunch. Like a $600 day. the massages themselves were each $130. At the end of the massage, the therapist hands me this envelope. It's a fucking tip envelope that I can fill and leave at the front desk. 

at other spas they have the dignity to just let you do it when you pay at the front desk. although they do ask if you want to, instead of just leaving it up to you like they do at restaurants. 

I got to thinking......what the fuck do these people need tips for? they are registered massage therapists, trained professionals, who can get paid anywhere between $30-$70K. Why the fuck are they asking for tips? Am I going to be asked to tip my fucking dental assistant next?

it just seems to delegitimize the profession. 

Yeah sometimes it gets real confusing as to who to tip.  I've never understood my wife tipping her hair stylist.  

I know it's confusing right.
Hair dresser are having a very low income in Germany too. They really need a tip. (Not talking about the star stylists )
But you just can't give a tip to everybody…

ALWAYS tip the hair stylist!!! You want to be in their good books no matter what! I tip my hair stylist better than anyone else that I tip. Like at least 25 - 30%. I have long hair that is finicky about how it's layered - I need the person cutting it to go above and beyond in terms of effort, and also need them to remember me and my hair really well. Also, if you tip your hair stylist well they give you an extra long and extra awesome scalp massage when they're washing and conditioning your hair.

kce8 said:

PJ_Soul said:

kce8 said:

Gern Blansten said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

speaking of tipping, and sorry it's off topic, but my last experience at a massage spa (not a rub n tug) was odd. I took my wife there for the day. Massage, access to the nordic thermal spa, and lunch. Like a $600 day. the massages themselves were each $130. At the end of the massage, the therapist hands me this envelope. It's a fucking tip envelope that I can fill and leave at the front desk. 

at other spas they have the dignity to just let you do it when you pay at the front desk. although they do ask if you want to, instead of just leaving it up to you like they do at restaurants. 

I got to thinking......what the fuck do these people need tips for? they are registered massage therapists, trained professionals, who can get paid anywhere between $30-$70K. Why the fuck are they asking for tips? Am I going to be asked to tip my fucking dental assistant next?

it just seems to delegitimize the profession. 

Yeah sometimes it gets real confusing as to who to tip.  I've never understood my wife tipping her hair stylist.  

I know it's confusing right.
Hair dresser are having a very low income in Germany too. They really need a tip. (Not talking about the star stylists )
But you just can't give a tip to everybody…

ALWAYS tip the hair stylist!!! You want to be in their good books no matter what! I tip my hair stylist better than anyone else that I tip. Like at least 25 - 30%. I have long hair that is finicky about how it's layered - I need the person cutting it to go above and beyond in terms of effort, and also need them to remember me and my hair really well. Also, if you tip your hair stylist well they give you an extra long and extra awesome scalp massage when they're washing and conditioning your hair.

You are so damn right!!!

I have long hair too, but I hate to go to the hairdresser. I would love that scalp massage etc. but I hate all the noisy women talking and giggling all the time. Goes on my nerves haha. I hate all that talking there, it should be quiet and calm there to relax and enjoy it. But all the women, jeezuz…
And to be honest I really nearly never like what they do to my hair. I always feel like I want to go home and wash it again. I want it naturally and most of the time it looks just like too much styled or done. (I don't know how to say it in English) So I avoid to go as long as I can. 

jeffbr said:

rgambs said:

jeffbr said:

Gern Blansten said: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE8j5ay_UU&t=229s

Here you see Dad starting off Euro and Mom doing the switch 14 seconds in.  Then Mom does a Euro around 1:16 but switches hands again at 2:41 and seems to follow the American style through until 4:37.

Daughter has clearly been taught by proper human beings as we never see her knife (edit...we do see it around 3:06 but she then switches hands before eating).  She has properly cut everything first and eats with fork in correct (right) hand.

Ah, but pre-cutting meat beyond a couple of pieces/bites is a breach of etiquette. Same with buttering bread. You don't grab a roll or slice of bread and slather butter on it. You tear a piece, butter that piece, and pop it in your mouth. Tear off and butter the next piece when you're ready for the next bite. 

I was taught table manners early on and of course taught American style. But after spending time in Europe and quickly adopted the European method of using a knife and fork I find it much more efficient and practical.

Inefficient and borderline double-dipping.
Keep your fingered bread out of my butter, thank you.

No double-dipping. The butter you use should be on your own plate. When butter is passed around, you take what you will need for your bread/roll, put it on your plate, and use that. If you run out, you ask for the butter to be passed again.

PJ_Soul said:

rgambs said:

jeffbr said:

rgambs said:

jeffbr said:

Gern Blansten said: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE8j5ay_UU&t=229s

Here you see Dad starting off Euro and Mom doing the switch 14 seconds in.  Then Mom does a Euro around 1:16 but switches hands again at 2:41 and seems to follow the American style through until 4:37.

Daughter has clearly been taught by proper human beings as we never see her knife (edit...we do see it around 3:06 but she then switches hands before eating).  She has properly cut everything first and eats with fork in correct (right) hand.

Ah, but pre-cutting meat beyond a couple of pieces/bites is a breach of etiquette. Same with buttering bread. You don't grab a roll or slice of bread and slather butter on it. You tear a piece, butter that piece, and pop it in your mouth. Tear off and butter the next piece when you're ready for the next bite. 

I was taught table manners early on and of course taught American style. But after spending time in Europe and quickly adopted the European method of using a knife and fork I find it much more efficient and practical.

Inefficient and borderline double-dipping.
Keep your fingered bread out of my butter, thank you.

No double-dipping. The butter you use should be on your own plate. When butter is passed around, you take what you will need for your bread/roll, put it on your plate, and use that. If you run out, you ask for the butter to be passed again.

But, why???

Because I said so!

No, this is an important one in terms of good table manners. Don't be sticking your knife in anything communal. Use that butter knife, and get your full supply the first time. This is for hygienic reasons. Some of your spit/germs could have reached your own knife.

F Me In The Brain said:

rgambs said:

jeffbr said:

rgambs said:

jeffbr said:

Gern Blansten said: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE8j5ay_UU&t=229s

Here you see Dad starting off Euro and Mom doing the switch 14 seconds in.  Then Mom does a Euro around 1:16 but switches hands again at 2:41 and seems to follow the American style through until 4:37.

Daughter has clearly been taught by proper human beings as we never see her knife (edit...we do see it around 3:06 but she then switches hands before eating).  She has properly cut everything first and eats with fork in correct (right) hand.

Ah, but pre-cutting meat beyond a couple of pieces/bites is a breach of etiquette. Same with buttering bread. You don't grab a roll or slice of bread and slather butter on it. You tear a piece, butter that piece, and pop it in your mouth. Tear off and butter the next piece when you're ready for the next bite. 

I was taught table manners early on and of course taught American style. But after spending time in Europe and quickly adopted the European method of using a knife and fork I find it much more efficient and practical.

Inefficient and borderline double-dipping.
Keep your fingered bread out of my butter, thank you.

No double-dipping. The butter you use should be on your own plate. When butter is passed around, you take what you will need for your bread/roll, put it on your plate, and use that. If you run out, you ask for the butter to be passed again.

But, why???

Why do anything?
That is what people who were taught the traditional manners do.  
I get that it doesn't hurt anyone to butter your bread incorrectly - but there is a correct way to do it that is established.
Not worth fighting city hall over butter. 

kce8 said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Yeah, I can understand why you guys would have differing views on tipping based on all that.  To tie this discussion back to the purpose of this thread (the European vs American method of doing things at the dinner table) I wish we'd adopt the European method of paying restaurant and bar workers.  Tipping is considered rude because they actually make livable wages doing those jobs.

I'm sorry to disagree with you.
We do tip here too, as we all know servers have a really low income. Times changed and I guess they all hope for a tip. But you don't have to tip, that's right. 
On the other side I think we don't give that much of a tip as the Americans. 
If I don't tip, the service must have been just bad. Still go with good behaviour and stay friendly.
Tipping is definitely not seeing as rude anymore. Not that I would know about that.