# Bad tipping AND conservative nonsense? Straight Dopers, assemble! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436 "2013-01-08T02:35:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/61 "2013-01-09T14:11:00Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I’m an Internet retailer and we sent out an email blast to our customers featuring new products the Thursday after the election. We received three replies blaming Obama’s reelection for their inability to spend money on luxuries. Yeah, people are assholes, but this strikes me as too pat. Also, I suspect most people don’t know how much they pay in taxes. I’m willing to guess few people complaining have actually had their taxes go up. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/62 "2013-01-09T16:39:22Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > You should amend that to, Changing the content of posts within quote tags is absolutely forbidden on the SDMB. Please don’t do it, even as a joke, even when leaving out the attribution. No warning, but seriously, you cannot do that. Thanks, RickJay Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/63 "2013-01-09T17:18:32Z")
I was working election night. When it was announced that Obama won, we had several customers who flat out said they weren’t going to tip since Obama was going to raise their taxes, and they stuck to their word about too,so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone had done this. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/64 "2013-01-09T17:23:22Z")
> [@Hottius\_Maximus](#): > > it would seem that the left wingers would be the ones trying to make the conservatives look bad. If it is fake, I don’t think it’s left wing conspiracy, just one person with Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/65 "2013-01-09T17:44:04Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > Also, I suspect most people don’t know how much they pay in taxes. I’m willing to guess few people complaining have actually had their taxes go up. The folks on my Facebook most vocal about people taking their tax money and throwing it away on illegals and welfare moms and how dare you raise taxes, Obummer?! are also the ones who pay a literal negative income tax rate. I know this because I have reviewed their taxes for them and with a combination of their income and sheer number of children their tax liability is 0. Add in to that other tax credits (kids and such) and suddenly they have a couple thousand dollars in refunds-- a number FAR exceeding their withholding from their checks. Try explaining to them that the reason they got that refund in excess of what was withheld from their checks is because of government handouts and watch their heads explode as they violently disagree and tell you that you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/66 "2013-01-09T19:05:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Try explaining to them that the reason they got that refund in excess of what was withheld from their checks is because of government handouts and watch their heads explode as they violently disagree I’m gonna need a video of this. It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just that I really, really need some new entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/67 "2013-01-09T22:14:29Z")
I find this note, referencing Proposition 30, objectionable. But, not because the person who left it disagrees with President Obama or is a Conservative Republican. Rather, because that same person is taking an opportunity to make a political statement at the expense of a tip earner. If a similar note existed some years ago that said: “Bush won the election … blah, blah … I’m not tipping!”, I would hold the same objection. Tipping is a custom, at least in this country. It is similar to a man removing his hat in church or during the National Anthem. There’s no law that says you must, but it would be dickish to not. Anyone who can’t afford to tip, can’t afford to eat or drink where there is a waitstaff. It’s not very decent to refuse a fair gratuity to a tip earner to make any type of philosophical point, political or otherwise. Charles Dickens described the behavior of a man, Scrooge, who could very well afford to be generous, but chose to be miserly. I would say that anyone who comes up with an excuse to withhold a gratuity to a wait-person is as revolting and misguided as that well known character. ---
**Author:** ![andrewbub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@andrewbub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewbub)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/68 "2013-01-09T22:35:11Z")
don’t mess with the people that serve you. this includes food service, child care, hair care, lodging, etc. also prop 30 only affects people that make $250k + a year…so that person can definitely afford to tip. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/69 "2013-01-09T23:03:23Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > In the U.S., the waiters do NOT receive minimum wage, because they’re expected to make up the rest of their pay in tips. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Weeeell, that depends on the state. Minnesota, for example requires that servers be paid minimum wage plus tips. The takeaway here is that it’s good to be a server in MN. Actually, by federal law waiters are supposed to receive minimum wage. The employer is allowed to claim a credit against tips to a certain amount. From [DOL](http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs15.htm#.UO30aqVJcko) > [@](#): > > The employer must provide the following information to a tipped employee before the employer may use the tip credit: > > 1. the amount of cash wage the employer is paying a tipped employee, which must be at least $2.13 per hour; > > 2. the additional amount claimed by the employer as a tip credit, which cannot exceed $5.12 (the difference between the minimum required cash wage of $2.13 and the current minimum wage of $7.25); > > 3. that the tip credit claimed by the employer cannot exceed the amount of tips actually received by the tipped employee; It may not be well enforced, but if wages + tips do not meet or exceed $7.25/hr, the employer is breaking federal labor law. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/70 "2013-01-09T23:57:30Z")
I thought this thread was going to be about those horrible Christian tracts that look like a $10 bill [getting left in lieu of a tip](http://www.christianpost.com/news/are-christians-notoriously-bad-tippers-62913/). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/71 "2013-01-10T00:39:06Z")
We all know tipping is not REQUIRED by law or anything, but it is expected if you get appropriate service and the only reason you should not give it is if you got sub par service, not because you supposedly cannot afford it (or wish to make some political statement). This is despicable behavior. If you cannot afford thee tip do not eat out, easy peasy. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/72 "2013-01-10T00:58:14Z")
> [@SirGalahad](#): > > I find this note, referencing Proposition 30, objectionable. But, not because the person who left it disagrees with President Obama or is a Conservative Republican. Rather, because that same person is taking an opportunity to make a political statement at the expense of a tip earner. That’s what I was thinking. It’s bad enough to pay your own employees less out of pique from the election returns. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/73 "2013-01-10T02:22:00Z")
> [@Jungian\_Camisole](#): > > Although I am new, this got a big and hearty “HA!” from me. 🙂 😃 Welcome to the boards! Hope you like it here. ---
**Author:** ![Hottius\_Maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/74 "2013-01-10T03:20:23Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > If it is fake, I don’t think it’s left wing conspiracy, just one person with Photoshop. It may just be one person with photoshop; but if that’s the case I’d be willing to bet good money that the person who photoshopped it is NOT conservative. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/75 "2013-01-10T05:10:19Z")
I’m one of the people making over $400,000 and I have to pay taxes at the rate I paid in the 90’s. That pisses me off, so I’ll screw someone making under $35,000. That’ll show Obamer. Heh. Screw you, you poverty stricken bastich. Vote fer the rong candidait and pay teh pryce! ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/76 "2013-01-10T08:22:57Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > I’m one of the people making over $400,000 and I have to pay taxes at the rate I paid in the 90’s. That pisses me off, so I’ll screw someone making under $35,000. That’ll show Obamer. Heh. Screw you, you poverty stricken bastich. Vote fer the rong candidait and pay teh pryce! I just spent 30 dollars on one meal for myself and I would really rather that the person who serves me a meal cannot afford to both eat and also see a doctor. They’re not actually people. Not good ones, anyway. Why would we bother wasting a doctor’s time on them? And it’s just so unfair that they’re spending my money. MY money. On someone else’s doctor bills. It’s so unfair! I just paid four dollars for a glass of Coca Cola, and I will NOT have my HARD EARNED MONEY be pissed away on urgent medical care! You know what they need to do is just get better jerbs. Then they wouldn’t have to get such crappy wages. But I also want to have someone to be condescending, spiteful, and demeaning to while I order extravagant meals. Those are the people who should get the obscenely tiny wages. See? Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/77 "2013-01-10T10:23:38Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > But I also want to have someone to be condescending, spiteful, and demeaning to while I order extravagant meals. Those are the people who should get the obscenely tiny wages. This is why we need to bring back indentured servitude. Anyhoo: if the OP’s story is real, that patron was a dick. If it’s fake, the faker is a dick. Dickery is definitely involved somehow. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/78 "2013-01-12T17:15:39Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I seriously doubt that note is real, since it’s so neatly written, but if it’s real, the guy that does shit like this isn’t familiar with the Regular Customer + Good Tip = Fringe Benefits custom. Same type of people tip a valet a 20 for some reason. :eek: Wow. What does that get you, a cupholder filled with m&ms? ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/79 "2013-01-12T20:38:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > :eek: > Wow. What does that get you, a cupholder filled with m&ms? No, but they won’t spit in your food (or worse) next time you come in. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436/80 "2013-01-12T20:43:24Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > The folks on my Facebook most vocal about people taking their tax money and throwing it away on illegals and welfare moms and how dare you raise taxes, Obummer?! are also the ones who pay a literal negative income tax rate. I know this because I have reviewed their taxes for them and with a combination of their income and sheer number of children their tax liability is 0. Add in to that other tax credits (kids and such) and suddenly they have a couple thousand dollars in refunds-- a number FAR exceeding their withholding from their checks. Try explaining to them that the reason they got that refund in excess of what was withheld from their checks is because of government handouts and watch their heads explode as they violently disagree and tell you that you’re wrong. I had one person on my Facebook piss and moan about it, and then when someone posted in disagreement, she responded with “I guess you haven’t gotten your paycheck for this month, have you?” as if it’s going to be a 50% reduction in take-home pay. The reduction in my take-home pay for two weeks means that I may not want to eat at an expensive restaurant with my husband as often, but it’s not a painfully large amount. It’s going to be more painful come tax time when I get no refund and will more than likely have to pay taxes. Oh well, this is what happens when you’re married, financially okay, and don’t have kids. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’m gonna need a video of this. It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just that I really, really need some new entertainment. Agreed. This could be really funny. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > :eek: > Wow. What does that get you, a cupholder filled with m&ms? Tipping the valet well usually means that they’ll go out of their way next time to get your car as quickly as they can, and possibly jump you ahead of other folks if you’re a regular. Tipping the Chinese take-out place well in my area means you get extra food in your box o’ take-out. We’ve gotten faster service, hot food and extra free goodies because we’re nice and tip them decently. (Note: the take-out place happens to be in an area that’s known for lots of retired folks who are often surly and might not tip well.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-tipping-and-conservative-nonsense-straight-dopers-assemble/646436.md?page=5)