# Former servers: is this a rude way to tip? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981 "2002-09-28T03:50:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/21 "2002-09-29T17:10:09Z")
Yanno, I think maybe you’re reading that way too personally, **mouthbreather**. Doesn’t sound to me like **chula** was responding to your comment specifically. As a former serve, yep, I was grateful for good tips, but there IS a fairly common attitude that the tip is a gift from a generous soul. ---
**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/22 "2002-09-29T19:23:12Z")
I love getting tipped outrageously large amounts. AND I DON"T SERVE TABLES! I CARRY STUFF UP TO ROOMS! ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/23 "2002-09-29T22:28:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > \*\*Yanno, I think maybe you’re reading that way too personally, **mouthbreather**. Doesn’t sound to me like **chula** was responding to your comment specifically. As a former serve, yep, I was grateful for good tips, but there IS a fairly common attitude that the tip is a gift from a generous soul. \*\* That’s quite possible, it wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. But in this thread, I just don’t see where anyone was talking about “take your tip and be happy with it” other than me, and I was saying it mostly in jest because I am a decent tipper to begin with. I waited tables for nearly a year and also delivered food (pizza, then Chinese) for nearly two years, and I didn’t run into too much of the “generous soul” attitude that you 're talking about. Of course you would get it once in a while, but it certainly was not common in my experience. Maybe it’s a geographical thing? Or just chalk it up to different peoples experiences? Who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Dravin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dravin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dravin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/24 "2002-09-29T23:07:37Z")
> [@](#): > > but there IS a fairly common attitude that the tip is a gift from a generous soul. Isn’t it though? Except in those circumstances where gratuity is required that is. It is an accepted custom, and considering how pay is worked out for workers, it is an expected custom. But it isn’t required so it’s a matter of being polite or generous or how ever you want to put it. Now I don’t mean you should dance with joy if somebody throws you a dime after you just served their table of 8 obnoxious fools or anything like that, but it isn’t required which makes tips a matter of manners or gratitude for receiving good service. Anyway, I tip with what I have on hand if that means nickels dimes and quarters so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/25 "2002-09-30T00:05:51Z")
**Dravin** , socially, and in the rules of etiquette, it IS required-they get taxed on those tips. That’s why their wages are so low. ---
**Author:** ![Dravin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dravin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dravin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/26 "2002-09-30T03:49:47Z")
It’s expected, not required there is a big difference. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/27 "2002-09-30T05:39:25Z")
I didn’t refer directly to your comment **mouthbreather** for a reason - after all you did include a :). But maybe I shouldn’t have made the comment because I was really responding to the attitude I’ve seen on other threads about tipping. And the customer who once gave me a large (not generous) tip in nickels‚ dimes‚ and pennies and didn’t understand why I didn’t seem pleased. That money was going to be in my apron for the rest of the night. **Servo** why is it faster to write $6.85 than $7.00? Have you misunderstood the question? ---
**Author:** ![Servo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Servo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Servo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981/28 "2002-09-30T11:55:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > **Servo** why is it faster to write $6.85 than $7.00? Have you misunderstood the question? No, I was talking about paying, and tipping, in cash. I forgot the OP had specifically mentioned credit cards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-servers-is-this-a-rude-way-to-tip/129981.md?page=1)