# I pay 10% to God, Why should you get 18? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936 "2013-01-31T18:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/61 "2013-02-01T19:23:25Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Hey Applebees! I hope your former server sues the hell out of you. On what grounds? Applebee’s is entitled to fire a staffer for something like that. It’s not what I would have done but it’s well within their rights. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/62 "2013-02-01T19:40:12Z")
[So why do we give God less than we tip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XeLnG8izEso)? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/63 "2013-02-01T19:43:11Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > You’d never eat out of welcomed assholes again if you skipped every restaurant? :eek: It depends. What are the specials? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/64 "2013-02-01T20:45:18Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I keep coming back to this OP trying to find something to say that doesn’t go in the pit. There are many, many things wrong with the way a lot of churches are run, and obligatory tithing is one of them. This “Pastor” is a grade-a asshole and the waitress, I hope, finds a job with fewer customer service issues. I’m not sure whether you’re kidding here. Are there any churches with _obligatory_ tithing in the United States? The nearest I’ve ever heard of that was the obnoxious practice my parents’ church had when I was about ten. During certain services whose purposes, in retrospect, were clearly about fundraising, they’d read aloud, during the service, how much people had put in the offering plate. (They encouraged members to place their offerings in signed envelopes.) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/65 "2013-02-01T20:50:05Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > The pastor was a complete asshole … however the server deserved to get fired. Waitresses are a dime a dozen, why would a restaurant keep someone around who brings them bad press? As others have said, the waitress didn’t bring them bad press. The restaurant’s name would be incidental to the story, except that the restaurant fired her. There are two relevant camps of people out there: 1. People who sympathize with the pastor and who are likely to read this story; and 2. People who sympathize with the waitress and who are likely to read this story. Folks who sympathize with the pastor are going to be horrified if Applebee’s doesn’t fire the waitress; if they don’t, that’s bad press. Folks who sympathize with the waitress are going to be horrified if Applebee’s does fire the waitress; if they do, that’s bad press. If I were Applebee’s, I’d put my money on option 2. If I gave a press release, I’d make it low-key: “We do not allow customers to share patron information, and we have dealt with the issue through internal training. We also remind customers that our staff earns their living primarily through the tips you give them for good service, and we encourage customers to show their appreciation accordingly.” They didn’t have bad press until they made a bad choice. If they’d made a good choice, they could have turned this incident into some righteous press. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/66 "2013-02-01T20:54:43Z")
If you actually read the article the waitress got 18% auto-tipped, how is that stiffed? A\* photo of the receipt, posted to [Reddit.com](http://Reddit.com), shows a bill for $34.93 that included an automatic 18 percent gratuity ($6.29) above a blank space for an additional tip\*. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/67 "2013-02-01T20:59:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If you actually read the article the waitress got 18% auto-tipped, how is that stiffed? > > A\* photo of the receipt, posted to [Reddit.com](http://Reddit.com), shows a bill for $34.93 that included an automatic 18 percent gratuity ($6.29) above a blank space for an additional tip\*. The pastor crossed out the autotip and wrote in 0. the autotip was added because it was a large party. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/68 "2013-02-01T21:00:58Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > They didn’t have bad press until they made a bad choice. If they’d made a good choice, they could have turned this incident into some righteous press. Good point. They took a turd and turned into a turd sandwich rather than some welcomed manure. Even if the waitress got the tip, if you have a problem with a company policy, go be a dick to the manager, not the poor wage slaves that have to put up with more shit than any decent working person should have to. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/69 "2013-02-01T21:33:48Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > There are two relevant camps of people out there: > > 1. People who sympathize with the pastor and who are likely to read this story; and > 2. People who sympathize with the waitress and who are likely to read this story. > > Folks who sympathize with the pastor are going to be horrified if Applebee’s doesn’t fire the waitress; if they don’t, that’s bad press. > > Folks who sympathize with the waitress are going to be horrified if Applebee’s does fire the waitress; if they do, that’s bad press. > > If I were Applebee’s, I’d put my money on option 2. It’s perfectly possible to sympathize with the waitress, while still believing that it’s wrong to post something personal about a patron online. Especially if, as **Marley23** says, the person who was fired for posting it is not the victim of the attempted stiffing. > [@Marley23](#): > > Not that it makes much difference, but the waitress who served these assholes is not the one who posted the picture to Reddit. One of her coworkers did it, and it’s the coworker who was fired. I’m sure she’ll have another job soonish, and I hope it’s at a better restaurant with fewer asshole customers. And, while I personally am on the fence over whether Applebee’s _should_ have fired the coworker who posted it, I don’t blame them for doing so, because of what **brickbacon** said: > [@brickbacon](#): > > Plus, it’s a clear, and well-established rule that such things are fire-able offenses. _Every waiter knows that_. And I say that as someone who has waited tables before, been stiffed, and had people write jerky notes. I get the motivation to do it, but she knew she was risking her job. To be stupid enough to not even block the signature leads me to think she is an idiot who cared more about getting internet lolz than being a good employee. That said, clearly the pastor is the only _complete_ asshole in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/70 "2013-02-01T21:40:17Z")
Yup. Pastor = asshole; firing = justified (but not optimal) choice. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/71 "2013-02-01T22:01:29Z")
Wait! So if I’m in a restaurant thst adds 18% for a large party, and states that in their menu, I can just zero that out when the bill comes? I did once complain to the manager when the service was bad for a large party and did get their auto tip reduced, but not to zero. ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/72 "2013-02-01T22:01:41Z")
[QUOTE=" Galatians 6:7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [/QUOTE] Interesting _ **Pastor** _… ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/73 "2013-02-01T22:04:13Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Wait! So if I’m in a restaurant thst adds 18% for a large party, and states that in their menu, I can just zero that out when the bill comes? No - and in fact, the Pastor had to pay in this case, I understand. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/74 "2013-02-01T22:06:55Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Yup. Pastor = asshole; firing = justified (but not optimal) choice. Agreed. Can’t side with anyone here (except the serving waitress) IMO, if you don’t have to tip then you don’t have enough to eat. You tip well for good service, poorly for bad service, but you always tip. Then again, everyone has a right to be a dick. It would better overall if fewer people exercised that right but… The co-worker was an idiot for broadcasting the Pastor’s dickishness. For the Pastor…nobody gives a fuck what you give to God. Especially since you got it from a cut of what your Parishioners gave to God. Waitstaff still needs to pay rent and eat. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/75 "2013-02-01T22:07:00Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > She doesn’t regret what she said; she regrets being caught and called out on it. This hack ‘pastor’ deserves exactly the attention she’s getting. Thank god for the Barbara Streisand effect. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/76 "2013-02-01T22:12:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > In the article she says that she did leave a cash tip. > > Sometimes I’ll do that. I wonder what the chances are of one of my “0” receipts ending up online. Then again I don’t write douchebag things on them. Write “cash” in the tip line. It’s also handy in case the restaurant has a problem with tip theft, or the bills get blown onto the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/77 "2013-02-01T22:19:55Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Wait! So if I’m in a restaurant thst adds 18% for a large party, and states that in their menu, I can just zero that out when the bill comes? You can _try_. The pastor said the tip was charged to her credit card despite her attempt to dick over the waitress. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/78 "2013-02-02T04:24:03Z")
Hey, cut the pastor some slack. It didn’t say “pay 10% to God”, it said “I give God 10%”. Most pastors I know like to pretend to give God 110%, and here this one is admitting to completely slacking off 90% of the time. What she lacks in charity she makes up for in honesty. Does the fired waitress have a verified donation link up yet? I’d gladly send 18% of the bill her way. Sure, she made ia mistake in not covering up the name, and the restaurant is certainly within its rights to fire her over it. But by the same token I’m within my rights to boycott Applebee’s and send some money to a victim of religious hypocrisy. Maybe we can pass a collection plate around. It’d be great if she got at least enough money to live on until she gets a better job, and it’d be awesome if the Mammon-worshipping pastor found out that people think a waitress is more deserving of money than she is. It’d also be good to channel some of that recreational outrage toward a good cause. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/79 "2013-02-02T08:30:35Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > The pastor crossed out the autotip and wrote in 0. the autotip was added because it was a large party. Cite? The receipt I saw had the 0 in the space for Tip, which is where you’d put a _additional_ tip. She got the full requisite 18% tip, but nothing additional. Which is fine in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936/80 "2013-02-02T10:33:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Cite? The receipt I saw had the 0 in the space for Tip, which is where you’d put a _additional_ tip. > She got the full requisite 18% tip, but nothing additional. Which is fine in this case. Actually, the receipt was linked in the article in the OP. You can find a picture of the receipt [here](http://consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/receiptgrab.png). The total before tip was 34.93, the auto-grat was 6.29, and there was a space for “additional tip”. The pastor wrote “0” for additional tip, but _also_ scribbled out the auto-grat amount, and hand-wrote the total was 34.93. So she was trying to get out of paying any tip at all. The pastor now claims that the restaurant charged the auto-grat on her credit card anyways even though she scribbled it out. But she certainly didn’t intend to pay the 18%. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pay-10-to-god-why-should-you-get-18/648936.md?page=5)