# Tipping in America: the insult tip **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226 "2017-08-20T23:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/201 "2017-08-26T18:38:36Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Jerkish thing to do. > > Is anyone else curious as to what the “generous” tip left the previous nite was? That ought to have been the one he bragged about leaving, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/202 "2017-08-26T18:48:03Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > That ought to have been the one he bragged about leaving, IMO. I don’t really care how much he left either night. I don’t care how much other people tip. I do find it curious, however, that people will brag about saving money when buying cars, oil changes, groceries, clothes, etc., but it’s a badge of honor to boast about paying more for someone to bring your food at a restaurant. It’s an interesting phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/203 "2017-08-26T18:51:34Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Jerkish thing to do. > > Is anyone else curious as to what the “generous” tip left the previous nite was? A scrap of paper with “Wild Flour in the 4th to show” written on it. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/204 "2017-08-26T19:15:38Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > A scrap of paper with “Wild Flour in the 4th to show” written on it. :enormous bag of unbranded whole wheat flour races past: ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/205 "2017-08-26T19:44:18Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > What a dreadful naming choice. Do they also have an equally confusing Carlsbad Cavern of the Yellowstone? “The Yellowstone” is not the name of a National Park. Rather, it is the name of a somewhat non-trivial river that runs about 3/4ths the breadth of Montana before joining the Missouri just inside North Dakota. Rivers carve canyons. The aforementioned one in Yellowstone Park is not as deep, vast and smoggy as the one carved out by the Colorado, but it is still adequately grand. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/206 "2017-08-26T20:11:31Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Uh, that’s an elk. Moose live in temperate boreal forests. [Moose - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose) Maybe he meant Moses, and just wanted to share some kind of religious experience? ---
**Author:** ![spjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@spjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spjork)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/207 "2017-08-26T23:55:35Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > A scrap of paper with “Wild Flour in the 4th to show” written on it. _takes notes_ This is at Belmont…or? ---
**Author:** ![spjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@spjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spjork)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/208 "2017-08-26T23:59:04Z")
> [@Archeonomist](#): > > Maybe he meant Moses, and just wanted to share some kind of religious experience? Are there moose on Mount Sinai? ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/209 "2017-08-27T00:22:40Z")
> [@spjork](#): > > Are there moose on Mount Sinai? Maybe they land there occasionally during migration? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/210 "2017-08-27T02:03:00Z")
> [@Archeonomist](#): > > Maybe he meant Moses, and just wanted to share some kind of religious experience? Moses bites can be pretty nasty. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/211 "2017-08-27T02:23:04Z")
A Møses once bit my sister. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/212 "2017-08-27T04:19:12Z")
[spoiler]Okay…well, I’m going to finally move this thread to the Pit, and here are my (IMO, good and understandable) reasons for doing so: 1. Ever since the start of this thread a week ago, it has been one of the most reported ones over all, by all sides. Many different people seem to be unhappy with how the other side (I.E. the side opposite to the opinion you have) is being modded and many are feeling they are being modded unfairly while the other side isn’t being modded as heavily…when, in fact, everyone and anyone who has insulted anyone outside of the Pit has been modded already…and that’s included a lot of people so far. 2. Secondly, both sides (many people who disagree with the OPs actions and the OP, himself) have broken rules in this thread (insulting others) and drew warnings for it…so, with that being the case, I’m just going to put this here so you all can finally just have at it without the fear of drawing more warnings. 3. In essence, the OP seemed to be a bit of a rant/complaint anyway…and anyone with a history of being on these boards KNOWS (or should know, anyway) that a subject like tipping (or the lack of) is a very sensitive subject on these boards and can even be tantamount to looking like potential trolling. I’m not saying anyone in this thread is trolling…but it probably would have been best to create this thread in the Pit from the start, because it’s much easier to just have it there than to have to constantly step in and mod it… …and, again, with BOTH sides having times when they just abandoned formal discussion and resorted to insults, I feel that is finally suitable just cause for just saying “Okay, if that’s what everyone really seems to want” and putting it in this forum. In short, nobody has been happy with the replies and reactions this thread has gotten…so now all rules get abandoned and here it’s placed. Have fun. Thus endeth possibly the longest mod note I or anyone else has probably ever written or will write.[/spoiler] TL : DR version: I’m tired of the constant, daily reports of this thread. Since it seems nobody can behave themselves no matter what their opinion is or what side they’re on about it, I’m washing my hands of it and putting it here, finally. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/213 "2017-08-27T04:33:37Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > [spoiler]Okay…well, I’m going to finally move this thread to the Pit, and here are my (IMO, good and understandable) reasons for doing so: > > 1. Ever since the start of this thread a week ago, it has been one of the most reported ones over all, by all sides. Many different people seem to be unhappy with how the other side (I.E. the side opposite to the opinion you have) is being modded and many are feeling they are being modded unfairly while the other side isn’t being modded as heavily…when, in fact, everyone and anyone who has insulted anyone outside of the Pit has been modded already…and that’s included a lot of people so far. > > 2. Secondly, both sides (many people who disagree with the OPs actions and the OP, himself) have broken rules in this thread (insulting others) and drew warnings for it…so, with that being the case, I’m just going to put this here so you all can finally just have at it without the fear of drawing more warnings. > > 3. In essence, the OP seemed to be a bit of a rant/complaint anyway…and anyone with a history of being on these boards KNOWS (or should know, anyway) that a subject like tipping (or the lack of) is a very sensitive subject on these boards and can even be tantamount to looking like potential trolling. I’m not saying anyone in this thread is trolling…but it probably would have been best to create this thread in the Pit from the start, because it’s much easier to just have it there than to have to constantly step in and mod it… > …and, again, with BOTH sides having times when they just abandoned formal discussion and resorted to insults, I feel that is finally suitable just cause for just saying “Okay, if that’s what everyone really seems to want” and putting it in this forum. > > In short, nobody has been happy with the replies and reactions this thread has gotten…so now all rules get abandoned and here it’s placed. Have fun. > > Thus endeth possibly the longest mod note I or anyone else has probably ever written or will write.[/spoiler] > > TL : DR version: I’m tired of the constant, daily reports of this thread. Since it seems nobody can behave themselves no matter what their opinion is or what side they’re on about it, I’m washing my hands of it and putting it here, finally. So you’re saying it’s Miller time? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/214 "2017-08-27T05:58:37Z")
So, does that mean we can finally start posting moose recipes? Slow Cooker Moose Roast Ingredients 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 4 pounds moose roast 2 cups apple juice 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix Directions Prep 10 m Cook 8 h Ready In 8 h 10 m Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the roast on all sides in the hot oil. Remove, and transfer to a slow cooker. Sprinkle onion soup mix over the roast, then pour in the apple juice. Cover and cook on MEDIUM for 6 to 8 hours, or until meat is very tender. Check occasionally to make sure there is sufficient liquid, and add more juice if necessary. Serve roast with juices, or thicken them for a tasty gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/215 "2017-08-27T06:55:47Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/216 "2017-08-27T07:00:55Z")
I typically tip appropriately when I dine out (not often), ~20%. If my (our my kid’s) food orders are sub-par, for whatever reason, I politely ask that they be corrected—and they, in almost all cases, are corrected. Happy customer; tip gratefully and appropriately paid. In the very few instances that I get truly bad service for reasons in the wait-staff’s control (e.g. not busy; just lazy), then I often over-tip. I figure that puts a guilt trip on the server, and maybe he/she will try a little harder on the next customer (or me and mine in the future). Karma…paying it forward…whatever. **Quartz** , I can’t fault you too much and you seem like a nice bloke, you just aren’t familiar with the American tipping system. But, the last time a left a 5-cent tip was when I was 5-years old. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/217 "2017-08-27T07:52:51Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > …and anyone with a history of being on these boards KNOWS (or should know, anyway) that a subject like tipping (or the lack of) is a very sensitive subject on these boards and can even be tantamount to looking like potential trolling. I really cannot imagine a world where tipping is an important or controversial subject. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/218 "2017-08-27T08:16:23Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > I really cannot imagine a world where tipping is an important or controversial subject. That’s because you’re fairly new here. And tipping really is extremely controversial - especially when people from places like Australia and NZ are involved (we don’t tip here and in some cases it’s actually considered appallingly condescending) ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/219 "2017-08-27T09:07:19Z")
We tip in Britain. Wages don’t depend on it though. However, the triviality matches which side a lavatory roll must face or how a car should be washed. Just please yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/220 "2017-08-27T10:54:44Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’m disappointed to say that I had to use it this morning, but thanks to the Dope for telling me about it. > > I was staying at a place in Jackson. The prior evening I had supped well at the grill there but this morning I thought I would try their upscale restaurant. Big mistake. I ordered Eggs Benedict and tea, specifying English Breakfast tea or similar. The tea arrived with no milk. The eggs were a long time in coming and when they came had almost no sauce and one was over cooked. And there was no discernible lemon in the Hollandaise. It was too late to send it back - I was going to be leaving. > > So I found the lowest value coin I had - 5c - and left that as a tip. > > The grill I had the evening before was superb, as was the service, and fully merited the generous tip I gave there. Tipping in America, in reality, is in itself an insult to the serving staff (waiter/waitress/server). But it’s not for the reason you make out. It’s a wonderful way for the employer to stiff the staff, relying on the dining public to pay up a living wage to the staff. And what if said public doesn’t do that; what recourse does the staff have? None. Of course the state and federal governments get into the act of stiffing the staff, too–by taxing them on what said governments pretend the staff got paid in tips. What you did was penalize financially someone for something that was not their fault. You made a few assumptions about what they could’ve done, but realistically none was viable. Well, maybe they were if you were the only customer. I get that foreigners who don’t come from “tipping cultures”, even those [who do](https://must-see-scotland.com/tipping-in-scotland/), are easily baffled by the idea and practice of tipping in the United States. And it can come as a bit of a shock to see the percentage of the bill considered to be a usual or average tip. Personally, I’m glad I’ve spent the last decade living in a non-tipping culture, where the staff are (theoretically) paid a living wage and the employers (theoretically) have to make an honest payment into retirement and health plans. But that’s no excuse to stiff a server in the US for the cook’s mistake. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226.md?page=12)