# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/241 "2017-08-27T20:00:52Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Most everywhere I waitressed the end of shift went like this; total and report my tip amount, then set aside some of that tip money for the tip pool shared by the bussers and bartenders. So while my employer was only legally required to make up any difference btwn the reported tip amount and minimum wage, I was already paying a kind of tax to my co-workers and subsequently maybe not making the legal minimum wage. No, it’s not a kind of tax. And you did make at least the legal minimum wage. If not, cite please. ---
**Author:** ![spjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@spjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spjork)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/242 "2017-08-27T20:16:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > No, it’s not a kind of tax. And you did make at least the legal minimum wage. If not, cite please. I [mean](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). > [@](#): > > They also contend that, while employers are required to ensure that all employees receive the minimum wage after tips, the current system makes it possible for some employers to illegally coerce employees to over-report tips or dock their pay so that their final income is below the minimum wage. **See cite notes 19 and 20.** Your argument is facile- just because it is against the law for those under 21 to drink, does not mean that 18 year olds do not drink. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/243 "2017-08-27T20:32:20Z")
> [@spjork](#): > > I [mean](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). Warning The request contains an invalid URL! Nice link, jackass. ---
**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, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/244 "2017-08-27T20:36:37Z")
> [@spjork](#): > > I [mean](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). > > **See cite notes 19 and 20.** > > Your argument is facile- just because it is against the law for those under 21 to drink, does not mean that 18 year olds do not drink. You’re so optimistic that one can show reason to this turdblossom and he’ll see where he’s misunderstood something; he will not. He does not. This character hasn’t in the time it’s been registered on this board. The only reason I ever reply to his idiocy is when I think I can raise awareness among others who may feel similarly but be inclined to listen. You may as well be yelling at a wall covered in alt-right propaganda as directly address D’Anconia, and he’s proud of it. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/245 "2017-08-27T20:44:29Z")
So no cite then, Nawth? Didn’t think so. ---
**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, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/246 "2017-08-27T20:47:22Z")
> [@spjork](#): > > I [mean](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). Bad link. There’s an extra “http://” Here’s the one you want: > **[Tipped wage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States)** > > The tipped wage is base wage paid to an employee in the United States who receives a substantial portion of their compensation from tips. According to a common labor law provision referred to as a "tip credit", the employee must earn at least the state's minimum wage when tips and wages are combined or the employer is required to increase the wage to fulfill that threshold. This ensures that all tipped employees earn at least the minimum wage: significantly more than the tipped minimum The Unit... ETA: @ **D’Anconia** , Here’s your link, turdburglar. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/247 "2017-08-27T20:55:07Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Bad link. There’s an extra “http://” > > Here’s the one you want: > > [Tipped wage - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States) > > ETA: @ **D’Anconia** , Here’s your link, turdburglar. From you own LINK, ASSHOLE: > [@](#): > > As of May 2017, the average hourly wage – including tips – for a restaurant employee in the United States that received tip income was $11.82. That’s well above minimum wage. The whiners that are saying they didn’t make minimum wage are lying to you. But for some reason, you seem to accept it. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/248 "2017-08-27T21:06:47Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > That’s well above minimum wage. The whiners that are saying they didn’t make minimum wage are lying to you. But for some reason, you seem to accept it. :dubious: When you see an “average” reported, that generally means that half the values were below that number. Assuming in this case that the “average” is the mean, I would expect the distribution to skew to the bottom, meaning that a majority of the values would be below the mean and those values would be offset by a small number of much greater values. The median earnings, then, would be below the mean (consistent with what **Lord Feldon** reported in post 166). And half the servers in the US make less than the median. How many make less than minimum wage? Don’t know, and it’s a tough thing to figure out. I’ll bet the farm, though, that the answer isn’t zero. ---
**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 27, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/249 "2017-08-27T21:09:27Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > From you own LINK, ASSHOLE: > > That’s well above minimum wage. The whiners that are saying they didn’t make minimum wage are lying to you. But for some reason, you seem to accept it. :dubious: You do understand that average means there are people that make above the amount and people who make **below** the amount. Or maybe you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![spjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@spjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spjork)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/250 "2017-08-27T21:12:55Z")
_impression of D’Anconia_ “WORDS AND MATHS ARE HARD, OKAY?” ---
**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, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/251 "2017-08-27T21:17:14Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > From you own LINK, ASSHOLE: > > That’s well above minimum wage. The whiners that are saying they didn’t make minimum wage are lying to you. But for some reason, you seem to accept it. :dubious: Not my link, idiot. I merely corrected **spjork’s**. But you’re wrong about everything else, so it’s not surprising you’re missing your other targets, too. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/252 "2017-08-27T21:48:57Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > When you see an “average” reported, that generally means that half the values were below that number. Assuming in this case that the “average” is the mean, I would expect the distribution to skew to the bottom, meaning that a majority of the values would be below the mean and those values would be offset by a small number of much greater values. The median earnings, then, would be below the mean (consistent with what **Lord Feldon** reported in post 166). > > And half the servers in the US make less than the median. How many make less than minimum wage? Don’t know, and it’s a tough thing to figure out. I’ll bet the farm, though, that the answer isn’t zero. Yes, I know what average, medium, and mean, are. But there’s also a minimum, which is the federal minimum wage or the state minimum wage, whichever is higher. Everyone makes _at least_ the minimum wage. ---
**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 27, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/253 "2017-08-27T21:53:04Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Yes, I know what average, medium, and mean, are. But there’s also a minimum, which is the federal minimum wage or the state minimum wage, whichever is higher. > > Everyone makes _at least_ the minimum wage. You’re so adorably naive to think that laws are followed without the slightest attempt to break them. Got news for you. The High and Mighty Business Owners and Job Creators are not always honorable. ---
**Author:** ![spjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@spjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spjork)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/254 "2017-08-27T21:55:36Z")
That’s why corporations always pay all of their taxes without using shelters and loopholes, amirite? Because everyone, everywhere, always follows the rules without trying to subvert them to their own advantage. ALWAYS AND WITHOUT FAIL. LOL ETA: LOL ---
**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:** [August 27, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/255 "2017-08-27T22:18:27Z")
> [@spjork](#): > > I [mean](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). > > **See cite notes 19 and 20.** > > Your argument is facile- just because it is against the law for those under 21 to drink, does not mean that 18 year olds do not drink. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Warning > > The request contains an invalid URL! > > Nice link, jackass. Learn the difference between an invalid URL and botched coding. [mean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/256 "2017-08-27T22:20:18Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Everyone makes _at least_ the minimum wage. Yeah! And underage college students don’t drink, everyone drives the speed limit, nobody smokes marijuana (medical or recreational), and there are no illegal immigrants in the US. Laws that are only loosely or sporadically enforced - including minimum wage for tipped employees - have little impact on people’s behavior. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/257 "2017-08-27T22:23:35Z")
It never occurred to me to add milk to hot tea. Hot tea is the less bitter alternative to coffee. I add milk to coffee to make it less bitter. I don’t need to with tea. I do wonder how you guys would react to what I was always taught was the nuclear option when everything is truly abysmal: you walk out without paying. Seems like that would be worse than the insult tip, yet I don’t remember as big a reaction to that when people have talked about it here. I’ve never actually done either one, BTW. The most abysmal service we got was at a place we found out was shutting down. They gave us dirty dishes, smaller drinks than everyone else, and meat that tasted like it was going off. Still wound up paying, though the tip did go down to the minimum for the bad service. I very much considered just leaving without paying, but we ultimately acquiesced. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/258 "2017-08-27T22:26:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Learn the difference between an invalid URL and botched coding. > > [mean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States#Debate_over_consequences). You’re a stone cold idiot. His original link said invalid URL. It’s not botched coding, jerk. ---
**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 27, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/259 "2017-08-27T22:31:23Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You’re a stone cold idiot. His original link said invalid URL. It’s not botched coding, jerk. Wow. So incredibly important that you win this totally insignificant point. Be proud. You have reached the peak of your life. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226/260 "2017-08-27T22:33:29Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Wow. So incredibly important that you win this totally insignificant point. > > Be proud. You have reached the peak of your life. Go fuck a cactus, grandpa. Are you sitting on the pie? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-in-america-the-insult-tip/794226.md?page=14)