Dan wrote on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:12:05 -0400:

>> I was listening to an old 1940's radio show and they
>> mentioned that the standard tip then was 10%. I hate the
>> whole concept of tipping. It's like the optional dispensing
>> of charity by a benevolent, or not benevolent as the case may
>> be, master to the servants. The only time I ever worked for tips was
>> when i drove a taxicab on the night shift in NYC
>> while attending college. I hated the whole tipping business.
>> I was working hard. Why did i have to depend upon charity? Tipping is
>> not practiced in many countries, like Japan for
>> instance.

> I don't understand why people always view this as master and
> servant. Someone has to bring the food to us and take away the
> dirty plates, else we're eating at a cafeteria. And when I go
> out to eat, I want good food not crap. My general rule is 15%
> for average service, less for bad service and more for better service.
> I do 10% at buffet and Dim Sum.

That's more or less my practice, Dan. However, times have changed; my
mother in England never tipped more than 10% to the end of her days and
she tended to reduce the percentage on large checks, I never really
understood why.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not