The worst thing about waiting tables...

[notyoueither]

Well Che, I would say that's a dangerous road to go down. Yes, you have a context. Blacks in some parts of the US and in some restaurants.

I do not live in the US. I know that blacks do not all fit the stereotype that is in this thread. I have waited on their tables, and some of them are my friends.

[chequita guevara]

Hell, I got asked out by one of my Black tables, and they still tipped me poorly (and I said yes, I'd go out with her).

[notyoueither]

You got asked out by a black table?

Animal, vegetable, or mineral?

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Asher
Question about southern hospitality:

How well received would it be if I walked around holding hands with a man? What if a kiss happened?

Would they still be so polite and generous?

The South is a very weird area, it's only polite if you meet their criteria.

Given that my wife and I walked for about 1/2 mile behind an openly gay couple in downtown Knoxville, and given that not a damn thing happened to them, I would answer to question #3: Yes.

Otoh, that would go against your prejudices and God forbid we wouldn't want that, now would we?

[MikeH]

I guess minimum wage not applying explains the difference!

[Rogan Josh]

I have a question about tipping.

Do you always tip 20% (or whatever) no matter what the bill comes to? I always feel it gets a bit much if the bill gets high.

For example, last night my bill for dinner in a restaurant can to $350. Would you tip the waitress $70 or do you have a ceiling which you don't go above?

[Asher]

Originally posted by JohnT
Given that my wife and I walked for about 1/2 mile behind an openly gay couple in downtown Knoxville, and given that not a damn thing happened to them, I would answer to question #3: Yes.

Otoh, that would go against your prejudices and God forbid we wouldn't want that, now would we?

There will always be exceptions, but I know 2 gay people who live in the south and it's not at all like you described. Maybe it gets better once you're older, but in highschool/college in the south it's downright dangerous.

[JohnT]

So says someone who has never lived here.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by David Floyd


The only time I've ever visited a country where I didn't know the language was when I went to Cancun. Cancun, though, is a special case, because the part I was in (the party part) is simply an extension of America with Mexican drinking laws.

Further, I didn't go into Mexican department stores outside of the resort area and start babbling in English, expecting someone to understand.



I don't really believe that - if they were really trying to learn English, they wouldn't be crying about and demanding bilingual education and speaking Spanish at home to their kids. They'd be teaching English FIRST, speaking ONLY English around their kids, and encouraging ENGLISH ONLY education.
Actually, they shouldn't even have come here to live if they can't speak English, but I'm sure we've had this argument before.

Oh puleez -- cry yourself a river, then build a bridge over it, and get over the fact that the United States is a bilingual country.

[monolith94]

But it's not. It's only bilingual in some areas.
Try finding a native speaker of Spanish in new england, for example, some time…

[DaShi]

CBeast!

[MosesPresley]

It's multi-lingual in the cities. Why is it we only cater to the Spanish? A powerful political lobby? There are a great many Asians here in the USA too as well as other immigrants.

[tinyp3nis]

Did i misunderstand something, or do some people actually think tipping system is good? Better than actually raising the prizes and then paying more salary? I'm not saying i wouldn't tip, but i'm saying the system sucks donkey balls.
If someone thinks so, would he be willing to educate me why tipping is better. Now i see it just as another stupid custom. Yes, changing the system would cost something i guess, and now poor people can be rude but save money by not tipping. Those are the reasons or something else? Or then i misunderstood and everyone agrees.

Also i dont get why some bash kaak for saying what he thinks? The word black seems to be somekind of sacred tabu word.

And David Floyd, this world is not build just for you, unless your last name is Truman. Other people have lives too they dont necessary have to time to learn how to please you, etc learn english. Master Dave.

[Boris Godunov]

Many waiters earn far more money through tips than they would on salary. They also can easily avoid paying taxes on much of their tipping income, whereas you can't do that while on salary.

American waiters at high-end restaurants make FAR more money, on average, than their European counterparts.

I also think it encourages better service, and since it is the customer service industry, that's a very important thing. It is akin to working on commission. I also like having the ability to show my displeasure to exceptionally rude/bad waiters by leaving meager tips. In those instances, I don't want to have to go through the hassle of complaining to a manager, so leaving a pittance is good enough to say, "you were terrible."

[tinyp3nis]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Many waiters earn far more money through tips than they would on salary. They also can easily avoid paying taxes on much of their tipping income, whereas you can't do that while on salary.

American waiters at high-end restaurants make FAR more money, on average, than their European counterparts.

I also think it encourages better service, and since it is the customer service industry, that's a very important thing. It is akin to working on commission. I also like having the ability to show my displeasure to exceptionally rude/bad waiters by leaving meager tips. In those instances, I don't want to have to go through the hassle of complaining to a manager, so leaving a pittance is good enough to say, "you were terrible."

So this means service in USA should be better than in Australia, for instance? I really dont know, but i imagine there arent any difference , someone enlighten me.
American workers also make more money than Euro workers generally. Still thinking the system is flawed, especially from the customers point of view.

edit: difference arent