yep everyone's got their hand in your pocket in lolmerica. some dude handing out hand towels in the bathroom of a ****ty bar in Honolulu was my favourite. every time i use the bathroom you expect me to throw you x dollars? yeah **** off with that.

Freakonomics did an episode on tipping, it asked the question whether tipping should be banned and they made a pretty good case for it.

The premise of the argument was basically that people tip white servers more (I think white women the most, but I'm not sure I remember correctly) and since tipping is a big part of a server's salary, black/hispanic/asian servers are at a pretty big disadvantage. If a black server were to take matters to court to demand equal rewards it's quite likely they'd win and effectively take down America's tipping culture.

I agree with that argument except for the part where they could take matters to court. I mean, Im known for my lack of sarcasm detection but I cant envision that last part actually happening.

What could this question possibly mean? What would it mean for someones success to be innate, in your opinion?

I wouldn't say they're doing fine. Most servers I know are living paycheck to paycheck and are barely able to pay their bills/rent.

But yes, the good tippers essentially do subsidize the bad tippers. It is a totally ****ed system. Working in a nicer place with less tourists is probably a pretty decent living, although I'm sure some people would consider them overpaid.

It's interesting to hear that black people are tipped less. I've never heard of that. I have a theory though. It might not be because of some kind of customer bias against black servers, but that there are a higher percentages of black servers in black communities (duh) and are therefore subject to more black customers, who tip badly.

I personally would be very surprised if any of the black servers I work with are tipped less than the rest of us.

Black, Hispanic and Asian servers provide worse service than white servers

I think it's awesome Euros include the tax in with the price. There needs to be a law in the US forcing businesses to do that, because the only reason they don't already is it would make their products "look" more expensive than their competitors'. Tipping is cool though. I like knowing if I ever lose my job I can always make ends meet waiting tables after I go busto.

Tipping is whatever, but I agree, no including sales tax is wrong.

Having sales tax included in the price would hide how much the government is taking. No thanks.

Any thread that has the potential to be derailed into a tipping thread in OOT will do so.

Having said that I do agree gays definitely tip better if given good service and white women (especially attractive ones) do way better in getting tips. This is coming from someone who has done several jobs in hospitality. Although I do think base wages should be higher and not so dependent on tips as often it can be a bit luck of the draw as to how good you do in a night. Also people living in lower socioeconomic locations will end up getting less in service positions regardless of how good a job they do.

If you are the customer, there's probably a reason for that.

There's nothing stopping black people from becoming competant swimmers. However, the chances of one becoming Olympic champion is remote.

First thing that came up on google

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_an...ce_disparities

TED talk on the types of bodies that elite athletes have.

That's what the news is for. Benefits outway any costs, which are nothing. Besides the convenience of simpler arithmetic*, we could get rid of pennies and probably nickels too. Nothing is worth less than a nickle anymore. That probably saves the mint, and taxpayers, several million per year.

*however, I am staunchly anti-metric system.

yak, that was indeed discussed in the podcast. Im no legal expert, but they made it sound like it would be possible


interesting info, thanks

I mean tbh I have no clue who they are and if they are credible but wouldn't you say that this would have happened already ? I can hardly imagine that this information is new in a country where basically anyone has already sued over anything. I guess I just had a flashback involving this guy

Um, no. I mean actual Indians. You know, the ones from India, and the ones that eat a lot of curry.