[Bleeding Red]

I was a server for 10 years in both "mom & pop" and corporate places. Also my family owned and managed restaurants for over 50 years.

I think tipping brings out the worst in humans. Diners become judgy and petty. Servers & bussers become just as judgy (racist) and sometimes vengeful. Back of the house (cooks, dishwashers) become envious and mean. Managers can at times become thieves (as can servers & bussers).

You may not think you fall into this trap, but it seems some are now judgmental of the machines (and programmers).

I admit, I liked having cash in my pocket (when cash tips were common) and banking my paycheque. I did not like how serving made me feel - about myself and towards others. I knew which teenagers were leaving a pile of pennies on the table, that the large family in for Sunday lunch after church would want separate bills and be lousy tippers. I and my colleagues made instant judgement calls all the time.

I know servers who would re use bills to scam the restaurant to make a few extra bucks, justifying it by saying they were making far less than others. I saw servers spit in food because their diners were playing games (ordering every item on the menu like Sheldon Cooper or putting cash on the table and removing a bill for every perceived error). Cooks holding up large table orders because they didn't get tips.

I experienced more racism working at the corporate restaurant than anywhere else - mostly "Cheap {insert race here} bastards"

The fear is that no one will pay $30 for a dinner they used to pay $20 for. Or that no one will do the job without tips.

It crazy. End tipping ASAP and just pay the actual price.