Manners/Social Conventions You Don't Follow

[btimbit]

Yikes. I don't want to touch the subject too much for fear of attracting you know who, but I'll add my thoughts on the subject of tipping at restaurants.

Essentially the way tipping has evolved culturally, for as long as I can remember it's integral to menu pricing and budgeting costs. You're essentially supplementing that person's wage. Not saying I agree, but that's the way it is.

To get rid of tipping, prices would have to go up. Fair trade off, I'd be all for it, but barring some major cultural shift it's simply not going to happen. No restaurant wants to be the first to do it, as the casual guest will see the price and think it isn't worth it when they can get a similar steak for less elsewhere, not even thinking of the tip.

You might be thinking "I'd definitely go to a place that had no tipping, even if it meant the base price was higher." Well you're the exception, and if you don't believe me, look up all the restaurants in North America that have tried it. They're either failed or failing.

Now I'm talking about a regular restaurant. A place like Subway or a coffee shop, unless they truly went above and beyond, screw that

[Trailer Fire]

How can people say singing the anthem is ridiculous?

And I'd love to slap the hat off of anyone who doesn't take it off. I have serious fantasies about it.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

How can people say singing the anthem is ridiculous?

Because we're playing a hockey game, not going to war. Why do we need this bit of jingoism?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Rouge was clearly joking, but those dirtbags exist for sure.

Ba ha. Thanks! Finally. I can't believe how many people bought that.

I even added the ridiculous idea that I lock people out of the bathroom after I've been in there.

The funny thing is I'm quite anal (no pun intended) about bathroom decorum. Especially at work. Which actually leads to a real manner/social convention I don't follow—the one that says "don't tell people when your coworker doesn't wash his hands in the bathroom".

If I see someone not wash their hands, or just do the cursory/fake "splash with water" after you come out of the crapper, I will never forget it, and I will tell people about it.

"Yeah, he's good at his job and he's a good guy, but he doesn't wash his hands after he takes a dump". People notice, so even if you don't think you need to wash your hands after wiping your ass, do it just so people who know you should think you did.

[dissentowner]

From many of the posts I have read in this thread it should have been titled "Things that prove I'm an a-hole".

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

How can people say singing the anthem is ridiculous?

And I'd love to slap the hat off of anyone who doesn't take it off. I have serious fantasies about it.

Because it's not done anywhere else in the world, and you don't sing the anthem when you're going to watch a movie, a play, or any other form of entertainment.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Do you order from the same place more than once? If so bold move, as I'm sure the delivery guys adds a little something extra to your food.

That's just an urban myth. I worked in the food service industry for a good ten years and never saw anything like this. Sure the quality control wasn't spectacular, but the "vengeful server" isn't all that common. I tip well at restaurants since there's actual service involved. But when it's just a matter of me picking up food (which I usually do) or it being dropped off with a delivery charge I see no reason why I need to pay for service. I order from a wide range of places anyway, so it's not like I ever see the same drivers anyway.

I never expected tips when I worked in the same capacity, I even moved heavy furniture for two years to peoples houses, and received one $2 tip ever (from a crazy person who said he was going to kill me). Call me petty, but unless I'm with my girlfriend I don't see why I need to tip for pickup or delivery. Tipping at bars is a necessity, same with restaurants, or any form of service when there's a "relationship" between you and the server. When I'm picking up myself or being forced to pay delivery from a place down the road I see no need to pay additional for it.

For those saying I must be cheap, that's not the case at all. When I'm hosting I supply the beer, snacks, and location. It's not about saving those few dollars, I just don't see reason why I need to pay for such minimal services rendered.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

That's just an urban myth. I worked in the food service industry for a good ten years and never saw anything like this. Sure the quality control wasn't spectacular, but the "vengeful server" isn't all that common. I tip well at restaurants since there's actual service involved. But when it's just a matter of me picking up food (which I usually do) or it being dropped off with a delivery charge I see no reason why I need to pay for service. I order from a wide range of places anyway, so it's not like I ever see the same drivers anyway.

I never expected tips when I worked in the same capacity, I even moved heavy furniture for two years to peoples houses, and received one $2 tip ever (from a crazy person who said he was going to kill me). Call me petty, but unless I'm with my girlfriend I don't see why I need to tip for pickup or delivery. Tipping at bars is a necessity, same with restaurants, or any form of service when there's a "relationship" between you and the server. When I'm picking up myself or being forced to pay delivery from a place down the road I see no need to pay additional for it.

For those saying I must be cheap, that's not the case at all. When I'm hosting I supply the beer, snacks, and location. It's not about saving those few dollars, I just don't see reason why I need to pay for such minimal services rendered.

There's plenty of ways to justify it but at the end of the day, not tipping delivery drivers in our society is petty and cheap.

[jayswin]

I guess the simple question is; Do you understand that delivery drivers rely on tips to earn a living? If the answer is yes, and I suspect that it is seeing as most people know this, then you are being petty and cheap, end of story.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Daradon

OK, between Trackercowe and Rouge I think we're starting to get trolled now.

I did post this right after. Though so many people started talking about it, I got swayed.

As for the thread, kinda funny it's turned into just another tipping thread.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I guess the simple question is; Do you understand that delivery drivers rely on tips to earn a living? If the answer is yes, and I suspect that it is seeing as most people know this, then you are being petty and cheap, end of story.

Well when I'm being charged $3.50-$5 for delivery to an address five minutes away, I imagine much of that goes directly into their pockets. I am supposed to pay an additional $5 for them driving down the road? In the winter it might be understandable, but for such a short trip I don't see the need. I worked minimum wage jobs for years and managed to do quite well, surely they can do the same.

It appears some drivers clear $500-$600 a week and $40,000 a year. Who's to say how much of that delivery charge they actually earn, but I don't see the owners themselves getting it. I know much of it is paid in gas and repairs, but again how much gas is used for such a short trip?

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

From many of the posts I have read in this thread it should have been titled "Things that prove I'm an a-hole".

Nah, that was a different Sliver thread.

http://test.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=115966

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Well when I'm being charged $3.50-$5 for delivery to an address five minutes away, I imagine much of that goes directly into their pockets. I am supposed to pay an additional $5 for them driving down the road? In the winter it might be understandable, but for such a short trip I don't see the need. I worked minimum wage jobs for years and managed to do quite well, surely they can do the same.

It appears some drivers clear $500-$600 a week and $40,000 a year. Who's to say how much of that delivery charge they actually earn, but I don't see the owners themselves getting it. I know much of it is paid in gas and repairs, but again how much gas is used for such a short trip?

Might be different down here but 9 times out of 10 the delivery charge goes to the company, not the driver and it is usually explicitly stated so on the receipt. Just something to consider for non-tippers of delivery drivers.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Dagger

Because it's not done anywhere else in the world, and you don't sing the anthem when you're going to watch a movie, a play, or any other form of entertainment.

Well, most of that sentence is wrong.

First of all, the national anthem is played before big sporting events all over the world. I've seen it here in Oz, I've seen it numerous times in Asia, I've seen it in eastern Europe, I've seen it in Western Europe and I've seen it in Central America as well.

Second, there are countries that play the national anthem before seeing a movie (in a theatre), Thailand for one, India and Malaysia as well off the top of my head. And if you don't stand up while it's being played you're going to attract some pretty dirty looks from the locals.

So no, it's not strange and it's not only done in North America. I guess being patriotic just isn't as "cool" as it used to be.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by btimbit

To get rid of tipping, prices would have to go up. Fair trade off, I'd be all for it, but barring some major cultural shift it's simply not going to happen. No restaurant wants to be the first to do it, as the casual guest will see the price and think it isn't worth it when they can get a similar steak for less elsewhere, not even thinking of the tip.

And the funny thing is that if tipping were abolished, it would be the cheapskates who would be hurt the most. They would no longer have their dining and drinking experience subsidized by tippers - it would all be captured right there in the bill.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

Because we're playing a hockey game, not going to war. Why do we need this bit of jingoism?

I'm not much for hyper-patriotism or jingoism myself, but I think it's a good tradition simply for the sake of tradition. Especially at some places (Chicago, Boston, Montreal for example) where it's kind of like "ladies and gentlemen, start your engines" and the fans really get into it.

I personally don't sing, I don't feel like I'm expected to sing, and I don't feel great swelling patriotic pride hearing the song, but it is part of the spectacle. I try to catch the anthems even on TV, no matter where they are or what anthem they'll be singing.

And it would just be weird if they went from announcing the starting line-ups to puck drop.

[CASe333]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Call me petty, but unless I'm with my girlfriend I don't see why I need to tip for pickup or delivery. Tipping at bars is a necessity, same with restaurants, or any form of service when there's a "relationship" between you and the server. When I'm picking up myself or being forced to pay delivery from a place down the road I see no need to pay additional for it.

.... I just don't see reason why I need to pay for such minimal services rendered.

Why do you feel the necessity to tip only when with your gf?

IMHO if you feel you shouldn't have to pay for "such minimal services" get off your ass and do it yourself.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'm not much for hyper-patriotism or jingoism myself, but I think it's a good tradition simply for the sake of tradition. Especially at some places (Chicago, Boston, Montreal for example) where it's kind of like "ladies and gentlemen, start your engines" and the fans really get into it.

I personally don't sing, I don't feel like I'm expected to sing, and I don't feel great swelling patriotic pride hearing the song, but it is part of the spectacle. I try to catch the anthems even on TV, no matter where they are or what anthem they'll be singing.

And it would just be weird if they went from announcing the starting line-ups to puck drop.

I actually think they should just do the home team's anthem. Given the many nationalities now, seems ridiculous to do the visiting because that's where they are based even when most of their team isn't american.

[Radio]

I eat with my elbows on the table all the time.

[Sr. Mints]

I have no compunction with forgoing social grace and calling someone a moron when they say something a moron might say.