They're real people, too.

Terrible analogy, but I can get behind no gratuity for a server who's actually a dick to you. "Generally shitty waiters/waitresses" seems to cover a whole lot more than that though. I'm speaking to non-malicious, but poor service, which is much more common and pertinent to this discussion than outright abuse.

It sounds like a goddamn wonderful thing. Every server I ever worked with before would have loved that to be the case. Unfortunately, that's just not how it is at the present. Restaurants tend to be a bit more powerful on this than restaurant workers' unions.

Sure, a bonus is usually considered "in excess". But, by definition, "minimum wage" is also considered at least $7.25 an hour in the US, too. There's quite a bit of gray area here.

I think we're ultimately in agreement there. 20% is usually my baseline tip (it's easier to calculate than 15%!) and I might even throw in an extra buck or two if you've been super-pleasant or we've been a bit picky or demanding at a table. I view that extra couple of bucks, boosting their tip % on my table from 20 to…

Unfortunately, a tip is not a bonus. It is part of a server's living wage that's purposefully left in the hands of the consumer so that the proprietor can keep costs down.

I accept your bullshit. Depending on the offense, I would agree. I'm not defending personal insults. Although, if things got to that extreme, a discussion with the manager should definitely be included in this discussion.

Agree about sucking it up as a server. But the same can be applied to the customer. You know that tips are "optional", but you also know what is socially acceptable in this broken system.

The problem with this example is that you don't have a choice to not go to work on a shitty day as a server. You're leaving the establishment shorthanded on little notice and likely putting yourself in danger of being fired.

The domino effect of not tipping is probably the least-considered aspect of the "I shouldn't have to tip" debate. This is why adding an extra buck or two to a normal tip, which might elevate the percentage from 18 to 22%, could help make the server's night better and perpetuate a better attitude for the rest of the…

And when you have a didn't-bring-my-A-game day, does your salary get withheld?

The tipping-mandatory structure may not be optimal, but if it were optional, you'd be paying that extra money for the items on your plate instead. So.. suck it up and welcome to America.

A 10% tip sends a message that service was super shitty. A 0% tip sends a message that you're an asshole.

Current iOS Version: iOS 7.0.6

Nope. Did not watched it.

Wii Fit trainer in Smash Bros?

Went to cross country meets where his kids were running. High schoolers were his heckling training ground.

Sure, enjoyed watching him too. I actually really loved the guy and he was my probably favorite at the time. I hoped he would have a long a storied career, but with hindsight, I realize how undisciplined he was and made the defense worse just as often, if not more often, than better.

I also linked to that list. It says more to Redskins personnel history that he's on that list (which wouldn't exist if it weren't arbitrarily created for the team's anniversary). Sure, he's a "Redskin great," if we have to pick eighty of them. A great player, though? Hardly.