Not necessarily on topic, but I'll never miss an opportunity to say fuuuuuuuuck Franzen and his thirsty wannabe DFW posturing.

Queens dont drive?

Too early to say Donald Glover for Spiderman again?

as someone who was just the victim of a surprise period attack ...

I just laughed so hard I scared my husband.

*snicker* "Dick fungus"...

You are a dick fungus.

Sorry, but tipping is not "a courtesy, not an obligation." You're just wrong about that. If you go out to dinner/drinks/whatever you are 100% obliged to tip appropriately for acceptable-0r-better service. It is decidedly not optional. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go out, and if you can afford to tip…

some data? do you not believe the dozens of americans telling you that's how the american table waiting service works?

stop doubling down on being incredibly wrong.

hello, i am just going to comment on a part of a culture i completely misunderstand.

Just out of curiosity. Why do you have a problem with the waiter shaming them or trying to? I mean if you haven't done anything wrong say you left 17% tip and some tries to 'call you on it' you would not be ashamed right? I certainly don't think trying to shame someone for a bad tip should be a firing offense. I don't…

What?! Is this true? I had never been told this, ever! I'm an European, and I know you have to tip 20% in the US, bla, bla, bla, not paid a living wage, and all that bullshit, but I had no idea the waiter had then to be out of pocket for it, on top of that. The tip is "included" in the tax? WTF? The big bosses over…

Blah, blah, blah. Very, very few people here will defend your right to be an ass.

What it really means if you don't tip is that the waiter or waitress paid to serve you.

If you earned $2,000 for your last pay period, and you got a check for $20, would you confront your boss and/or payroll department about it?

No, sorry. You don't get to play the "But I'm European!" card when you're tipping in America. When in Rome you tip as the Romans do and in NEW YORK CITY of all places that means 20 to even 30% of your bill.

Whining about a small tip in a country where servers make minimum wage: Bad
Questioning a small tip in a country where servers rely on tips for their wages: Justified

Please tell me you understand the difference.

We had a number of Europeans in our little"Mal-Maison" they are terrible tippers..esp. they don't tip on expensive wine..many a check over 400- 500.00 with nary anything close to 15%.thats back in 1987.

Human Rape Consultant.