Wow. Judge away then as it shows far more about your character than it ever will mine. If you can make a judgment about me over $1 I would hate to know what other things you rush to judgment on.

I mean god forbid what if I gave away my last few singles to a homeless guy the night before on my evening run and didn’t get a chance to get more? What if I gave my last few bucks to the cleaning crew or server that morning at breakfast? What if I spent my last couple bucks at McDonalds because I was hungry. I could go on and on. Now I’m a cheap prick in your mind?

This post of yours did far more damage to you then the people you directed it at.

 

Well just because something is a social norm doesn’t make it correct. We as a nation have had lots of social norms that are now abandoned.

 

it tells you nothing about my personality. So I don't tip the van driver. Tell me, Dr Freud, what other personality traits do I have?

 

Sure. Self-centered and egotistical with a hint of anti-social traits.

Like I said, I don't like paying taxes and tipping but that is the society we live in. You tip certain sectors and you pay your fair share. It just so happens that airport van driver's are one of those sectors. If they do a good job, they get a tip. If they don't care, run late, drive crazy, they get nothing.

 

This is a very US centric viewpoint. Some Americans enjoy tipping culture because it gives them a sense of charitableness, and they get to feel like they were able to be a "boss" and directly control someones pay. Then they tip a lot, especially to pretty waitresses, and she smiles at them and they go home and feel happy.

As far as the van driver, I would tip him in places like Florida and Texas. If it was in a city with a $15 minimum wage, I would not tip.

Once you live overseas, you realize that the tipping viewpoint is exported by Americans globally, but many cultures do not like it because it distorts payscales for many jobs, and creates an environment where the customer can justify their misbehavior by giving a larger tip. Also, I have seen in third world countries people who were teachers or truck drivers leave their job to go work in restaurants and hotels just because of foreigners tipping crazy amounts. My tour guide when I was in Africa told me he used to teach children but he was able to double his income by working as a tour guide, because Americans (he called US out by name) gave him huge tips that were more than one weeks salary.

 

wrong...but you'll not believe me because it doesn't fit your world view. So whatever. I know the truth as do the people on here who know me personally. That's good enough for me.

Taxes are a law...not an arbitrary decision that I should pay some random work group an extra amount that is also arbitrary...and keeps seeming to increase.

EDIT I just don't get it. Why are people so emotionally invested in this? There are two things I can say and I can promise division, hostility, name calling, and hundreds of responses: "I don't tip," and "I prefer my steak well done." Holy crap watch the thunder roll!

 

Who cares? The last time I checked we are living in the U.S. right? We are not talking about tipping the van driver in Albania. You know where else they don't tip? Sudan. They also throw acid in girls faces who attempt to go to school. Point being that every country is different, so I have no clue what argument you are trying to make here. Most everything in the U.S. is U.S. centric, just like a lot of the things in the UK are UK centric. And we could go down the list 193 more times.

 

This isn't an emotional response. This is a response to someone who is acting in a selfish way that is contrary to social norms. Kind of like the guy who pulls into a parking spot even though he knows someone has been waiting for it but the other car was in the way. Or the guy who always only ever tips 10% or less in restaurants. Or the person who brings a cart full of groceries to the express self checkout lanes.

I don't make the social rules. That is just what we have all decided to do as a society...if you don't do it, you will be judged. Don't take it so personally if you truly believe what you are doing is beyond reproach.

 

The point I am trying to make is that MAYBE there is a better way of doing things.

Take a look this chart:
https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

The American federal government requires a wage of at least $2.13 per hour be paid to employees that receive at least $30 per month in tips. If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any week, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate. However, each state sets its own rules, and many states require a much higher wage. In some states tipped employees are required to be paid a full minimum wage PLUS tips.

Why does the van driver need a tip? Is he paid a horrendously low wage? How come it's okay for other Americans to earn minimum wage when they work at Subway or McDonald's, but since this guy drives a van he deserves a tip? Are you also in favor of raising the federal minimum wage?

The only people in America who I would tip, are those people who are making the tip minimum wage which is $2.13 an hour, or some similar amount. I would also tip someone who goes out of their way to do something for me beyond the standard job duties.

 

Mr. Pink.

https://youtu.be/V4sbYy0WdGQ