Me? Life would certainly be simpler without it. I am also not sure I’m loving the “tip creep” that cashless payment systems are introducing. But I don’t hate it. It just sort of is what it is, part of the American landscape. It affects the type of service we receive and the type of personality that will thrive in a tough job. Now that said, fuck any business who doesn’t augment to the local minimum wage if necessary, and double fuck any that steals tips, like the very popular barbecue chain near my house.

My wife was a server in high school and all through college, and she said it was a better job because the tips meant that performance would be (on aggregate) rewarded, and for her at least, it made her effective hourly wage much better than it was when she worked, for instance, retail. She also had a sense that her wage was higher than the restaurant would have been willing to pay in a tipless paradigm. She had regulars she was genuinely fond of, and she felt like she could tell the difference between an asshole and somebody who lacked knowledge or just needed to stretch the budget for that special meal.

I suspect I’ll always feel more comfortable in the American system, but in time I’ve realized that’s a wjrii issue, not a Europe issue. Once I grew up a little and wrapped my head around the different dining culture I’ve encountered in Europe (and the sort of “split the difference” one in Canada), I was able to relax and enjoy the slower pace, and feel less awkward about actively requesting more water or the check when I was ready. I do still tip 15% and feel like I’m getting a bargain, lol.