You know what irks me?

[conuly]

In customers_suck, people are always complaining about how "I said hi, and you completely ignored me". Get over it, okay? I've been accused of ignoring people before. Guess what? I didn't ignore you, I didn't fucking hear you. I don't get it, I really don't. I can hear people walking a block away, I can hear conversations half a block away, I can hear if the CD player is plugged in, but there's no guarantee that I can hear you if you're right next to me. Or I hear you, and it doesn't even register. Three minutes later I'll look up - "what did you just say? were you talking to me?" and you'll be pissed. Especially if I answered you the first time. Or I'll hear you and have no idea what you said. Sometimes, I'm tired of asking people to repeat themselves. Or lazy. Or just don't want to talk. Or think it's easier to just ignore you than to explain one, two, three, four times that I didn't understand you, because if I don't get it the first time, I probably won't the next.

And then sometimes people there complain because "OMG! He put the money on the counter! He couldn't touch me???? HOW INSULTING!" Maybe it is insulting. Bet it'll be even more insulting when I touch your hand, and then immediately wipe it off because I just don't want to touch anybody. I'll tackle you and make you hug me, but sometimes, I really don't want to be around people. No, really. Ask my mom how her nose got broken* some day....

And then there's the people who complain about cheap tippers. Now, I *definitely* understand this. A cheap tipper is scum, really. But nobody seems to complain about the fact that they need the tips to survive, and that they wouldn't be so needy if they were paid a better wage. Is anybody organizing protests in the states where it's legal not to pay restaurant workers minimum wage?

*sighs*

Sorry, it's just whinewhinewhine from me today, isn't it?



*_{This wasn't my fault. No, really, it wasn't. I was sitting reading, she was behind me, and she reached over to tickle me. Bad idea. I startled, sat straight up, and got her in the nose with the back of my head. Ow.}

Comments

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

I hate tipping, because a) people should get paid a decent wage without it. B) Tipping rules are all informal, and I don't always know what I'm "supposed" to tip. For example, in restaurants I tip 15%, but everyone else I know tips 20%, and that makes me feel like a cheapskate. And what are you supposed to tip in other settings? C) Tipping ought to be for outstanding service that you really want to reward, not as a matter of course. It's like nowadays people *always* give a standing ovation, so it doesn't mean anything. Mandatory tipping? That doesn't make any sense. A service charge would at least be consistent and upfront, but in reality, the damned employer ought to pay the employees.

[ladytalon.livejournal.com]

15% is fine, but if you eat there lots you might want to start doing 20% because they'll recognize you. You'd either be "the person who barely tips enough" or "the person who tips well." Plus 20% is so much easier on my brain; I can't do math in my head very well at all.

But I really, really agree with you--it should be for outstanding service. It should be like a gift. A nice way to say "thanks." Not something you're required to do, especially since there's nothing written that it's required.

And when it comes to standing ovations, I don't care if I embarrass myself by sitting when everyone else leaps to their feet--I won't do it if I don't feel they earned it. I suppose it doesn't make much difference, but it feels better to me. ;)