[qdmcg]

[ QUOTE ]
Here are the reasons I've gathered:

-- Because everyone does it.
-- Because in America you're supposed to and that's why you go out to eat.
-- Because they don't get paid well.

Does that cover all the bases? Well, fine: I don't care about any of those reasons. Those reasons have no bearing on my own decision-making process. My standard is simple: live up to my expectations when I go out to eat and you will be greatly rewarded. Disagree with my expectations? Something else entirely. Since my expectations are so rarely met, I intentionally tip big when they are met to reward them. If not, I never go back there again and I don't tip. If that's such a gross "miserly" conduct, I will somehow manage to live with myself.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey guy, when 30 people are calling you a douchebag and you're the only one left vehemently defending your point, you should step back and take a look at the situation.

Restaurants in America are set up for tipping. They are paid far below minimum wage because of the fact that they make money from tips. If tipping didn't exist, stuff on the menu would cost approximately 15% more to make up for it. What would you do then, not go out to eat?

You are freeloading on the system. This is why you are a douche. If everyone acted the way you did, the industry would have to change. But you clearly know all of this and still think you should be exempt so I don't know why I'm bothering.