Tipped the floor for the 1st time last week. . .now i feel dirty

[EWillers]

I've been playing B&M poker quite a bit for the past 4 years. The only time I had tipped the floor was back in OK when the floor got me a room for the night (they were just givin' them away to players back then. . .I'd tip 10 bux to whomever gave me the comp).

The problem I have/had with tipping the floor is that 1) I can't tie it to any event; 2) they are paid (I believe) assuming no tips; and 3) the expectation they may have that I am expecting something in return.

Now I play about 3 or 4 times a week at a local casino. Pretty much all the dealers and floor on evening and gravyard shift know me by name. I've been going there pretty regularly for a couple of years.

I had never tipped the floor until last week. I'm not sure what possessed me to do it, but I got a table change and slipped the floor a red bird. This was a big step for me mentally as I had considered the issue for a long while but had never actually done it.

A couple of days later, I call ahead and put my name on the list. When I show up, the floor whom I had toked greeted me (nothin' out of the ordinary) and then mentioned how they had gotten a must move (for the 1st hour) goin' for "me". They don't usually run must moves at this house. I began to feel slightly dirty.

About 3 hours into the session I decide to get some lunch. I always eat in the room as there are almost always open tables. I'm sittin' there eatin' and reading my book when the same floor approaches askin' me if I wanted to play 5/10 cuz if I did he could probably call the (short) list and get it goin'. This house is notorious for waiting until they have 12-15 names on a list before starting a new game. I told him sure and in 10 minutes the 5/10 was up and runnin'. I felt really dirty after that.

The floor should do its job. Its job is to run the card room in the best manner it sees fit. This should be irrespective of gratuity. It's a terribly awkward situation though. If I were a floor, and somebody tokes me, I figure it's only human that I would want to do something more to accomodate that person. At the same time, I, as a floor, would strive to treat every player in a respectful (almost cherished manner).

I read some posts in the past about toking the floor to get up the list or getting a favourable ruling. To the extent that this is against the rules, it's totally off limits.

As far as starting new games or doing other things that the floor might not have done absent gratuity, wtf? If it's good for the room, they should do it. If it's not, they shouldn't. The existence or absence of gratuity should not affect their actions.

I hate to ask a generic floor tipping question, but what are some of ya'lls rationales for doin'/not doin' it. Since it can't be neatly tied to a function (e.g. winning a pot, getting checks) what is your basis for when you toke a floor?

CLIFF'S NOTES: I feel dirty if the floor treats me different when I toke them. Do you toke the floor? Why?