5/25    I don't really care about ethics and how people look at me. Is it
        perfectly legal to be an asshole and NOT tip at restaurants?
        \_ If you can't afford to leave a few bucks on the table then you
           can't afford to eat out.  It is legal but you should examine your
           economic situation more closely if that level of cash outlay
           actually matters to you before you go out again.  Or just eat at
           fast food places where we don't tip.  McDonald's sounds like the
           right level for you anyway.  And woe be if you're out with 99% of
           this country and don't put in your fair share for tip.  Your
           fellow diners will remember and hold it against you forever which
           is likely to cost you a lot more over time than the tip.  So don't
           be a trolling cheap-ass and leave a few bucks.
        \_ It's legal.  You should move to Korea.  No tipping culture.
           \_ Or Japan.
        \_ just dont go to the same place twice..unless you like
           special sauces or something
        \_ In a country where people's wages are reduced because they're
           expected to get tips, it's rude, boorish, and petty to not tip.
           There are plenty of countries where failing to tip is fine, but
           the U.S. isn't one of them.
           However, it's not illegal.  Just fuckin' stupid.  -tom
           \- why is it stupid? it may obviously cause problems at
              tip-expected restaurants you expect to go back to, but
              for one offs, i think it is assholish and you might get
              deservedly abused, but stupid suggesting it will hurt
              you, not sure why you would say that.
              \_ driving a single-occupant SUV to work every day may not
                 hurt you, but it's stupid.
                 \- i think buying $400 shoes is usually stupid too, but
                    usually people mean something like "it is irrational"
                    rather than "i wouldnt do it" or other "bad" behavior
                    like being selfish, or an asshole etc. in fact often
                    assholeish behavior like freeriding is "rational".
                    is not contributing to npr/public tv stupid? no, i dont
                    think so. so in some cases you can show people are
                    behaving irrationally when they dont realize it, but
                    it's incumbent on you do present some argument. for
                    example the study that shows there is a corrlation
                    between car price and a question like "how much do you
                    like your car" but there isnt a correlation between
                    car price and how pleasant/unpleasant was your commute.
                    i.e. people thing about their cars different when they
                    are thinkign about their cars and how the use experience
                    transpires. ok thanks i have to go now i am in a hurry.
                    \_ I don't know about you but I personally think a late
                       30 year old ambiguously gay Indian guy spending
                       ~$1000 a month eating nice food and drinking
                       fine wine is beyond stupid.
                       \- i probably drink less than 2 bottles of wine a
                          month. i hate spending money on wine. to me it
                          is a "tax" on going out to eat with friends.
                          unless you live with your parents, i probably also
                          have a higher savings rate than you do. of all the
                          ad hominems directed at me in the motd, this is
                          about the lamest, e.g. starting with "i dont know
                          about you ..."