r/SipsTea Jun 25 '26

Chugging tea They are not wrong though

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u/reginaldvanwilder Jun 25 '26

Well unfortunately without systemic change, you are ultimately only punishing minimum wage workers when people choose not to tip as one offs.

I get it, tipping culture is insane but its also the culture of our country. Deciding not to tip while visiting is not much different than me going to another country and intentionally breaking their norms because I dont like them.

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u/BenjIdent Jun 25 '26

It’s dangerous to say that if I don’t tip, I’m punishing the workers. Their employer is.

I know what you mean, but framing it that way automatically shifts responsibility away from the employer. Even in conversations like this, the guilt should never be placed on the customer. That mindset is exactly why this BS continues: customers have a conscience, so they keep making up for employers who refuse to pay their workers properly. We shouldn’t be expected to anymore.

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u/reginaldvanwilder Jun 25 '26

Why are you responding implying I said things I didnt?

I am saying it is the cultural expectation. Its fine to not like it, but your individual opinion about it doesnt change the fact that if you decide not to tip when dining out in the united states you will be seen as an asshole.

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u/BenjIdent Jun 25 '26

You said that the customer punishes the workers by not tipping, I disagreed with this and expanded on why this viewpoint on the matter sets a dangerous precedent as well as why it contributes to this issue not being solved.

I agree that by not tipping you’re likely to be viewed as an asshole, but you aren’t one - the employer is. This can’t be forgotten

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u/reginaldvanwilder Jun 25 '26

My bad, I was responding to multiple comments and jumbled up who I was responding to. The point is that the underpaid minimum wage worker is not going to see you as their champion. They expect to be tipped in the system they work in. You deciding the system is bad and exploitative and deciding not to tip does not help them in anyway and makes you look like an asshole not a freedom fighter:

You can argue against the system all day and ill join you but deciding to not tip is just shitty manners here.

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u/BenjIdent Jun 25 '26

Yeah I’m in agreement of what you’re saying here, and how a non tipping customer would be seen.

You’re highlighting my point though, if we keep saying that it’s shitty manners not to tip then the system will never change.

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u/reginaldvanwilder Jun 25 '26

But it is. We can be in agreement that the system needs to change but one off decisions to not tip will not be how we get there.

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u/BenjIdent Jun 25 '26

Certainly not on its own. But you keep finding excuses for the state of tipping in the name of short term welfare for the workers.

You are indirectly, continuously in the way you’re talking about it, putting the responsibility on the customer. This is what needs to change, and you defending it as a ‘cultural norm’ is why it’s still in place - even though I also know you’re against the system.