[RedStateRocker]

Well, I would be willing to pay a lot more to go out if I knew that the waitstaff were making a decent wage. Why not just pay 'em a good wage and stop the stupid and demeaning practice of 'tipping'. Any place not paying their employees enough to buy a house and send their kids to college is not somewhere I wish to patronize, anyway.

Personally, I *HATE* being served by another human being; never met anyone so great that they should be served, nor anyone so despicable that they should be subservient to another human.

[Dianna]

Well, I would be willing to pay a lot more to go out if I knew that the waitstaff were making a decent wage. Why not just pay 'em a good wage and stop the stupid and demeaning practice of 'tipping'.

You, essentially, can determine what the waitstaff makes with your tip. I doubt the person receiving a large tip feels demeaned.

Any place not paying their employees enough to buy a house and send their kids to college is not somewhere I wish to patronize, anyway.

Really? You think McDonald's ought to enable all their employees to buy a house? LOL!! You may be willing to pay $50 for a hamburger, but the rest of us are not. Now the poor burger flippers have NO job at all.

[4KennewickMan2Invent]

Personally, I *HATE* being served by another human being; never met anyone so great that they should be served, nor anyone so despicable that they should be subservient to another human.

Do you buy everything online? Because it sure sounds like you have the same thoughts for retail stores and grocery stores. (sigh) There are so many people that work in customer service related fields, it's just enormous. Please clarify the difference between food service and customer service (retail and the like).