How Did Black People Become The Whipping Boy For Bad Tippers?
Before I begin, did I just put “black people” and “whipping boy” in the same sentence?
Anyway, I’m just wondering why when someone says “bad tippers” their thoughts immediately turn to “black person”? Is it because there’s simply more blacks than in any other restaurant-going minority, thereby more examples to reinforce this stereotype? Is it because whites make up the largest ethnic group in America that it’s easier to compare blacks and whites? Is it something deeper? I really don’t know.
I know that in most of my articles (especially the one where I called out every demographic’s frickin’ downfall) I’ve tried to paint a fair picture. I call out old people who can’t tip. I call out rednecks who can’t tip. I call out finicky asians who can’t tip. I call out teenagers who can’t tip.
But I say the same thing about blacks and the debate gets heated.
I’ve read around and whenever I post an article that involves a black family not tipping well, it’s lauded and supported with emails and comments as “truth”. But when I rail a family of rednecks, bros who listen to way too much Dave Matthews, or teenagers who wouldn’t know good music if it came up and sang “Golden Slumbers” right in front of their face, it gets quiet. No comments. No discussions. No debate. No nothing.
What is it with us? Do we so crave the black vs. white thing so much that we will ignore idiot-bashing until it’s about black people?
I’ve written almost five times as many articles poking fun at white yuppie soccer moms who wouldn’t know how to fill their Hummer with gas if their life depended on it and yet I have TEN TIMES as many comments on the articles bashing idiots who are black.
I even called a 14-year-old girl hot. Two comments. Accidental pedophilia, people!
The title of the website is I Serve Idiots. Not “I Serve Black Idiots”. Not “Black People Tip Terribly”. This is a place where we can come together as a community of people who hate idiots and…well…hate idiots. Regardless of class, gender, race, economic level, etc…
Please, guys. Tell me what’s up. Help me gain some perspective. I’m begging y’all.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:01
Dude, I completely hear you. The only thing I can think of the reason is that it’s a group of people who are consistently bad tippers. In all the time I’ve been a server I have had a total of maybe 6 black tables tip me what I deserved, probably less than 5% of black tables I’ve had. And I’m not one of those people who will give bad service when I expect a bad tip. I need to feel justified in my anger after receiving 10% or less. But I digress. Other groups of people who are stereotyped to be bad tippers are less consistant. Rednecks are pretty bad, but I’ve had maybe half of my redneck tables leave at least 15%. Old people suck but I’ve found that if I speak loudly and make small talk, particularly about my life goals, they will tip fairly well because they find out I’m a student. Teenagers do suck most of the time, but I chalk it up to them being too young to really know any better. Besides, they’re less likely to ask to speak to a manager if something goes wrong and never ask for items to be comped.
And about the 14 yr old? I know a lot of guys who say shit like that but are generally just joking around… one of my friends’ favourites is that joke “What’s the best thing about sleeping with a 16 yr old?” “When you slick her hair back in the shower she looks 12.”
But I do agree that it’s bullshit and people need to be less racist in restaurants. But I have to admit it is hard. Outside of work I don’t give a shit who you are, what you look like, anything like that. Live and let live. But once I put on my whites and go to work I start seeing people as their tipping stereotypes. I hate it, but I’ve come to accept that’s how it is when you’re a server.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:20
I think a lot of it depends on the area of the country you live in, also. I don’t know why, but that seems to be the way it is.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:40
You are right, I always say there is just as much white trash as there is any color.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:51
You are absolutely correct. I gave a story some time ago about 2 cents. Well, I’ve been tipped equally as badly by all, even celebrities. The old jew that blessed me out for not having Hebrew hotdogs, no tip there. Nor with the Hindu lady that said we could not move fast enough for her, nary a tip there. How about the guy who gets an employee discount, therefore brings his entire family in to eat at that rate, and still doesn’t tip, a real life gov’t employee who makes at least $15/hr. How about Andi McDowell, who I don’t think anyone can move fast enough for (I have personally seen her give absolute hell to anyone in her path on the wrong day, which have been frequent. She never tipped, in fact, she tried to bum cigarettes off people who make about $9/hr. And well, even Capt. Kirk himself only left a meager tip and an autograph for me, after I personally made his not on the menu breakfast burrito. They all have faults, Europeans though, regardless, rarely tip. And we all know why. I think that if you’re gonna go out to eat, tip should be figured in the budget. It’s only fair. We all know these folks work for tips.
Glad to see you back. Keep on keeping on!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:48
Oh, I missed you.
Where I live, it’s all white bread Lutherans (with a few scary Baptists tossed in for flavor). On the rare occasion there is a black person in our restaurant, they tip me very well. Possibly because anyone with darker skin up here is viewed with utter disdain or suspicion…likely both. I grew up in a city, and to me, people are people.
That said, there are two black girls that come in now and then who will not tip, regardless of how their service is. I busted my ass on them the first two times I waited on them; now they get water, menus, their drink, their food, their bill. I put my focus on the tables that are going to leave me something to pay the mortgage with.
Did I mention how much I missed your posts?
February 21st, 2008 at 8:09
There’s trash everywhere you go. When I was in the biz I’d get typically 10% or less from the following: Blacks, Southerners, Old people, British, Teens, women in groups of more than 2, Uppity people who wanted a meal comped because it wasn’t what they expected, list goes on and on.
Some people just don’t like to tip if they think their server isn’t smiling enough or doesn’t talk to them enough.
I agree with Ryan, you can’t judge people based on race, gender, creed, upbringing, etc. You just have to roll with it and keep your head up. If the customer is rude give them the standard service (kept to a minimum) and that’s it. They’re not gonna tip you regardless.
And there’s nothing wrong with finding a 14 yr old hot even if you’re 26 like me.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:36
I still maintain that the socioeconomic standing of the person combined with his or her age is much more of a tip determining factor than race is…
February 21st, 2008 at 6:06
Not sure I have an answer to your question. But I’m really happy that you’re writing again. I need lots of entertainment this week (layin’ in bed from knee surgery. Boo.). So thanks!
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:12
Ryan,
I disagree with this post, but not in a negative way. I live up in Connecticut and honestly we don’t get the kind of customers you do on a frequent basis. Some people love the things you write, but I’m sure they can only so often relate. (Other then the general retard customers that come in every so often).
I’ve worked in both Florida and Connecticut as a waiter, and its a world of difference. Sorry to others who read this, but I think I know why so many people comment on your black stories as opposed to white ones. Black people although often pleasant, generally never tip me much from Florida to Connecticut. We don’t have too many rednecks here… and no one asks for Sweet Tea here either. I laugh when I read the stories about water and tons of lemon, because my grandmother who lives in Texas is one of people. So as you can see, sometimes I can relate, but I don’t have the same kinds of customers you do. I have my idiots just like you do, but they are often completely different.
So honestly, keep writing the way you do. You don’t get popular by following the crowd, you get popular by writing good content. The concept of black to white is what it is, and just write things as they come to you. Write about whoever and whatever you want.
Best Regard,
Dave
February 25th, 2008 at 1:56
dude laughing my ass off at first sentence. it’s your soapbox, paint whatever you want on the sides and if i get tired of it i’ll read someone else’s soapbox.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:00
I’m a part time pizza delivery guy, and this subject comes up all the time. So much, I decided to track it. I know it’s not a large dataset yet, but it’s pretty revealing. I’ll let you guys make up your judgments though.
http://www.freewebs.com/bboryla/
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