Reasonably Optimistic To tip or not to tip? That is now the question. Everywhere.
Oct 22, 2024
Heather Long, an Economy columnist at The Washington Post, and Molly Roberts, an editorial writer and columnist, dive into the murky waters of America's tipping culture. They discuss the pressure consumers face with preset tips and how this complicates the wage structure for service workers. The conversation also explores global tipping practices and political implications of tipping taxation. With a humorous critique of the absurdities in tipping, they advocate for clearer compensation systems to support service workers more fairly.
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Tipping As A Social Reflex
- Theodore Johnson describes soldiers showing a tipping screen when thanked for service to illustrate tipping's reach.
- The story highlights how tipping has become a default social response in unexpected situations.
The Tip-Screen Panic
- Molly Roberts panics and clicks a default tip option then feels silly afterward.
- Heather Long often enters a dollar, treating the screen like a modern tip jar to avoid seeming cheap.
Screens Shape Tipping Norms
- Molly says iPad tip screens narrow acceptable tip choices and set a new standard.
- The device-driven prompt shifts tipping from an individual judgment to a constrained social cue.