He's right about tipping, in principle
However, in the US, the way things are done is that waiting staff are paid miniscule wages, and survive primarily from the tips they receive from customers. I don't agree with this practice - in fact I hate it - but that's how it's done over there.

That said, the waiter had no right to demand a tip - that's just not on.

Far Eastern countries like Korea don't have a tipping culture at all, which is far better.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 23 Jun 2009, 14:04, 2 replies)

just looked into this, out of curiousity
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S.A._minimum_wages

except for kansas minimum wage is roughly $7-8 reduced to around $5-6 for employees receiving tips (not sure how that's legal, but hey).

that goes pretty hand in hand with the minimum wage here in the UK, yet our waiters/bartenders don't forcefully insist on tips...
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Tue 23 Jun 2009, 15:01, closed)

"Survive" seems quite strong
The waiter in our hero's story was presumably "expecting" a 15% tip on a $120 bill, i.e. $18 cash. Assuming he had a modest half-dozen tables to look after, that's over a hundred notes, on top of his salary. Hardly slave labour.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Tue 23 Jun 2009, 16:04, closed)

they are also taxed on the basis that they get tips at an expected rate
it's all rather fucked up

personally I don't do tipping, unless something completely exeptional or insane occurs

:)
( discomeats This canoe, Thu 25 Jun 2009, 12:51, closed)