Tipping: Part I

***DISCLAIMER: This is a link to an R-Rated movie entitled Reservoir Dogs. It contains very graphic language. RECOMMENDED FOR VIEWERS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.

This will be an ongoing issue that I believe in and advocate long after I hang up my non-slip black shoes, and apron. Tip. Tip well. Tip well, because servers in most states make between $2-3/hour. California is different. Those people make $10.75/hour + tips, so they don't really get much empathy from this girl.
Many people think that 15% is fair, and I agree. If I could consistently make 15% per table, I would be monetarily satisfied every night, but this is rarely the case. People seem to be able to sleep at night by tipping between 10% and 12%. I have received less than that obviously, but it was because of horrible service. The worst feeling is not getting stiffed, believe it or not. The worst feeling is getting tipped a quarter, or two quarters, or a dollar. It is the worst feeling because it often happens when the customer is not trying to send a message. When you get stiffed, you usually know why. When someone leaves a dollar, they may feel that your service was great, and that's why you deserved that extra green back. This is a deeply sickening feeling because you think of all the servers along the way that are going to come into contact with this person.
***Believe it or not, certain people truly do think this way. I don't understand it and I never will be able to. One of the hardest things is walking away from a bad tip, and not letting it affect you until the end of the night. Your instinct tells you to chase the customer to the parking lot, and grab their child, who had 25 chocolate milks that you made by hand, and hold them as ransom until they give you another $5.25, but somehow you must maintain.