That does sound a bit like racial profiling doesn't it? When I worked in the industry, it seemed to me that blacks tipped as much as other races. I think it depends on your comfort level around a certain race. If you're not comfortable around blacks, then anything bad they do would probably rasonate with you more. Whereas if you were comfortable around Asian people or saw more of them, you might just conclude they were just jerks for leaving a bad tip instead of an Asian jerk.
but if you act on that statement and presume it to apply to every black who steps in a restaurant, isn't that racist?
Yes. Just like if you said "Women cannot do _________, only a man can." then that would be stereotyping but it would also be sexist.
racist just has such a negative tone even though it may be technically correct (i dont know if it is) the negotive connotation complicates the issue. racial is better but it still has a hint of the negative connotation. stereotyping...possible. But also a word with negative implications. even though it may be a proven fact (that they tip worse) and one acts on it, is there a word that doesnt carry a negative vibe? For example, its a proven fact that, typically, most US convenient stores sell coca cola so i go into a convenient store with the expectations that they will have coke. A waiter goes to a table of whites b/c its a proven fact (again, im assuming for argument sake) that whites typically tip better. i would tend to not think stereotyping is racism.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1329241 Morning Edition, July 11, 2003 · A new study finds many waiters and waitresses feel that black Americans generally tip less than restaurant diners who are white. The study, by a researcher at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, found that blacks tip on average 20 percent less than whites. In addition, restaurant workers of all races dislike waiting on black people because they assume the tips will be less no matter how good the service. NPR's Juan Williams reports. Here is a cool discussion on allhiphop.com about tipping http://allhiphop.com/forums/1/18168572/ShowThread.aspx When I waited tables I went out of my way to give everyone the same service. But I also found that the stereotyping was kind of valid. But I don't believe in any sort of inherit superior race theory. That is racism. This is about money.
The article says a lot of the stuff that I have already said. Sorry but I don't see the difference between "blacks don't tip well, so I will give every black customer substandard service" and "a high percentage of blacks are in jail so I will stp every car with a black person in it to make sure they're up to something"
Just another of many reasons why tipping sucks and the why the whole tipping system should be done away with.
getting tips as a driver blows nowdays too. I go like 15 miles in rush hour and get there in like 10 mins, then the b*stard steals my pen when they sign the credit card receipt.
not to play the semantics game but this isn't a study. a study would actually go into restaurants and see how much black patrons tip. the people surveyed might be accurate, or they might just have been told that black people don't tip all the time, and anytime it happens it validates their opinion.
Try being stiffed a few times after busting your ass and you might see differently. Waiters do not come up with these ideas before they take the job. It is based on experience.
All the tiems I've been mugged, it's been by black people, but I don't think they're all criminals, nor do I look around for a cop everytime I see a black guy.
