Martian

Your argument here is fundamentally flawed and emotionally driven.

First of all, that acronym (which I've always thought was kind of stupid, but we'll go with it); tips are, as you state, 'to insure prompt service.' So if the service isn't prompt or is otherwise sub-par, what would my tip be covering? Why should there be a lower limit to the amount I tip? If the level of service you offer me is less than stellar, I have no incentive to give you any sort of gratuity; there's nothing to be rewarded.

Mexican illegals are just that, illegal. If you're going to advocate a capitalist system, it would seem that you should deal with that first, rather than complain about how they have it so much better than you and then expect your customers to offset the difference out of pity.

And I don't think anyone has suggested that the managers are doing a positive thing by underpaying wait staff. In fact, I seem to remember saying just the opposite and I think most of my countrymen are expressing a similar sentiment. $2.13/hour is a criminal wage in most of the Western world. Why would you be willing to accept such abysmal pay? Unless your tips really do make up the difference in which case I reckon the whole thing is a non-issue and this entire thread is so much white noise. In any case, I refer you to the story blahblah454 relayed back on page 4. In Alberta (which, by the way, is easily the most conservative province in the country) wait staff at a top rated establishment make as much as or more than licensed tradesmen. Hell, even at a family restaurant a server who is sufficiently charismatic and diligent can make an excellent wage, because his tips are added on top of his $8-$10 hourly wage. This is exceedingly simple math. $2/hour+tips vs $8/hour+tips, which one will net you a higher paycheque at the end of the day?

Aside from that, I'm not really sure what you're saying. Are you saying that if you neglect one party in favour of another (regardless of relative sizes), the neglected party shouldn't feel slighted? Are you saying that refuse to seek employment in another field because you make more at your job than you would in other unskilled labour positions? And are you saying that you prefer to be paid an almost non-existent hourly wage, or simply that you accept it because you know that your position can easily be filled if you're dismissed?

I do have a lot of respect for waiters. I'm not trying to demean the job itself, I know you work hard. Whether you brand me an asshole or not, I'm the guy who will always say please and thank you when asking for a refill and who's likely to be understanding if your performance is negatively impacted by a situation outside your control. I'm also the guy who's going to reward your performance in a very direct fashion. You get a good tip for good service, you get a poor (or non-existent) tip for poor service. This seems to be what you yourself are advocating in your assertions of capitalism and customer control. Am I interpreting that incorrectly? Perhaps if you are consistently getting shorted on tips you should look to yourself for the reason, rather than blaming your customers and labeling them all cheapskates.

I have consistently referred to your position as unskilled labour, because that's precisely what it is. I don't know if that's what you're taking umbrage at, but I assure you it's not meant to be offensive. I am well aware that unskilled does not equate to easy. At the same time, however, unskilled does mean that it's a job that nearly anyone can do. There's very little involved in waiting tables that can't be taught to nearly anyone in a reasonably short timeframe. Thus, as your position requires no uncommon abilities in high demand, it only makes sense that it would pay a low wage. I do not agree with setting a wage that's less than a third of the standard minimum rate, but expecting a king's wages for waiting tables seems a bit unrealistic to me regardless of what sort of establishment you work for and unloading all this excess vitriol on your customers is ultimately just a form of self-pity, from what I'm able to tell.

You seem to be taking this whole thing very personally. While I can empathize, personalizing the discussion does not lead to an unfettered exchange of ideas. On the other hand, all of this hostility you're exhibiting towards your potential customers is a bit illuminating, to say the least.

Jazz, I just want you to know that... you're my hero.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame