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The Drive Home: Was I the Villain?
On the way home, my girlfriend finally spoke.
“You didn’t do anything wrong… but that was uncomfortable.”
That sentence stuck with me.
Because that’s exactly how tipping culture works now.
Even when you’re technically right, you’re made to feel wrong.
The Hidden Reality of Luxury Dining
Here’s what most people don’t realize about high-end restaurants:
- Service charges are often not clearly explained
- Customers assume they replace tipping
- Staff are trained to expect both
- Management relies on social pressure to enforce it
This creates a system where:
- Customers feel ambushed
- Servers feel entitled
- Managers avoid transparency
And no one leaves happy.
When “Service” Becomes a Moral Test
Somehow, tipping has stopped being about service quality.
It’s become a character judgment.
Leave less than expected?
- You’re cheap
- You’re disrespectful
- You “don’t belong”
Even when:
- Prices are inflated
- Service charges are already added
- Expectations are never clearly stated
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