A truly great and informative post and worthy to lengthen this thread with.

Unlike others, I knew that tipping originated from Europe, although I would have guessed from France (where I used to believe all good manners and great customs originated from).

When I as a child went out to eat with my family (which happened maybe once or twice a year) it was always a festive occasion, the food was good and plentiful and the waiters/waitresses well dressed and polite. It was customary, but never required, to add a tip but the tip was of a maximum about 10%.

The waiters/waitresses did not rely on this tip for their living as the tip was more a symbol of appreciation.

If the service is truly outstanding, I still don't have a problem with this custom. However, during the last 30 years or so, eating out has become a commodity, the service is rarely anything special and tipping in Europe has - with a few notable exceptions - in my experience diminished radically.

I was actually surprised when I first found out that tipping in restaurants in France is not expected.

Now back to the U.S. Here tipping has evolved into something completely different than what the common practise in Europe years ago used to be. (Maybe with the exception of the U.K., but they don't consider themselves Europeans now do they ?)

In the U.S., tipping is REQUIRED. When the person expecting the tip looks at me, I feel uncomfortable. It is the same look a dog has when expecting his reward. Very confusing and - I would say - degrading.

This may sound right or wrong to you Americans. I am just still trying to explain why tipping the American way feels so bad for many foreigners.

Sorry.