As an outsider to this whole tipping custom, it is kind of shocking to me that someone would chase after you to demand something that is a gratuity. As a visitor for the first time to the US later this year, I will probably leave some extra change (If I pay for a $8.50 meal with a $10 note, I would probably just leave the change) but I am not going to work out percentages and whether or not someone thinks I am stingy or whatever, because really, I don't care.

It is customary to tip, but as this thread has shown, there is no hard and fast rule about what to tip and it is clearly not a law. People chasing after me for a tip or for more of a tip (because I didn't tip the right amount, which is ridiculous) will be ignored.

And I fear no reprisal as I won't be in the city long and after something like that, I would not go back to that place to eat. I'm sorry if that offends people but coming from a culture where tipping is not the normal thing to do, I'll just do what I feel is comfortable for me and people can deal with it.