Originally Posted by
orthar
So one cannot disagree with the 'reasoning' behind a custom, he must have an ulterior motive?
People on the other side can just as easily say that you tip to feel good about yourself (which BTW I suspect is the reason some Americans overseas tip even when told not to).
If someone will eat a 500$ meal, it's pretty ridiculous to call him cheap. Likewise, if I'll order a 200$ bottle of wine instead of a 100$ one and not tip twice as much, it's not because I'm cheap, it's because it's silly.
Of course you may disagree with the reasoning. I didn't suggest otherwise. But you should still observe the custom. Or, you can be cheap and take out your moral outrage on the waiters. Withholding a tip to express your disagreement of this custom will punish them, and not the restaurant owners with whom you disagree.
But the passive-aggressiveness of stiffing a waiter is so much easier (read: cowardly) than asking to speak with the manager or owner to express your reasoning not to tip.
Yes, there are plenty of Americans that tip in countries where they shouldn't. There are also plenty of non-Americans that don't tip when in America. I don't think any particular nationality has all perfect citizens.