I'll be honest.. i don't understand tipping. Why are we SUPPOSED to tip? And why only at sit down restaurants?

IF the argument is that the tip is needed for the waitstaff to make a living, why doesn't the restaurant just increase the hourly wage and just increase the price of each food item? And if that is the reasoning, why don't we HAVE to tip at Taco Bell? Do we not care about those guys?

IF the argument is that we tip because of the service, then we should not tip at all if the service isn't good. Also, why then don't we tip doctors, lawyers, your banker? They are also in a service economy. So do we only tip waiters because they get paid little? So again, why don't we tip the guy working at McDonald's or why don't we tip the garbage man everytime the truck comes along. They are also part of the service economy and they make little.

Here are my thoughts:

The tipping economy allows for restaurants to get away with underpaying their employees. We as customers play along.

Tipping is more about the TIPPER than the person getting tipped. The Tipper feels better about giving "charity" and going along with social norms. Usually the big tippers make a big show of tipping big.

Here are my final thoughts: Tipping is your prerogative. If you want to tip, tip. You'll be helping someone. Don't tell others what to do.