Thanks g_leyser you expressed my opinions on the matter concisely.
It you dont feel like tipping, just don't.
The little jars at the pizza place are there because some people do feel like leaving a small something, if nobody did the jars would diappear real quick.

Why should you feel guilty if you don't want to leave a few quarters, even when I order Chinese take-out I will give the girl who hands it to me a buck. It makes me feel good, so what?

And it not only a US thing its done else-where too, all be it more subtley, the restrooms near the Piazza Cisterna in San Gimignamo have have little old ladies with a coin jar they wave in front of you when you exit and at the Certosa di Pavia, the monks approach you shaking a little box for a "voluntary" donation.
A lot more irritating is the attempt by some waiters in some European countries who lie to (American)tourists and tell them service is not included, when it is. Which do you prefer being expected to leave a discretionary amount or being blatantly ripped off??

Mike



[This message has been edited by MIKESILV (edited 09-12-2002).]