Tip what you will. It's your decision to do so or not.

But, as I see it, QL is raising the point that Brian is stopping just short of implying that there's an obligation to tip (and even over-tip) irrespective of whether there's a mutually beneficial exchange.

Sure, the economy is tough, but that's not relevant to the reasons for tipping. If I get above-and-beyond room service from housekeeping, then that may warrant an additional recognition of that service; otherwise, to suggest that I should tip for reasons other than services rendered is to suggest that there's an imperative to tip to rectify economic ripples due to nothing that niether I nor the tipee had anything to do with.

If that's Brian's proposition, then I'd have to think that that's pretty twisted reasoning. But I'm inclined to conclude that that's _not_ what Brian is suggesting.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 05-18-2003).]