But throughout this thread, you seemed to be advocating for tipping people who DON'T work for tips. That's exactly how this thread started, a person who doesn't work for tips asking for a tip in a concierge lounge. And your reinforcement for this argument is suggesting that those of us who don't favor tipping those people who DON'T work for tips, must be cheap or not like tipping those who DO work for tips.

I agree, this thread is not about the best way to organize society. But it is relevant to discuss how a society is organized, as it relates to tipping norms. Maybe I've misunderstood your previous posts, but I've read them as stating that it's perfectly fine to buck those norms, and if someone disagrees with that then something must be wrong with them.

First, let me apologize if I have misunderstood your position and your posts. Second, I'll ask a couple questions, and would appreciate just simple replies so we can better understand your position:

1. In countries like Japan, where tipping is typically frowned upon by society, would you tip someone because you felt like it?
2. If the answer to the first question is "no", then perhaps your disagreement with most others in this thread is the definition of who works for tips and who doesn't. Confining your response to the US (where tipping is very common), could you describe who you consider as "working for tips"? And perhaps specifically as it relates to Marriott staff, since that's what the thread is about.

It may be that we all generally agree, but disagree only on whether some of these jobs, such as a lounge attendant, are hired with the expectation that tips are part of their income.

It's not really about how the tip is given...if a waiter leaves a tip jar on the table with my bill, I have the same choice I have with a credit card of how much to tip. But that's different than someone in a non-tipping job putting out a tip jar with the hopes that someone who doesn't know better will throw some money in.