As I read British and Australian opinions on America's strangeness

[Lucienne]

Lots of good things to be said about Americans, but America itself is a bit frightening to me.

This, pretty much.

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

I like European bitches

[Alleya]

They work their arses off for little pay and no holidays, and yet go about it with an amazing cheerfulness that I don't think you'd see anywhere else.

I'm not so sure that's a good thing, lol.

[Qalbert]

I like European bitches

for the purpose of this conversation can we please call them European women.

[#686578]

Reading the link from OP and several posts in this thread I think the most hilarious think is how misinformed everyone from outside the US is about how the US works. Most people dont realize that almost every state is as big or bigger than their own home country (which is why we have a federation to begin with) so they dont realize their assumptions about the entire US based off of one or two places they've been are wrong.

[Linliel]

I like European bitches

What about Australian bitches?

[Conrad]

Numbers no

[Linliel]

Reading the link from OP and several posts in this thread I think the most hilarious think is how misinformed everyone from outside the US is about how the US works. Most people dont realize that almost every state is as big or bigger than their own home country (which is why we have a federation to begin with) so they dont realize their assumptions about the entire US based off of one or two places they've been are wrong.

OK, fine, fine, I'll take it back. I like most of the Americans that I happened to meet, all the rest can go fuck themselves.

[Charismatic]

Numbers no

actually, yes

[Antithesis]

Politically correct tryhards who talk up their country as much as possible, try to convert me to religion, make me feel bad/spit in my food because I forgot/didn't know to tip, indoctrinate my kids, make me fat from eating too much, poison me with the terrible coffee, then shoot me. Oh, and then make me pay out my ears for medical treatment because I can't afford health insurance.

(yeah I'm exaggerating here)

(I actually really quite like visiting the US!)

Can you explain that one to me? Do they not tip in the European countries or do Waiters and Waitress actually make a decent amount of money from their paychecks?

[Linliel]

Can you explain that one to me? Do they not tip in the European countries or do Waiters and Waitress actually make a decent amount of money from their paychecks?

Yes to both. I'll sometimes leave a tip of rounding up to the nearest convenient amount, but that's it really. In Belgium I had a waiter chase me down the road waving my change one time when I did that too, saying "you forgot your change!"

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

What about Australian bitches?

Them too

[Lucienne]

Can you explain that one to me? Do they not tip in the European countries or do Waiters and Waitress actually make a decent amount of money from their paychecks?

I make about the same amount as a waitress as I made as a teacher. I get paid more if I work late or weekends, otherwise it would be slightly less. To be fair, it says more about how poorly paid teachers are than anything though.

[Linliel]

Actually, this is worth mentioning - thanks to the US tourist market many restaurants in the UK and Australia have started adding a 15% "optional service charge" to the bill. If the food and service were good I'll pay it, if not, or if I'm skint, I won't.

[Kiarax]

Can you explain that one to me? Do they not tip in the European countries or do Waiters and Waitress actually make a decent amount of money from their paychecks?

If they do a damn good job you sometimes tip them. There's no obligation to do it and they make at least minimum wage so if they don't go out of their way and stand out nobody tips. It's their employees job to pay em, not mine. Fuck 'em. Also I dunno how they do "tips" in America but here it's pretty common for places to pool together their tips and share it out between the staff, so there's even less of an obligation for waiters and waitresses to be exemplary whilst the other half of the staff half-arse it.

[Conrad]

I went to a huge buffet (they called it a smorgasboard, even) in Amish country last month, and there was a sign that said No Tipping on it. I was amazed that they'd do that.

[Lucienne]

Actually, this is worth mentioning - thanks to the US tourist market many restaurants in the UK and Australia have started adding a 15% "optional service charge" to the bill. If the food and service were good I'll pay it, if not, or if I'm skint, I won't.

That's really neat. Our says service is included in the price, which is really only partly true. It also states the tax, and most foreign guests will assume that's the tip.

[#686578]

Numbers no

Actually, yes.

[#686578]

actually, yes

Oh man thanks bro

[Kiarax]

I've only been to one place and seen that optional service charge on the bill. It's a self-service all you can eat buffet place so it's kind of silly lol. Sometimes will pay it if they're actually good at cleaning up our plates (you get a fresh one each time most of the time) and quick to offer more drinks but half the time they're super busy and give us no service so they don't get shit. Find that half the time I'm on my third or fourth plate and my previous ones are still there taking up space at the table.