What it takes to be a jerk (Dave Barry)

Maimi Herald ^ | Dave Barry

[Smokin' Joe]

...what with all the traffic and the hollering and screaming and all.

We have terrible traffic problems where I live in North Dakota (biggest town for 130 miles).

Just the other day some farmer got a grain truck stuck in second on the way to the elevator and had three--THREE! cars backed up on the main drag.

Terrible, terrible, I tell you! LOL!

[Hildy]

Well said, my friend.

[A knight without armor]

I know I'm a whole lot more careful with people in public nowadays. I've always tried to be polite but now I find myself profusely apologizing for brushing up against someone on the subway, etc. I've seen regular looking people go off just incredibly over the slightest real or imagined transgression. The last thing I'd do is engage in a little power game with anyone out there. I like to get home in one piece.

[sig226]

Let them presume whatever they want, I'm not going to pay extra for bad service. Like I said, I waited on tables and I drove a cab. I also delivered pizza (big time pizza delivery hint - make sure you get the pot heads. They are so happy to see you, they throw money at you. The drunks rarely tip, and they usually complain that you took too long.)

There's a big difference between a busy night for the establishment, an employee having a bad day at work, and someone who should not be in a customer service job.

Perhaps once a year, I won't leave a tip. The manager hears about it, too. And no, I don't abuse the manager. I tell him what happened.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

How about people who insist on splitting down the middle even though they got something WAY more expensive,

My all time favorite was when I and a bunch of other guys got tapped for an out of town TDY assignment, back in '84. Our department was sort of collegial and some guys (the "activities coordinator" types) arranged for an informal going away luncheon at a local restaurant.

You can see where this is going. I had a cup of tea and a tuna salad on rye. The "social directors" had a couple of Heinekens, scrod, steak, you get the picture. Then they threw five bucks on the table and "hadda leave", leaving the secretary with the tab. When everyone had gone ( I stuck around to make sure that the secretary wasn't stiffed) she was short of the tab, let alone the tip. So I ended up making it good, spending about twenty bucks (in '84) on a three dollar lunch. I chalked it up to experience.

[Tench_Coxe]

I once had an experience in a restaurant where the chef, obviously not pleased with the party I was in not choosing the buffet, decided to send bread half burned half frozen, soup that was not ordered, and purposely delaying the main course for over an hour.

My hosts were mortified.

I mentioned casually that perhaps I should have a 'word' with the chef (personally), upon which the waitress disappeared.

Well, when I journeyed back to the kitchen, no chef to be found....

My party left, and they hosted what turned out to be a fine dinner in their home, ad hoc.

I do agree with tipping. In general, the service is decent (considering the venue) in most places. Aside from the occasional ditz, which is forgivable, I haven't encountered 'bad' service in most cases.
On the handful of occasions where the service was truly bad, a penny left as a tip sufficed to communicate displeasure.

[Tench_Coxe]

Oh, and I forgot ( this was few years back )--the entrees were not what was ordered off the menu.