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What you've said about blacks is true. It appears to be a cultural thing. Like all generalities it's not true across the board, but it actually explains why so many servers would prefer not servicing blacks--not racial bias--which is often used by the race pimps to sue places like Denny's (that and forcing them to pay for the meal upfront). The overall cultural practice in the United States is to tip and pay your bill at the end of the meal. Some folks just choose not to adapt. Perhaps it will be necessary to adapt to the practice of including the tip in the bill as a percentage of the price of the meal such as is done in Germany. Of course, there's danger in that unless it's posted and done uniformly. Here in California a Chinese restaurant owner got sued for discrimination, because he only did it with respect to blacks, and he lost the case.

According to the site at least Snoop Dog is 'an unbelievably good tipper."

Some folks just choose not to adapt

It is cultural. I grew up in a small rural town where we left small change on the table, no matter what the cost of the meal. And when the local pizza place said "free delivery", why would you pay the delivery guy extra for doing his job?

In any case, it took some "cultured" friends to explain the rules to me once I arrived in Boston. I've adapted, but every time I tip at the going rate, I feel like I'm giving into a sham.

What you've said about blacks is true. It appears to be a cultural thing. Like all generalities it's not true across the board, but it actually explains why so many servers would prefer not servicing blacks--not racial bias--which is often used by the race pimps to sue places like Denny's (that and forcing them to pay for the meal upfront). The overall cultural practice in the United States is to tip and pay your bill at the end of the meal. Some folks just choose not to adapt. Perhaps it will be necessary to adapt to the practice of including the tip in the bill as a percentage of the price of the meal such as is done in Germany. Of course, there's danger in that unless it's posted and done uniformly. Here in California a Chinese restaurant owner got sued for discrimination, because he only did it with respect to blacks, and he lost the case.

I think it's a racism thing, involving blacks' determination to pay as little as possible to non-blacks.

One white New York taxidriver I know, once wrote that cabbies hate to pick up blacks, because not only do black males commit most robberies (and murders) of cabbies, but many more blacks typically stiff cabbies not only out of a tip, but their fare.

I lived for a number of years in a black New York neighborhood. Chinese takeout places made blacks pay up front, because otherwise, they'd get ripped off. I also noticed an interesting behavior among taxi riders. For the first six months I lived there, I took cheap taxis home from the subway every night. (It was a mile away through a zone of crack houses, muggers, and racist thugs.) At first, I always gave a tip. But then I noticed that few black riders tipped. And then I noticed, that many drivers (including a white a--hole) EXPECTED me to tip, even though they expected nothing from the black riders. So, I stopped tipping.

After six months, except for torrential downpours, I stopped taking cabs altogether. I figured, why pay people who are hostile and unreliable? Besides, I didn't want to live in fear, and I was getting physically soft, too. It turned out the street was safer than the subway. Once the dealers and "working girls" got to know me as a local, they were quite polite, and I only had two close calls with would-be muggers, as opposed to frequent attacks on the subway.

"...including the tip in the bill as a percentage of the price of the meal such as is done in Germany."

In my experience, tips are included in bills throughout Europe; actually normally called service charge. However, when a waiter knows the tip is included, where's the incentive to actually provide good service? From what I've seen, mediocre service is what is provided throughout Europe. In the U.S., you at least get great service on occasion. I tip very well when the service is above and beyond, 15 - 20% when it's good, less when I get less service. On occasion, I leave nothing or a tiny amount. Once in an airport in Mexico, I took out the smallest bill I had, tore off a corner and left that after a very irritating bartender really aggravated me!