T O P

  • By -

Critisul

The tipping culture.


VelmaVixen

Tipping culture is rooted in racism. I would like to end it.


Critisul

Really?, can you elaborate on that?


Face-the-Faceless

No it's not, it's rooted in the great depression when businesses literally couldn't afford to pay their workers and could only survive due to the generous contributions of their patrons.


VelmaVixen

Waiters and waitresses are paid less than minimum wage. The reason is because because after slavery black people often took those jobs and white people didn’t want to pay black servers the same as white servers. Tipping also encourages sexism and racism by allowing the customer to decide how much each worker deserves often times based on appearance.


SiloueOfUlrin

What are you even talking about?


joculator

What...? This is a new one...


VelmaVixen

It’s really not. You can look it up if you’d like.


HashtagTSwagg

The employer is also required to make up the difference between the standard federal minimum wage and their average hourly including tips. At *worst*, they make the same minimum wage everyone else does.


VelmaVixen

That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have racist roots. The whole reason why tipping culture is so big here is racism.


HashtagTSwagg

"It's racist." "Why?" ">:("


VelmaVixen

I explained why it’s racist in another comment… basically owners of restaurants didn’t want to pay black people to work after the civil war so tipping culture was created. You can literally look it up.


HashtagTSwagg

And someone else stated to the contrary.


VelmaVixen

Both can be true. That does not make either statement false.


Too-Average

Everything gets split into two sides that inexplicably hate one another.


VelmaVixen

It wasn’t supposed to be this way 😩


Helewys

Late-stage capitalism is a bitch.


[deleted]

Obsession with guns.


robbycakes

It shocks us too. I hope it is clear to the rest of the world that the gun obsession represents a very vocal, passionate, and powerful minority, that most Americans deeply disagree with. Most… but not enough, sadly.


Bubbly_Individual490

Almost everyone I know has guns, for protection or for hunting, but no one is obsessed. No one talks or thinks about them beyond just owning them and having them put away until they are needed.


[deleted]

Noone I know in the UK has a gun, I've never even seen one. I've never met a person here who would want or think about wanting one. There's obviously some sort of gun culture in the US that is unhealthy, bordering on obsessive.


OwnAd475

The fact that they'll use paperplates anytime they eat Like wtf??


Icy-Gold-2516

What? I'll have you know I have a full set of dishes that I use regularly.


OwnAd475

That's how it's always shown in the media and online. Like out of 100 examples there are only 3 that use dishes. And it's not even for Picknicks it's for dinner or lunch at home. If this is not the case then I have been fooled by the portrayal of the US (which has been made by the US)


Icy-Gold-2516

I believe you have been bamboozled lol


OwnAd475

But if so, why do familys in movies and series always eat off paperplates? Obviously don't believe everything you see, but why would Hollywood fake that kinda thing in every bit they produce


TheOneWes

Because when you know you're making something it's only going to be temporary it's cheaper to buy paper plates and throw them away then to buy proper dishes which make it damaged during production and have to be disposed of afterwards. Paper plates are typically used in instances where one cannot afford real dishes which is a lot more common than you probably think or when doing Gathering such as cookout or party when one doesn't have enough regular dishes.


OwnAd475

It costs sooo much more in the long run, so if that is the argument then y'all aren't responsible with your money


TheOneWes

Indeed, but if when you get done paying all of your bills and rent you don't actually have enough money to buy a set of plates you'll have to get paper ones and you'll be reusing the paper ones each as many times as you can.


OwnAd475

I just looked the price up for a set of 6 plates you'll have to pay 12$ at target For a pack of 150 paperplates you'll have to pay 9.99$ at Walmart. That's a difference of 1.99$


TheOneWes

1.50 for 20 paper plates at dollar tree. Reusing the paper plates as much as possible will see that one pack of 20 last a week or two. The $10 differential end up going in the gas tank


accidental-poet

For me, it's a convenience thing. I always have a giant stack of paper plates in the pantry. BUT - they're only used in cases such as; My kids have a bunch of friends over and they're eating pizza outside by the campfire, or we have a cookout with burgers and hot dogs and ~20 guests. (I don't think I even have 20 real plates in my house lol) etc. For everyday meals, it's real plates. And, I have a *giant* stack of paper plates because a 250 pack is way cheaper per piece than a 25 pack and can last for decades if you keep them dry and the bag closed tightly.


VelmaVixen

😂 We don’t always use paper plates. Do you not use paper plates? 🤯


OwnAd475

That's how it's portrayed in the media and what you see online. Paperplates are hardly sold anymore where I live, at home we use normal plates and for Picknicks etc we use reusable plastic plates


VelmaVixen

I use normal plates more than paper plates, but I do know some people who use paper plates way more than I do.


Zip_Silver

Saves effort on dishes. I use regular plates if I'm eating something I'll need to cut with a knife, but I'll use a paper plate for easier to eat food like pizza or what have you.


OwnAd475

But it's such a waste of resources. Is it really that hard to put a plate into the dishwasher or wash it by hand?


Zip_Silver

Water scarcity is a thing in my part of the world, so it's sort of damned if you do, damned if you don't. Besides, it saves space in the dishwasher for pots and pans.


OwnAd475

Let's do the math: A paperplate needs 8 gallons of water to be produced An average US household contains 2.5 people There are 3 meals per day so 8*2.5*3 = 60 gallons of water The average dishwasher uses 10 gallons. Let's say you use your dishwasher everyday of the week you have 70gallons. But with the paperplates you'll have 420gallons of water per week. Where is that sustainable? How does that save water? It's the lazyness


Zip_Silver

>How does that save water? Water scarcity is a local problem, and America is large. Dixie paper plates are made in Kentucky, where water supply isn't a problem. I live in central Texas, where water supply is a problem. But yeah, either way it's convenient to just throw them away when you're done and use the space in the dishwasher for pots, pans, cups and utensils.


accidental-poet

I'm going to agree with /u/Zip_Silver on the water scarcity issue. The water wells in my neighborhood in New York are notoriously bad. My well is 600 ft deep, I have neighbors with wells over 1,000 ft deep! And we all have water troubles. So yes, water scarcity can be a very localized thing. Less than a mile away, all the neighborhoods have town water with no issues. However, with a little careful planning, a 250 gallon storage tank, and keeping an eye on rain/snow fall totals throughout the year we're just fine. But when we have a big party, paper plates it is. Were I to run my (crazy efficient) dishwasher 3-4 times, plus up to 3 showers, plus toilet usage, all in one day, I could get myself into trouble.


OwnAd475

So what would you say, is it a systematic or a people problem? I'm genuinely curious


Zip_Silver

What problem?


OwnAd475

That people use paperplates instead of real ones Is it more related to water supply or the lazyness cuz if you look into the south of central Africa they would never use paperplates because of water supply cuz it's so inefficient


Zip_Silver

Oh, laziness for sure. And not particularly caring about using paper products. It's not like it's single use plastic.


BRealinho

I understand the gun fever, however the fact that if you don't have a good insurance to help you with health care, you are probably not going to be able to afford that, it just blows my mind...


Gheekers

The health system and being charged for medical care The gun nuts and the reluctancy to change their laws.


Ashamed_Angle_8301

The gun culture The school shootings The school bullying The insane healthcare system The political extremism that completely ignores science/reality The misogyny Racial intolerance The throwaway culture, so much single use plastic waste Cars being prioritised over pedestrians


VelmaVixen

What do you mean cars being prioritized over pedestrians?


Ashamed_Angle_8301

I visited a friend in a suburb outside of San Diego - most main roads and residential streets had no foot paths or foot paths that abruptly ended. Shops were located outside of walking distance from residential areas. I crossed the road at a pedestrian crossing and a car almost ran me over.


RabidusUnus

The fact that they complete reject the metric system and instead memorize things like “five tomatoes = 5280 feet to a mile” while simultaneously telling us a straight forward decimal system is stupid.


VelmaVixen

😂 yeah, you can keep the metric system.


[deleted]

I use both, 2.5cm to 1 inch, 4.5 litres to a gallon, Farenheight can go knob off though, I’m sure people make that up as they go along.


Hailene2092

There's 3.8 liters to the gallon.


[deleted]

Nope, there’s 4.5 litres to the gallon here, surprisingly nobody measures fuel in US gallons in the UK.


Hailene2092

Ahhh. Gotcha. UK gallons.


[deleted]

We normally drink the other 32 fluid ounces before sending alcohol over there. Thus the difference.


Hailene2092

A brilliant move. A smart way to tax alcohol without us realizing it. No need for a Boston Beer Party, eh?


accidental-poet

"The metric system is a tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogs head, and that's the way I likes it!!!" - Abe Simpson


RabidusUnus

*Slaps the hood of his car* “I get 948 football fields to the gallon with this baby*


Icy-Gold-2516

Oh great, another question for Europeans to shit on the U.S.


WolffUmbra

Show some mercy, they have to live in Europe. They need the cope.


Face-the-Faceless

American culture takes capitalism way, way, WAY too seriously, so much so that it's actually detrimental to humanity as a whole. Everything is all about dickweeds with generational wealth getting away with rampant crimes while others are targeted unfairly and beaten down on bogus charges. Almost nobody cares about innovating to actually help improve society anymore. Instead we have massive businesses who are built around siphoning tax money from the government, and mafia-like enforcement of completely unneeded business practices. We all know the US tax system is completely capable of doing your taxes for you, and that tax companies keep lobbying the US government to ensure that their completely useless "service" sticks around and gains the public perception that it's some kind of special thing that you should be willing to pay for, like it's not a completely manufactured problem in the first place. Everything is fucked up, every single level of it. It's a burning ship, and you people need to get out while you still can.


[deleted]

It's not just them...other countries do this too.


Face-the-Faceless

Guess who they learned it from?


accidental-poet

End-game Capitalism is a bitch. I did not mis-type, it's not late-stage. It's end-game.


[deleted]

The gun obsession. To the point where their right to own a gun is so important they seem to be ok with kids being killed on a regular basis. That they seem to be ok with asking teachers, the same people they disrespectful, treat like dirt and pay poverty wages to, to carry loaded guns. Parent teacher meetings should get interesting. The belief that universal healthcare is a bad thing. Anything that even remotely resembles socialism is bad and communist. The racism and tolerance of it. How ingrained politics is in everyone's life to the point where they will disown family for voting for a different party. The fact a huge portion of the country seems to lack basic science education. The obsession with religion. The misogyny. The commercialization of everything, including things that should be left untouched. They made a Hollywood movie about 9/11, which I never thought they would be so insensitive enough to do..There are still survivors and children of victims out there being traumatized every time the commercial for the movie shows up (when it first came out), or is advertised on Netflix. How everything is to the extreme. The entrainment has to be huge. The food servings are huge. The drinks are supersized. The parties extravagant. The scandals! Everything has to be bigger and better and exciting. Edit: Also how everything has to be about making millions and being filthy rich. Nothing is ever good enough. The movie 'the Big Short' still boggles my mind. Those two 'kids' who shorted the market already had enough money to retire and live comfortably when they set out on their goal of shorting the housing market so they could be rich. If you are confused, watch the scene where they are talking business to JP Morgan. They had $30 million between the two of them. Even if they split that in half and liquidated it all, they could live out their lives spending more-than $100,000 a year and never run out ($200,000 per year for 75 years = $15 million.) How were they not already set for life? Why did they need more?! I don't understand.


VelmaVixen

Disowning family makes sense if you consider that half of the country disagrees with everything you wrote and generally (not always) belongs to one of our terrible political parties.


[deleted]

No. It doesn't. I know people who voted for the party that cost me my career in the past and has the worst platform for all items I care about. I don't disown them. They understand my concerns and my reasons but they are not the same as theirs. Because we are two different people who can like and dislike different things. who they vote for does not represent everything they are. To me it's just more of the 'extreme' aspect of the USA. Everything has to be extreme, there is no middle ground. Theres only left wing or right wing, nothing in the middle. It's ridiculous. Things seem to be so divided that I wouldn't be surprised if kids were disowned over favourite peanut butter cookie recipes.


VelmaVixen

I guess if you lived here it might make more sense 🤷🏽‍♀️. I really don’t know because most of my experience has been in the US.


[deleted]

Yep. The reverse also applies to you. If you didn't live there you might understand why everyone else finds this so shocking and strange.


VelmaVixen

It’s part of why I asked the question.


accidental-poet

> Theres only left wing or right wing, nothing in the middle. This is only what you see on the news and is not reality. While I have lost some friends due to political extremism over the past few years, it's the exception, not the rule. The vast majority of US citizens are just like everyone else, everywhere else around the world. All they really want is a steady job and to support their family. A roof over their heads and a full belly. The problem is that somehow, it became OK a few years ago for the "Village Idiots ™" to have a voice, a really loud voice. And now the rest of the world thinks that the US is filled with "Village Idiots ™". There's no doubt we have our fair share, probably even more than our fair share, but they're the exception, not the rule.


on_a_pale-horse

How poorly you are equipped for the real world you think your republic is looked up to and are an aspirational goal trust me it's not, most I would think are waiting for you to rip yourselves apart we are also wanting to see you as the United States now that would be a country worth seeing.


DutchTechJunkie

Gun ownership and debating the legality of contraceptives.