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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Are we in a crisis of rudeness?
It's a question, a lingering suspicion that has bedeviled nearly every generation: Are the kids these days getting more rude, more brash, more grossly unapologetic? 'We have stories of Emily dealing with this question, we have stories of our grandmother dealing with this question,' says Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette maven Emily Post and co-president of the Emily Post Institute. 'Five generations gives us the length of time to prove this one out that we really do constantly look back at times nostalgically and say that they were more polite.' Society certainly seems to think we've collectively gotten more rude. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, nearly half of the country believes people's behavior is more impolite than before the pandemic. Enter any public space and you're bound to encounter someone having a phone call on speaker, fellow passengers mixing up egg salad on a plane, or students leaving class unannounced. These incidents inevitably become flashpoints of heated debate online. Unchecked incivility has wide-reaching consequences. Bearing witness to behavior that you find rude, whether face-to-face or electronically, leads to worse mood and decreased cognitive performance. When someone is rude to you, you may become defensive and less likely to cooperate — no one wants to spend time and energy interacting with a jerk. Impoliteness is actually contagious, spreading from one person to another: When you experience something impolite, you're more likely to spot other supposedly rude behavior and act impolitely yourself. 'Are we ruder? I don't know, but I know we're less aware of each other, we do not pay as much attention to our impact on one another.' Lizzie Post Post can't say for sure whether our current culture is more impolite than generations' past, but she does believe we're living through a crisis of attention that can lead to disrespectful behaviors. Perpetually distracted and always looking at screens, we've become accustomed to switching topics mid-conversation or checking email over dinner. And that's just how we treat the people we know. We hardly consider the comfort of strangers when playing a YouTube video sans headphones on a crowded bus. 'Are we ruder?' Post says. 'I don't know, but I know we're less aware of each other, we do not pay as much attention to our impact on one another, and we have more ways to be annoying to each other or rude or dismissive than we've ever had before.' There may also be bigger factors underlying our supposed epidemic of rudeness. Christine Porath, a professor at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and the author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace, conducted a global survey in 2022 of 2,000 people who either had customer-facing jobs or observed those who did. Porath found that 73 percent of respondents said it wasn't unusual for customers to behave badly, compared to 61 percent who said the same in her 2012 survey. 'The number one reason that I found for people being rude is feeling stressed or overwhelmed,' Porath says. 'If you think about the last few years, Covid in particular, contributed to this, but plenty of other stressors, the uncertainty…a lot of negativity that we're taking in in society, a lot of people angrier or on edge or frustrated.' What is rude? 'Rude,' of course, can mean many things to as many people. Some may not bat an eye when students leave class unannounced, others see it as a breach of the social code. But, as Post notes, your definition of what's 'rude' is shaped by personal experience and preference. According to Post, you might label an action as rude if it has offended, disrespected, or made you uncomfortable. Jennifer Loh, a management and human resources professor at the University of Canberra in Australia, classifies 'rude' as an action, behavior, or comment meant to convey disrespect that also violates a social norm. When you expect to be treated one way and others fail to meet that standard, you might consider it impolite. These breaches can be direct or indirect, says Amy Irwin, a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen. Overly critiquing a friend's performance at an open mic may be construed as directly rude. Staring at your phone while someone attempts to converse with you is a passive form of incivility. There's also an element of ambiguity at play, Irwin says, since you never really know if a colleague purposely ignored you when you greeted them (rude) or if they simply didn't see you (can be forgiven). But is it rude? Lizzie Post, the co-president of the Emily Post Institute, offers some clarity on oft-devisive behaviors. Is it rude to talk on the phone in public? 'On a speaker phone? Yes. If you have a captive audience, in a space someone can't get away from, elevators, small rooms, a waiting room, these are spaces where you really shouldn't be on the phone at all.' Is it rude to text someone late at night? 'No. We have control over our devices to decide when we're going to allow notifications to bother us or not, that means it's on us to put those in place. Given time zones, I wouldn't begrudge someone. But think about your audience.' Is it rude to email a professor on the weekend? 'No, but you shouldn't expect a response.' Is it rude to smack while eating? 'Yes.' Is it rude to ask for a plus one to a wedding? 'Yes.' Is it rude to recline on a plane? 'It's rude to recline for the entire flight.' But everyone's idea of what is normal, acceptable behavior differs. People learn what is kosher from those around them: parents, extended family, friends, culture writ large, Post says. You may have grown up in a family where eating in front of the TV was customary, but your romantic partner might find the idea horrifying. While age often gets blamed for rudeness — the classic 'kids these days' knock — generational differences in incivility can be attributed to the culture in which you grew up. Younger people who grew up alongside technology may find it appropriate to scroll TikTok in social settings. Those who were exposed to tech later in life could be offended by even the presence of a phone in a one-on-one hangout. In a study of Australian millennials, Gen Xers and boomers, Loh found younger participants consider it good manners to respond to a text immediately. 'Whereas for the older generation,' she says, 'not responding straight away doesn't seem to worry them too much because they don't think it's actually rude.' Your present social context also plays a role in whether you consider an act rude, Irwin notes. Burping loudly in a bar is more widely accepted than burping in the middle of a meeting. 'You can take exactly the same behavior,' she says, 'put it in a different context, and it's viewed completely differently by the same person.' And the closer you are to the offender, the more likely you are to excuse their behavior, anyway. More broadly, each culture has its own social niceties, so while it might be acceptable for you to scarf down a snack while walking on the street in the US, you might get a few confused glances in Japan. Breaking the cycle of rudeness When instances of impropriety abound, Post says it's crucial to be aware of the behavior you're modeling, both to peers and the kids in your life, and explain why courtesy is so important — that it isn't just to police others' behavior, but to provide a framework of respect. 'Taking the time when you're at the dinner table to talk about why we don't chew with our mouth wide open,' she says. Leaders at work, coaches, and teachers can set expectations for what behavior is appropriate for the office, the field, the classroom, and hold people accountable, Porath says. Reflect on how you interact with others: Are you constantly on your phone at the dinner table? Do you cut off colleagues in meetings? Do you leave your shopping cart in the middle of the grocery store parking lot? How do you speak to waiters and other service workers? If there were recent moments where you fell short — maybe you were a little terse with a barista — consider where you went wrong, Post says. Moving forward, try to be more mindful of the impact you have on others. It can help to start noticing polite behaviors all around you: The guy at the doctor's office who held the door open for another patient; someone appropriately covering their mouth when they sneeze in public. They're not as few and far between as you might think. 'It's important to recognize that the positive can have such a big impact,' Post says. 'Looking for the good moments of behavior that you see out in the world, starts to remind you that they're there, that you can participate in too.' Solve the daily Crossword
Vox
9 hours ago
- General
- Vox
Are we in a crisis of rudeness?
It's a question, a lingering suspicion that has bedeviled nearly every generation: Are the kids these days getting more rude, more brash, more grossly unapologetic? 'We have stories of Emily dealing with this question, we have stories of our grandmother dealing with this question,' says Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette maven Emily Post and co-president of the Emily Post Institute. 'Five generations gives us the length of time to prove this one out that we really do constantly look back at times nostalgically and say that they were more polite.' Vox Culture Culture reflects society. Get our best explainers on everything from money to entertainment to what everyone is talking about online. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Unchecked incivility has wide-reaching consequences. Bearing witness to behavior that you find rude, whether face-to-face or electronically, leads to worse mood and decreased cognitive performance. When someone is rude to you, you may become defensive and less likely to cooperate — no one wants to spend time and energy interacting with a jerk. Impoliteness is actually contagious, spreading from one person to another: When you experience something impolite, you're more likely to spot other supposedly rude behavior and act impolitely yourself. 'Are we ruder? I don't know, but I know we're less aware of each other, we do not pay as much attention to our impact on one another.' — Lizzie Post Post can't say for sure whether our current culture is more impolite than generations' past, but she does believe we're living through a crisis of attention that can lead to disrespectful behaviors. Perpetually distracted and always looking at screens, we've become accustomed to switching topics mid-conversation or checking email over dinner. And that's just how we treat the people we know. We hardly consider the comfort of strangers when playing a YouTube video sans headphones on a crowded bus. 'Are we ruder?' Post says. 'I don't know, but I know we're less aware of each other, we do not pay as much attention to our impact on one another, and we have more ways to be annoying to each other or rude or dismissive than we've ever had before.' There may also be bigger factors underlying our supposed epidemic of rudeness. Christine Porath, a professor at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and the author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace, conducted a global survey in 2022 of 2,000 people who either had customer-facing jobs or observed those who did. Porath found that 73 percent of respondents said it wasn't unusual for customers to behave badly, compared to 61 percent who said the same in her 2012 survey. 'The number one reason that I found for people being rude is feeling stressed or overwhelmed,' Porath says. 'If you think about the last few years, Covid in particular, contributed to this, but plenty of other stressors, the uncertainty…a lot of negativity that we're taking in in society, a lot of people angrier or on edge or frustrated.' What is rude? 'Rude,' of course, can mean many things to as many people. Some may not bat an eye when students leave class unannounced, others see it as a breach of the social code. But, as Post notes, your definition of what's 'rude' is shaped by personal experience and preference. According to Post, you might label an action as rude if it has offended, disrespected, or made you uncomfortable. Jennifer Loh, a management and human resources professor at the University of Canberra in Australia, classifies 'rude' as an action, behavior, or comment meant to convey disrespect that also violates a social norm. When you expect to be treated one way and others fail to meet that standard, you might consider it impolite. These breaches can be direct or indirect, says Amy Irwin, a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen. Overly critiquing a friend's performance at an open mic may be construed as directly rude. Staring at your phone while someone attempts to converse with you is a passive form of incivility. There's also an element of ambiguity at play, Irwin says, since you never really know if a colleague purposely ignored you when you greeted them (rude) or if they simply didn't see you (can be forgiven). But is it rude? Lizzie Post, the co-president of the Emily Post Institute, offers some clarity on oft-devisive behaviors. Is it rude to talk on the phone in public? 'On a speaker phone? Yes. If you have a captive audience, in a space someone can't get away from, elevators, small rooms, a waiting room, these are spaces where you really shouldn't be on the phone at all.' Is it rude to text someone late at night? 'No. We have control over our devices to decide when we're going to allow notifications to bother us or not, that means it's on us to put those in place. Given time zones, I wouldn't begrudge someone. But think about your audience.' Is it rude to email a professor on the weekend? 'No, but you shouldn't expect a response.' Is it rude to smack while eating? 'Yes.' Is it rude to ask for a plus one to a wedding? 'Yes.' Is it rude to recline on a plane? 'It's rude to recline for the entire flight.' But everyone's idea of what is normal, acceptable behavior differs. People learn what is kosher from those around them: parents, extended family, friends, culture writ large, Post says. You may have grown up in a family where eating in front of the TV was customary, but your romantic partner might find the idea horrifying. While age often gets blamed for rudeness — the classic 'kids these days' knock — generational differences in incivility can be attributed to the culture in which you grew up. Younger people who grew up alongside technology may find it appropriate to scroll TikTok in social settings. Those who were exposed to tech later in life could be offended by even the presence of a phone in a one-on-one hangout. In a study of Australian millennials, Gen Xers and boomers, Loh found younger participants consider it good manners to respond to a text immediately. 'Whereas for the older generation,' she says, 'not responding straight away doesn't seem to worry them too much because they don't think it's actually rude.' Your present social context also plays a role in whether you consider an act rude, Irwin notes. Burping loudly in a bar is more widely accepted than burping in the middle of a meeting. 'You can take exactly the same behavior,' she says, 'put it in a different context, and it's viewed completely differently by the same person.' And the closer you are to the offender, the more likely you are to excuse their behavior, anyway. More broadly, each culture has its own social niceties, so while it might be acceptable for you to scarf down a snack while walking on the street in the US, you might get a few confused glances in Japan. Breaking the cycle of rudeness When instances of impropriety abound, Post says it's crucial to be aware of the behavior you're modeling, both to peers and the kids in your life, and explain why courtesy is so important — that it isn't just to police others' behavior, but to provide a framework of respect. 'Taking the time when you're at the dinner table to talk about why we don't chew with our mouth wide open,' she says. Leaders at work, coaches, and teachers can set expectations for what behavior is appropriate for the office, the field, the classroom, and hold people accountable, Porath says. Reflect on how you interact with others: Are you constantly on your phone at the dinner table? Do you cut off colleagues in meetings? Do you leave your shopping cart in the middle of the grocery store parking lot? How do you speak to waiters and other service workers? If there were recent moments where you fell short — maybe you were a little terse with a barista — consider where you went wrong, Post says. Moving forward, try to be more mindful of the impact you have on others.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wedding gift stress? Expert reveals surprising amount guests should spend — and call it a day: ‘It's more about the meaning'
If the biggest question on your mind this wedding season is 'how much do I need to shell out for a gift?' — take a deep breath, unclench your credit card and listen up. The average wedding gift in America runs about $100, according to Jennifer Spector, Director of Brand at wedding company Zola. But before you throw a crisp Benjamin in a card and head for the open bar, Spector has a few more pointers for guests looking to nail the perfect present — without blowing their budget or their dignity. First, forget the age-old etiquette 'rule' that your gift should match the cost of your dinner plate. According to the Emily Post Institute, that little nugget of social pressure is nothing more than a 'modern myth.' So no, you don't owe the couple a $275 stand mixer just because they're serving filet mignon. That said, relationship status does matter — no, not your relationship status, theirs with you. Your gift should match your relationship: ride-or-dies go big, office acquaintances go budget, Spector noted when sitting down with Parade for a recent interview. And if you're already forking over big bucks for flights, a hotel, and three rounds of matching bachelorette T-shirts? Cut yourself some slack. 'If you're traveling to the wedding or spending a lot on pre-wedding events, it's okay to spend a little less, but I always recommend giving a gift,' Spector told the outlet. 'It's more about the meaning behind what you give than how much you spend.' Translation: Thought counts, but not zero dollars' worth. Timing also matters. Don't be that guest dragging a wrapped blender into the reception — unless your goal is to become a dance floor hazard. 'Unless you're giving a check, I encourage not bringing gifts to the wedding,' she said, adding that gifts should land before the big day or no later than three months after (so the newlyweds can actually use the stuff in their real, married life). And when in doubt? Shop the registry. It exists for a reason. 'If they love to host dinner parties, a cheese board or decanter makes a great gift,' Spector continued. 'Gift cards, like tickets to a show or to the store they are registered at, are another great option. Keep in mind couples will likely be receiving a lot of gifts, so don't choose anything too bulky or difficult to exchange.' Increasingly, couples aren't just eyeing toasters and towels — they're gunning for a home, as The Post previously reported. Nearly 87% of couples now add a cash fund to their registry, with over a third putting it toward a future down payment, according to Zola. And with sky-high housing costs, it's a wedding gift that actually pays off. According to a LendingTree survey, nearly half of recent couples asked for help with a down payment instead of traditional gifts, and 26% said it helped them put more money down on a home. In this economy, cash is the new china. At the end of the day, don't let gift-giving drama overshadow the I do's. 'There really aren't any hard and fast rules on how much and what you're expected to give,' Spector told the publication. 'As long as you give a gift that feels personal and is within your budget, you're on the right track!'
New York Post
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Wedding gift stress? Expert reveals surprising amount guests should spend — and call it a day: ‘It's more about the meaning'
If the biggest question on your mind this wedding season is 'how much do I need to shell out for a gift?' — take a deep breath, unclench your credit card and listen up. The average wedding gift in America runs about $100, according to Jennifer Spector, Director of Brand at wedding company Zola. But before you throw a crisp Benjamin in a card and head for the open bar, Spector has a few more pointers for guests looking to nail the perfect present — without blowing their budget or their dignity. 3 No, you're not on the hook for a $275 stand mixer just because filet mignon's on the menu. What does matter? How close you are to the couple — not your dating life. Africa Studio – First, forget the age-old etiquette 'rule' that your gift should match the cost of your dinner plate. According to the Emily Post Institute, that little nugget of social pressure is nothing more than a 'modern myth.' So no, you don't owe the couple a $275 stand mixer just because they're serving filet mignon. That said, relationship status does matter — no, not your relationship status, theirs with you. Your gift should match your relationship: ride-or-dies go big, office acquaintances go budget, Spector noted when sitting down with Parade for a recent interview. And if you're already forking over big bucks for flights, a hotel, and three rounds of matching bachelorette T-shirts? Cut yourself some slack. 'If you're traveling to the wedding or spending a lot on pre-wedding events, it's okay to spend a little less, but I always recommend giving a gift,' Spector told the outlet. 'It's more about the meaning behind what you give than how much you spend.' 3 Shopping for gifts shouldn't cause a meltdown — just match the vibe. BFFs can splurge, but for your coworker's destination 'I do's,' it's totally fine to keep it low-key. pressmaster – Translation: Thought counts, but not zero dollars' worth. Timing also matters. Don't be that guest dragging a wrapped blender into the reception — unless your goal is to become a dance floor hazard. 'Unless you're giving a check, I encourage not bringing gifts to the wedding,' she said, adding that gifts should land before the big day or no later than three months after (so the newlyweds can actually use the stuff in their real, married life). And when in doubt? Shop the registry. It exists for a reason. 'If they love to host dinner parties, a cheese board or decanter makes a great gift,' Spector continued. 'Gift cards, like tickets to a show or to the store they are registered at, are another great option. Keep in mind couples will likely be receiving a lot of gifts, so don't choose anything too bulky or difficult to exchange.' Increasingly, couples aren't just eyeing toasters and towels — they're gunning for a home, as The Post previously reported. Nearly 87% of couples now add a cash fund to their registry, with over a third putting it toward a future down payment, according to Zola. And with sky-high housing costs, it's a wedding gift that actually pays off. According to a LendingTree survey, nearly half of recent couples asked for help with a down payment instead of traditional gifts, and 26% said it helped them put more money down on a home. In this economy, cash is the new china. 3 Before you slip a fresh $100 into a card and make a beeline for the bar, experts say there are a few smarter ways to gift — and still save your wallet and your pride. Andrii Zastrozhnov – At the end of the day, don't let gift-giving drama overshadow the I do's. 'There really aren't any hard and fast rules on how much and what you're expected to give,' Spector told the publication. 'As long as you give a gift that feels personal and is within your budget, you're on the right track!'
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
I'm not tipping a slack-jawed teen for no work. Let's fix our tip culture.
I'm not tipping a slack-jawed teen for no work. Let's fix our tip culture. | Opinion The social contract has been shredded, and we're all left fumbling with our wallets while the person behind us in line judges our generosity for a transaction that once went untipped. Show Caption Hide Caption Five surprising ways you're annoying restaurant staff When we go out to eat, we're usually too excited about the food to think about the people working behind the scenes. unbranded - Lifestyle Food "tipping" has become an absolute circus, and I've had enough. The practice should be a straightforward way to reward exceptional service. Now, it's a guilt-ridden tap dance where a rogue iPad demands a 25% premium for a slack-jawed teen handing you a muffin. The social contract has been shredded, and we're all left fumbling with our wallets while the person behind us in line judges our generosity for a transaction that once went untipped. Tipping has become a source of national anxiety, a phenomenon known as "tipflation," and frankly, it's exhausting. If we don't draw some clear lines in the sand, we'll soon be tipping the self-checkout machine at the grocery. Today, we draw those lines and free well-intentioned consciences across America. The venerable Emily Post Institute, a longtime arbiter of American etiquette, offers guidelines applied in a world that no longer exists – or at least, one that didn't anticipate being asked to tip on a prepackaged sandwich you grab yourself. In the spirit of restoring some sanity, allow me to propose 10 reality-adjusted food tipping rules for 2025. Ten rules for when to tip, and how much 1. The full-service sit-down meal ‒ 18-22% This is where tipping tradition holds strong, and rightly so. If you're at a restaurant where a waiter or waitress takes your order, diligently attends to your table, and refills your drinks without you having to send up a flare, tip well. I will never forget Carlos' excellent service at Arzu in Roanoke, Virginia, when I attended Washington and Lee University. He treated a couple of college kids like royalty, and my wife and I remember those dates fondly. I didn't have much money, but I tipped him like I did. Professionals who navigate multiple tables, remember the nuanced details of your order and make you feel special earn every penny of that tip. 2. The counter offensive ‒ 0% Most dining experiences these days stand in stark contrast to the classic waited table. If you order at a counter, pick up your food from someone hollering a number, fill your own drink and bus your own table – congratulations, you've just provided your own service. Tip yourself accordingly. The establishment is selling you a product. Asking for a 20-30% tip via a swiveling screen for this "privilege" is an affront to human dignity. The practice is a wage subsidy properly built into the price. If businesses can't charge that price, the food isn't good enough. Opinion: Tourism is the next casualty in Trump's trade war. Our economy might not recover. 3. The hybrid hustle ‒ 5-10% We should also be honest when establishments fall somewhere between waited tables and self-serve: Order at counter, food delivered, tables bussed by staff ‒ 10%. You've placed your own order, but someone is bringing food to your table and cleaning up afterward. That's a service apart from what you'd get at home. They're doing part of the traditional waiter's job, so they should earn part of the tip. You've placed your own order, but someone is bringing food to your table and cleaning up afterward. That's a service apart from what you'd get at home. They're doing part of the traditional waiter's job, so they should earn part of the tip. Order at counter, pick up food yourself, tables bussed by staff ‒ 5%. You're still doing most of the legwork, but at least you don't have to clear your own dishes. If the staff keeps the dining area and your table clean, a modest 5% tip is a fair acknowledgement. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. 4. The buffet brigade ‒ 10% At a buffet, you're largely self-sufficient in the food acquisition department. However, if someone is diligently refilling your iced tea, bringing extra napkins and clearing the leaning tower of used plates, they deserve a tip. Ten percent is a good benchmark for this attentiveness. If you never see a soul after the initial drink order, don't feel bad adjusting the tip accordingly. 5. Coffee, cocktails and courtesy ‒ $1 minimum per drink, double it for effort Coffee, beer, wine, liquor on the rocks: A dollar per drink is a solid minimum, especially if it's a straightforward pour or a quick brew. A dollar per drink is a solid minimum, especially if it's a straightforward pour or a quick brew. Mixology, barista art: If your bartender is whipping up a concoction with tequila, tarantula leg, smoke and a story, she might be a witch. On the other hand, she might be a truly gifted professional. The coffee barista doesn't have to craft a swan in your latte foam. Skill deserves a double reward, unless she puts a hex on you. If your bartender is whipping up a concoction with tequila, tarantula leg, smoke and a story, she might be a witch. On the other hand, she might be a truly gifted professional. The coffee barista doesn't have to craft a swan in your latte foam. Skill deserves a double reward, unless she puts a hex on you. Respect the minimum: Throwing coins, digital or otherwise, at staff just feels cheap and unappreciative. Don't do it. Yes, I know the percentages may be higher. Thankfully, I'm writing the rules. Opinion: Stop asking me for tips. 'Tipflation' is out of control. 6. Take care of your people This one's crucial. If you're on a first-name basis with the barista who knows your complicated coffee order by heart, the waiter who remembers your favorite table, or the bartender who starts your usual when you walk in – tip them well. Consistently. These are your people. They make your daily routines or weekly outings better. Fostering that relationship is worth every extra dollar. 7. Cash remains king While cards are convenient, cash tips avoid credit card processing fees or complex tip-pooling arrangements where the distribution can be murky. Cash itself is a tangible sign of appreciation. 8. Delivery days ‒ $5 minimum with uplifts This one is a little more complicated because the interaction with a delivery driver is usually brief. Drivers from third parties like DoorDash and Grubhub usually aren't responsible for accuracy of the order or the quality of the food. Use some common sense here. If you don't want to get out in the weather, tip more. If your order isn't smashed or spilled, tip more. My suggestion is to tip the minimum and then supplement with cash when the order arrives. The notable caveat these days is that your generous front-end tip may ensure that your order is picked up quickly and at your front door. If you're eating in your sweatpants, splurge for the extra convenience and call it a win. 9. No SALT Don't tip on state and local taxes (SALT). The government is literally charging you to eat. You should not pay someone else a percentage of that amount. For that matter, it's weird for the government to do that in the first place. Maybe we should become the great Americans we were meant to be and refuse to tax food and beverages so we can tip helpful people instead of the government. 10. Lemonade stand ‒ 100%+ On the rare occasion that you see children out with a lemonade stand, bake sale or other offering, the minimum tip is 100%. Not only should you seek out these opportunities, but our generosity shapes the future workforce. Always incentivize work. I ran around my neighborhood as a kid with a wagon to sell tomatoes I grew. My gracious neighbors tipped me unbelievably. I'd come home with a wad of cash and an empty wagon time and again. Those tips primed the pump for my entire professional life. Be generous and incentivize great service. Reward hustle, especially in younger people who are just starting out. Fight the culinary pressure culture that says people are entitled to tips and don't need to earn them. Let's reclaim some common sense in 2025. Our blood pressure (and our wallets) will thank us. USA TODAY Network Tennessee columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. This column first appeared in the Tennessean.
