Why is tipping so prevalent, almost compulsory in America? It doesn't seem that practical, in the age of credit cards, and people may not be sure how much to tip? And why are there toll booths at every juncture. Don't you think the government is ripping you off, the need of tip for every service, toll roads and additional taxes on any purchases? Makes things complifcated too. Are Americans happy with this kind of system/norm?
Tipping is a bit crazy, pizza places insert the tip in the order ( delivery) and expect you to pay a tip there too, it is strange. toll roads..... depends completely on where you are in terms of amount of tolls, how much you have to pay, or if there are tolls at all. I live in the midwest and grew up in the south, no tolls. The wifey grew up in Jersey and moved to Florida, tolls at both and NJ very expensive with the tolls.
I'm not sure why tipping is so prevalent, buts its really only in the food sector. I don't mind throwing an extra couple of dollars if the service was great. I also have tipped the tattoo artist when I have gotten tattoos. It's like a monetary way of saying thank you for not ****ing up. On the west coast, there aren't many toll booths. The ones we do have nearby aren't mandatory, but they save loads of time. The ones by me I believe are owned and operated by a private company and the rolls are going to paying off the money used to build them. I heard when that's payed off they will remove the toll booths and let government maintain the roads. I actually take one of them to work everyday. It makes my drive to work about 8 minutes instead of about 20 on side streets. It's only $.50-$.75 a trip, so it really isn't much. I know the toll's in NY/NJ are extremely expensive in comparison to that.
What are the American thoughts on your cousins north of the border. Is it still plaid shirt wearing tree hugging pot smoking lumber jack wannabe hippies, or has it changed to American lite or not really worth thinking aboot.
We're fat because of the food we eat, and how easy it is to eat unhealthy. Other than a few major cities, no one has to walk to get places, we all drive. That takes out the exercise you get in a city were walking is the main mode of transportation. But it really comes down to the food we eat. It's much easier to eat unhealthy than it is to eat healthy. I don't really know why we're so friendly, but in certain parts of the country people leave their doors am unlocked and the keys in the car, in case a neighbor ever needs something.
I live maybe 2 hours from the Mexican border so I rarely encounter any Canadians, but we still make fun of the Canadian stereotype, although at least here, Canada is thought of more as America-lite.
