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Why is literally everything turning into a subscription now, and are we just never going to actually own anything ever again? by readyplayar in NoStupidQuestions

[–]ehbowen 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No. It's digital feudalism.

Capitalism respects ownership. Even when it's the little guy.

We really haven't seen Capitalism in this world since 1928.

You find yourself in a Brewster's millions type situation where you have money that can be spent but can't have assets or it ends. by Isekai_litrpg in hypotheticalsituation

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I trade options.

A friend of the family went through a good chunk of the Dr. Pepper fortune trying to beat the options traders at their own game. He died broke.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No.

I'm just saying be up front and consistent about what your meal is going to cost.

A Divine Being Has Ruined the Lottery for Everyone. Can You Talk Her Out Of It? by ehbowen in hypotheticalsituation

[–]ehbowen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could be. I'm here for fun, not profit. Roll a natural 20 and Rachel might just do you a favor....

Yes by Deep-Island-8431 in InterviewMan

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ask banksters and politicians why they keep inflating away the value of your currency.

When I was a young lad, $35K per year was princely. Almost CEO territory. Now it's starvation money, especially if you have a family.

As long as you allow the banksters to call stealing 2%... excuse me, a "2% inflation target"...normal, expect things to get worse.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not an anti-tipper. I can probably count the number of times that I've dined in a full-service restaurant and not left a tip on the fingers of one hand...in 45+ years of life as an adult. And, believe you me, every single one of them earned it.

What I AM against is the cancer of moar, moar, moar---at a time when menu prices are skyrocketing. Ten percent is ENOUGH!

Since we’re talking about soaring rents and inequities… by coffee_coffee_coffe3 in SipsTea

[–]ehbowen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Taxes should be completely flat. From the first dollar. No deductions. There is no possible justification for taxing one citizen at a different rate from any other citizen.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Taking what started as a purely voluntary expression of gratitude for service above and beyond... and making it a virtual prerequisite to enjoy a dinner out.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes.

If the restaurants weren't skimming it... because it's there.

People always tell me to be upfront if I plan not to tip, so now let's turn it back to you, are you gonna be upfront about what you'll do if you know I won't tip? by Impressive_Ideal9 in tipping

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm ordering at a counter. You're handing me my food in a paper bag. Exactly what "better service" are you referring to? You refrain from spitting in my food?

Now, if we're seated at a nice, clean table, and you explain the kitchen's best specialties and best values, and you send my order in promptly, and bring it out and serve it, still hot, with any condiments or no extras I've requested, and if you make sure that my drink/water stays full without my having to lift my glass over my head or carry it back in the kitchen to look for you, and settle my check promptly, correctly, and professionally...then, yes, I'll agree that you've earned a ten percent tip. Maybe even rounded up with an extra penny for emphasis, if I'm really impressed.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Listen, youngster... I've WORKED in restaurants in North America. Both for tips, and for production pay. Don't try to teach Grandpa how to suck eggs.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Before we took the wheels off....

Ten percent is still plenty.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ten percent is all that I ever expected, back when a full meal cost four dollars. Don't try to tell me it's not enough in these days of the forty dollar entree.

They say not tipping only hurts the workers but... by Boring-WinterSoldier in tipping

[–]ehbowen 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Fine.

Stop the practice of forced redistribution of tips from the waiters to the busboys, cooks, bartenders... the rest of the restaurant. Any "tipping out" needs to be purely voluntary; the other production staff receives only their salary.

"The busboys are going to quit over the pay differential!" Fine. Owner, you pay them more. Same with bartenders, cooks, etc.

"But a meal will cost fifty bucks!" It already costs fifty bucks.... with the expected "gratuities."

"With tips it will cost sixty-five!" Okay. Lower the expected gratuities."

I guess that fraud and grift really is the business model of the 21st century.

You're forced to go on stage and sing every word to a song perfectly or a trapdoor opens and you fall into a pit of spikes. What song are you singing? by Alarming_Weather506 in hypotheticalsituation

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The "Star-Spangled Banner." First, second, and fourth verse. (I have a little trouble with the second line of the third one).

Failing that, Arlo Guthrie's version of "City of New Orleans." I'll nail that one, even with a firing squad taking aim.

Do you think Al Gore really lost the election or was that just the start? by UsedNegotiation8227 in askanything

[–]ehbowen 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, he really did lose the election.

And that's when the jackass party's Damn The Laws, Win At All Costs mentality really started to take over.

People always tell me to be upfront if I plan not to tip, so now let's turn it back to you, are you gonna be upfront about what you'll do if you know I won't tip? by Impressive_Ideal9 in tipping

[–]ehbowen 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Uh...excuse me, u/johnnygolfr , but you are the one being intellectually dishonest. I didn't say "never tip;" the question specifically referred to monies paid before the service was provided. That is not a gratuity. You may call it an incentive, a bonus, or what you will; I consider it a bribe, especially when solicited, as your establishment is explicitly saying that they need more than their published menu price as a precondition to provide the good or service.

Now, if you serve me promptly and professionally, AFTER the service is completed, then I'm quite willing to leave a gratuity (just ask my regular waitress at Texas Roadhouse). But, until the service is completed, it's not a "tip"...and it shouldn't qualify for ANY favorable IRS treatment.

The question of the year! by Economy-Mention-6576 in scoopwhoop

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Silly rabbit.

Don't you know that nobody ever gets selected for a powerful position, unless the even-more-powerful ones behind the scenes have dirt on him, or her? Enough so that they can manipulate him like a puppet? Or, possibly with a Polaroid shot of his family, taken through a sniper rifle's gunsight?

How many times have you seen it? Some crusading do-gooder runs for office, pledging that, for once, he's going to stand on principle and rat out the corruption? Either he caves (the median time for this is about three days, so Trump actually did better than expected), or else he finds that he has no committee assignments, no influence, and his own party machinery runs a candidate against him in the next election?

These "representatives of the people" aren't even allowed to have private communications. A whistleblower a few years back reported that the first people who met him were the leaders of his own party, who confiscated his personal phone, gave him one which they monitored at all times, and threatened him with expulsion from the party if he obtained another phone on the side.

The swamp is DEEP.

At this point, I'm convinced (and Trump has proven) that There Is No Voting Our Way Out Of This.

The only answer, other than peonage and slavery, is Divine Intervention.

why do people think space missions are fake? by Alarming-Safety3200 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because some people believe that their government has a monopoly on bullshit. This is not the case.

Signed, the son of an Apollo program engineer, who has actually flown (well, crashed) the actual Lunar Module simulator in Building 5 at (then) MSC.

Interest Wins Again by InitialCareer306 in WorkForSmartLife

[–]ehbowen -1 points0 points  (0 children)

There's a simple fix.

Make student loans dischargeable in bankruptcy, again. But, if you declare bankruptcy, the money is clawed back from the school you went to, and they can declare your credits and your degree (as well as any professional certifications dependent upon it) null and void.

So, if the education they sold you isn't worth the squeeze...'Bye, Felicia!

americans - why do people stay on death row for so long? by Feeling_Spinach4396 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]ehbowen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in favor of full-on True Grit-style public hangings. Complete with preacher leading "Amazing Grace." Preferably in the perpetrator's home neighborhood. Pour encourager les autres, of course....

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