Summary Of Tipping Is An Abomination By Brian Palmer

The commonly used practice of tipping has been receiving backlash, nothing new there. Do we really know what a tip truly mean? What effects it has? Brian Palmer explains to his audience that tipping has become a moral obligation rather than what it is perceived to be: gratitude. In Brain Palmer’s “Tipping is an Abomination”, he argues that while tipping has grown into a common habit for many, tipping is a bad habit because no one knows what tipping actually means. Brian Palmer begins shows his credibility with personal inputs and reliable sources, using convincing facts and statistics, all while using some emotional appeal to help his argument.
In his article, Palmer begins by explaining how the practice of tipping first came to be. He shows us that tipping was

first brought to America by wealthy Americans when they returned home from their vacations in Europe in the late 19th century. Palmer then goes on to explain that the state legislature quickly acted and banned tipping, but restaurateurs eventually convinced Americans to accept the practice of tipping. He informs us on why we should have kept it banned by explaining that tipping is a ‘repugnant’ custom, and that the practice influences racism. Then he explains that the tipping size the servers receive has nothing to do with their quality of work, it’s the personality of the server that affects the tip size. Palmer ends his article with a proposal to the tipping problem. He tells us to ask the state and federal representatives to ban the tip credit, in which he says will turn tips back into something given free of obligation. Then he wishes for us to explain to our server your tipping practice as soon as we sit down. Finally, he says to tip a reasonably generous amount per person at the table or party. With this proposal, he hopes, will cure us of the horrible tipping habit we have held on to for so long.
Tipping is an Abomination, by Brian Palmer, explains why tipping should be abolished and how it has caused so many problems since the practiced has developed in America. He uses logic to appeal to his readers through the use of hard facts and statistics. Brian first starts by explaining how America was introduced the practice of tipping. He explains how wealthy Americans in the late 19th century brought the practice to America when they go back from their vacations. He clearly shows the he researched the topic thoroughly too able to go all the way back to the beginning where it all started. He shows that he was fully informed of the history of tipping. He uses hard facts to make the reader see his side. He uses evidence from a study in 2000: a customer’s assessment of the service the waiter provided only accounts for between 1-5% of the variation in tips at a restaurant. He then comments that the tips size really isn’t the problem, the real problem is that restaurants don’t pay their workers a wage to be able to live on.
Knowing the audience is an important key to writing a good piece of writing.

Brian Palmer’s “Tipping is an Abomination”, he tries to reach out to all types of audiences. He attempts to appeal to the emotional side to each audience. He often states that tipping “perpetuates” racism. African-Americans, on average, tip 3% less points than a white customer would have tipped. The tipping gap between Caucasian and Hispanics is even smaller. This fact can affect racial groups greatly. He also shows that this gives restaurant serves an excuse to serve different ethnic groups over other groups. This can anger others to know that they will be served differently and will not get the same respect from their server solely based on their ethnicity. He also often expresses to us that it not fair to waiter to have their tip based most commonly on their attitude and personality rather than their hard work and effort. Although he appeals to racial groups emotionally well, he fails to showcase the sexism side of tipping. It’s no surprise that female servers will most likely receive larger tips than a male server, regardless of the quality of the service. Overall, his article appeals emotionally to many types of

audience.
An author who uses ethos to show his readers that he/she is a credible source is worth listening to. Brian Palmer is frequently using ethos to try and persuade his audience to see his view on tipping. He is constantly using ‘we’ to show that he includes himself in the situation at hand and that he is not just lecturing us. Brain Palmer even, at the end of the article, purposes a solution. He wants to get involved and wants to show use he even has a plan on how to stop the tipping problem. He shows to us that he didn’t just right a paper to inform us of a random situation in today’s society, he shows that he took the time to create a solution and encourages us to try it. Throughout the article, it is clear that he has done his research and has thought of ways to correct the problem we face today. He doesn’t just lecture us on how tipping is bad and why is should be stopped, he takes the time and gives previous facts and solutions to show how strongly he feels and is involved in finding a way to stop tipping.
Throughout Palmers article he effectively persuades his readers to see the unfairness in tipping, and how is has become a disgusting habit. He explains in many ways on how it is unfair to both the customers and the waiters. The audience can clearly see the point that Palmer wants them to see. Through the effective using of rhetorical devices, Palmer persuades the audience that practice of tipping should be abolished. Palmer includes himself, and doesn’t make himself seem superior and lecture us, he also concentrates on logically appealing to his audience by sating strong facts and statistics and also creating his own solution to the problem at hand.