Yeah, pretty much.
Also, I think most people I know in the UK would normally tip in restaurants to about 10% rounded so that the whole bill comes out to something fairly round, or more if the service was good or less if it was genuinely awful. I'd definitely consider it odd if someone didn't.
It's more tipping delivery guys or bar staff that seems weird - I mean, jobs where the difference between good service and bad service is pretty minimal it seems much more sensible to just pay them to do the job and have done with it.
Also, I dunno, it seems bit feudal to have a system where anyone who does a service job is essentialy begging for leftover crusts at the high table of people who are having said service performed...
this topic has been beaten to death, i'd rather use this thread as a place for funny stories about tipping and famous people...
the system is what it is, it's not perfect... the only thing i would add is that people forget that having service people work for tips makes things cheaper for them b/c the overhead is less... probably one of the reasons eating out is much cheaper in NYC than in LDN... if the service is bad, you have the option of not tipping...
that said, i am not a waiter, i am a doorman, it's different... my pet peeve is when people ask me to things for free (store a bag for a non-hotel guest, get a cab for a non-guest)... like, really? where do you work? can i come in there tomorrow and have you type me up something just b/c we're such good friends?
it is funny that some of the people who are most adament about not tipping are the ones who would NEVER do work for free themselves...
oh and Zhao, High Masekela was a really nice guy, too... just a cool cat... oh, and Fabolous tipped me real good to watch his car....