From this <A HREF="http://slate.msn.com/default.aspx?id=2073161">Slate.com</A> articlle:
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Lynn has also performed a cross-cultural study of tipping and national personality traits. Americans tip more often than others because we're more likely to be extroverts and/or neurotics, he suggests. Extroverts tip because they like the attention, while neurotics tip to reduce their anxiety and guilt about being served.
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This is *sort of* what I was about to write. As been said before, tipping has just become engrained in American culture. It's a signal of appreciation for what we expect in return: personal, friendly, helpful service. Americans like to build relationships, and perhaps there's something interpersonal about the amount of tip that is left.
I tend to be overly generous, so I tip well when there is good, attentive service. What the author mentions in her article is true me for, though: I won't necessarily tip better for excellent service (I always gives 20% regardless), but I'll definitely shave off a few bucks if the waitstaff is lousy. On the other hand, because we know waiters don't make squat for salary, we feel guilty and develop a complex about not spreading around the wealth, especially for a service that is essentially unquantifiable.
So, my question is for you folks: Would you rather restaurants automatically add gratuity or raise prices to account for service charges like they do in Europe?
ANother one: What do you do with a gift card? At Morton's, I had a $100 certificate, but I made sure to tip on that amount as well. Well, at least I tried to. I more or less fell out the front door after two bottles of wine an four glasses of whiskey.