The other morning I was at a Starbucks waiting for my overpriced little bit of delicious to be prepared. Because I am a creeper by nature, I listened to the two female baristas discuss a tip from a few customers before me. The girl at the register was very concerned that a regular male customer has left her a $6 tip. She asked her co-worker if this was normal, or if his motives were less than savory.
This incident has been stuck with me for several days. How sad is it that as women, we have to question the intentions and the potential danger of every male interaction. But is it justified? Are they really no nice guys?
I have worked in customer service for a long time and did a brief stint as a bartender. I’ve had my fair share of men who seem just a little too generous to be true. But is it simply someone the case of a more established person trying to help a young person out? Or was that $10 tip for one drink a down payment on future services rendered?
When I was 16 and bagging at a grocery store, the late shift was hazardous for me. Drunk college guys on a beer run frequently tried to entice me to joining them later with the promises of tips for carrying their 24 pack to the car (I never did) and “more where that came from.” When I was 19 and behind the bar, my experiences became more diverse. My regular customers would occasionally leave me a bigger tip than usual or even a present (I got a few books, a DVD, and scratch cards that summer) because they liked that I made strong drinks, didn’t take shit, and seemed to remind a lot of them of nieces or grand daughters. But there were also the men who would leave me a 5 dollar bill and then ask for my number.
When women tipped me I never gave it a second thought. It was only with men that I ever became wary. Were my reservations justified?
What are your thoughts? Is there such thing as a nice guy, or is it all just a precursor to trying to get some?
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