since everyone's off topic anyways...
As a working cook, my opinion of waiters is pretty low. almost every server that's worked in my kitchen (i've been working at this place for some time and have a seen a lot of servers come and go) is an absolute idiot. orders get lost every day, they put in tickets for the wrong thing and then blame me when i cook what they asked for, etc etc.
That being said, every single person who works in a restaurant is moving as fast as they can and busting their ass, especially at the time of day when you're likely eating. Whether or not they're good at their job is really more related on their aptitude for it then their effort. Especially in the case of bussers (who depend on the tips you give just as much as the servers do) they're working that job not because they want to but usually because they're in a bad financial situation and it's the first job that came around. whether or not you agree with it, every american (and most Europeans too) knows that a tip is expected, and not tipping someone because they couldn't get your special order right or didn't fill your water glass the second you finished it is a terrible thing to do. those people are busting their ass to try and make sure YOU have a good time their. the environment doesn't allow for lazy, so if someones moving slow it could have to do with something else. just because it's not currently crowded doesn't mean the cooks don't have fifty tickets they're working on. and if someone appears to be giving you attitude, it could be because a cook like me just chewed them out for losing messing up a ticket, or because for the twelfth time today some customer order a medium rare steak, got a medium rare steak, insisted it was in fact medium or even something ridiculous like well done (this happened today) and then sent it back and didn't tip because they got the "wrong" doneness on their steak. tip your server
I never said I don't tip because mistakes happen, or because it is busy or slow.
I will not tip someone who provides me crappy service. Absolutely, will not.
That has nothing to do with the quality of the food, the time it took to serve it, or getting it right. Some of my biggest tips have been left after having an order screwed up. One time and one time only in my life have I asked to speak to a manager, and it wasn't because my order was screwed up. It was because the server was a dick. LIke if I saw him in the bar I'd knock him in the jaw.
For instance: I go to HuHot with my wife a lot. She likes the gimicky food, I think it is hilarious that I pay someone 14 bucks so I can do most of the work. The server does not handle any of the main meal. They great, take drink orders, and bring salds/rice. It is the same routine over and over and over. But Every friggin time I go there, I get a different server(I expect turnover is very high there), and every time the service is stupid bad. Drinks sit dry for 15 minutes(even after asking for a refill. I get that you're running around, but if someone asks for it, just do it), rice comes out cold(this is from a rice cooker, so if it is cold that means they left it sitting too long. And I fully expect that the server is dishing it up, like most places to side salads and the like), or my drink is the wrong thing.
If a server doesn't like their job, move on. Grocery stores and garbage trucks need employees too.
I once long ago worked as a line cook, a server, and even a dishwasher in a few eateries--from pizza joints to 4 star restaurants. I can tell you for a fact that I made a hell of a lot more money when I did my job well than when I was a crabby dick.
If you'd like to see a fast paced atmosphere, I'd offer to let you do a ride a long shift with me and maybe we'll get a major multi-victim trauma or a a cardiac arrest in a friggin mall.
If all someone did was pull the tap and hand me a growler, they might get the difference of the dollar. If they give me good advice on a brew, offer good replacements for a favorite, or tips on something new, they might get a couple bucks.
If they make me feel like I'm not just another buck, they'll prob be rewarded handsomely. If they make me feel like I should have spent my money elsewhere, I probably will.