Tipping in bars/restaurants?
fax...@my-deja.com
percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
leaving a tip if it isn't done.
The Faxter
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
Niall O'Keeffe
>Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
>percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
>leaving a tip if it isn't done.
>
>The Faxter
Generally not in bars. Generally 10% or so in restaurants.
I'm sure if I'm even slightly wrong here, some s.c.i smartass will
correct me ;)
Slán,
Niall O'Keeffe.
____________________
O Siadhail
>Do you leave tips in bars in
We hashed this out a long time ago, do a deja search, unless yer just trollin.
Xbelfast (Tony II)
I'm So Miserable Without You,
It's Like Having You Here
"For Fuck Sake Start Digging Now!". - Unki
cath...@my-deja.com
fax...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
> percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
> leaving a tip if it isn't done.
>
You only tip if there is no service charge (this will be indicated on
bill). You tip to reflect your satisfaction with service. If service
is shite, I don't tip, come hail or high water. I have yet to be hung
drawn and quartered for such sin.. I gather this can happen in the US.
If you tip, you tip about 10 to 12% (that's same as standard service
charge). I would tip more for very good service.
I always tip in cash and directly to the person who has served my
table. I find it disturbing that many establishments leave a blank
line on the credit card receipt which allows you to add "gratuities" to
be deducted from the credit card account. What tells me that the boss
doesn't pocket that ??
NB these are my rules, but I think they are generally acceptable. I
haven't yet been run out of an Irish restaurant.
Cat(h)(in helpful mode... must be Friday night !)
--
I too can have a silly signature... so there
The Pirate Queen
Niall O'Keeffe wrote in message <3a5f4401...@news.iol.ie>...
>On Fri, 12 Jan 2001 17:27:45 GMT, fax...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
>>Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
>>percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
>>leaving a tip if it isn't done.
>>
>>The Faxter
>
>Generally not in bars. Generally 10% or so in restaurants.
>
>I'm sure if I'm even slightly wrong here, some s.c.i smartass will
>correct me ;)
hmmm... now that is interesting... I would think bar staff work harder over
2 or 3 hours than a waiter/waitress for dinner... in the States I usually
leave 20%........ in Ireland I think I left close to the same... just used
to that number.... and I did it in restaurants and bars and for the cabbies
too! Now the cab drivers loved it! This one gave me half his life story
and also congratulated me on negotiating a good deal for my laptop rental.
When I had first phoned this computer company they told me about 25 a week
and when I got there they said 60 a week and I said no way in hell! That I
had seen something in the local Galway paper for 15 a week for desktop
machines..... so the guy miraculously called the "other" boss and gave it to
me for the orignal 25 a week we had discussed. And he configured it all for
me too... and even worked on my company laptop for free trying to straighten
out a remote services problem. Since he couldn't fix it he didn't charge me
anything even though repair rates were 25/hour.
PQ
hmmm... did I already mention this story?
westprog++
The Pirate Queen wrote in message <93ngmb$i9b$1...@news.jump.net>...
...
>hmmm... now that is interesting... I would think bar staff work harder
>over
>2 or 3 hours than a waiter/waitress for dinner... in the States I
>usually
>leave 20%........ in Ireland I think I left close to the same...
You were in Ireland? Why didn't you tell us?
--
J/ (Scratching out a living on my little plot)
SOTW: "His Cock Wakes Me Up Every Morning" - Podge & Rodge
"We have got to solve it in the only way it can be solved, and that is
by having a livelihood for our people down here which will be the envy
of the people in the North and make them see that their future lies
with their own people and not with strangers."
Turlough
>
> Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
> percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
> leaving a tip if it isn't done.
See here, Faxter, don't go screwing around with the stereotypes and
general impressions the Irish have about us just because you don't want
to be embarrassed. Unless my guess is wrong, you live in the greater NY/
tri state area and you know that you have to tip everyone here because
there is always a hand stuck out, no matter what. When you're in
Ireland, tip everyone who does anything for you, to be on the safe side.
*No* barman, waitress, cabbie, bell hop, etc., will hand you the tip
back and complain that you are in error. On the other hand, if you don't
tip anyone, you may be even more embarrassed because the Irish would
never insult you directly, but the "cheap feck'n Yank" sneer on their
faces would cut through you like a hot poker to butter. And later on,
especially if you stiffed someone in the hotel your staying in, the word
will spread quickly and you'll notice lots of quick glances and
giggling/snickering whenever the other employees spot you. The bottom
line is, be extreme in all you say and do and don't be tinkering with
our God given right as Americans to do exactly as we please regardless
of where we are. People love us, mostly for this reason.
Turlough
John Diamond
his pint and muttered:
>On Fri, 12 Jan 2001 17:27:45 GMT, fax...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
>>Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
>>percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
>>leaving a tip if it isn't done.
>>
>>The Faxter
>
>Generally not in bars. Generally 10% or so in restaurants.
>
tip for table service in bars
john
cheers
John Diamond
fax...@my-deja.com
The Faxter
In article <3A5F5035...@excite.com>,
The Pirate Queen
powerful
>resource. On a small scale I will encourage people to order books from
Irish
>sites on the web, but that's just the tip of the iceberg, really.
I just got my latest shipment from Kenny's in Ireland..... some history and
more poetry! A batch comes quarterly based on my profile. And I can return
whatever I don't like, no questions asked. And you can email and add or
delete to your profile of likes/dislikes or for specific books etc.
PQ
Chris Hedley
fax...@my-deja.com writes:
> Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
> percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
> leaving a tip if it isn't done.
Not in pubs, unlike in the US where I was warned I wouldn't ever be
served again if I didn't give the appropriate tip, in the UK & Ireland
they'll think you're a bit odd if you try to give them a tip. The
exception being poncey wine-bars[1], where they'll get grumpy if you
*don't* tip them, even if the service was crap. For restaurants,
the norm would be 10 - 15% depending on how good the service is
provided the bill does not include a compulsory service charge. I've
only once refused to tip a restaurant myself because the service was
so appallingly awful.
[1] In the words of The Macc Lads, "Now it's a bum pub, disco, wine-bar,
bistro, gay-club, puff-house, cocktail carvery. What the fuck, fuck, fuck
have they done to me pub?" etc.
Chris.
Emer O'Brasil
Chris Hedley wrote in message <93nuob$28u$2...@teabag.cbhnet>...
:In article <93neq3$mnd$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
: fax...@my-deja.com writes:
:> Do you leave tips in bars in restaruants like in America? If so, what
:> percent? The Faxter doesn't want to make an ass out of himself by
:> leaving a tip if it isn't done.
:
:Not in pubs, unlike in the US where I was warned I wouldn't ever be
:served again if I didn't give the appropriate tip, in the UK & Ireland
:they'll think you're a bit odd if you try to give them a tip.
When I frequented public houses it was customary when ordering a round to
invite the barman to have one himself or 'take' for one for himself. A lot
of pubs I know have a pint tumbler close to the register where the 'have one
yerself' money goes and at the end of the night the money is divided up
among whatever staff is working. It's tipping ........
Tony Cooper
> I will be staying in a hostel. Should I tip the hostel workers?
>
> The Faxter
Nah. Just tell them that you refer to yourself as "The Faxter". The Irish
would just as soon have a good laugh as they would the dosh.
--
Tony Cooper aka: Tony_Co...@Yahoo.com
Provider of Jots & Tittles
Tony Cooper
> I find it disturbing that many establishments leave a blank
> line on the credit card receipt which allows you to add "gratuities" to
> be deducted from the credit card account. What tells me that the boss
> doesn't pocket that ??
Most restaurants here use pretty sophisticated custom softwear to ring up
your check. At the end of the night, the manager will know everything from
how many of each entree was ordered to damned near how many customers called
for French Dressing vs. the Honey Mustard. The liquor inventory is
automatically updated by the ounces of the hard sold. Each waitstaff gets a
printout of tips added to credit cards.
In some less sophisticated restaurants, the wait person will come up to the
register after the guest leaves to cash out on the tip. They do this
quickly since they may need to chase the odd Irish or Brit tourist out to
the parking lot and menace them for money.
China Kate Sunflower
cannonballs, fax...@my-deja.com's motto is:
>
>I will be staying in a hostel. Should I tip the hostel workers?
No, but if they're off in the evening offer to stand them a round when you go
out. What hostel are you staying in?
K.
--
I read somewhere that 77 percent of all the mentally ill live in poverty.
Actually, I'm more intrigued by the 23 percent who are apparently doing quite
well for themselves." --Jerry Garcia
http://www.celticweb.com/users/noracharles
China Kate Sunflower
>table. I find it disturbing that many establishments leave a blank
>line on the credit card receipt which allows you to add "gratuities" to
>be deducted from the credit card account. What tells me that the boss
>doesn't pocket that ??
All or at least most restaurants in America do that if you pay by credit card.
1) The cost of the meal plus the amount written into the "tip" line must equal
the total that you enter in the "total" line, so if someone forges a tip they
will also have to over-write the total that you enter at the bottom of the
charge slip;
2) If the "tip" space appears *after* the "total" space then just draw a line
through it so that no-one can forge a tip. I also do that if I'm getting
take-out and pay with a credit card, so that nobody can forge the tip/total.
K.
Emer O'Brasil
Eddie Wall wrote in message ...
:On Fri, 12 Jan 2001 23:46:32 -0000, "Emer O'Brasil" <ch...@indigo.ie>
:wrote:
:
:
:>When I frequented public houses it was customary when ordering a round to
:>invite the barman to have one himself or 'take' for one for himself. A lot
:>of pubs I know have a pint tumbler close to the register where the 'have
one
:>yerself' money goes and at the end of the night the money is divided up
:>among whatever staff is working. It's tipping ........
:I have been in a lot of pubs a lot of times...... The only time I have
:seen a barman offered a pint was by tourists..... and even then maybe
:on 4-5 occasions in 25 years and all in rural locations.
It's rural Ireland I'm talking about, and where I live in the midlands it's
'customary'.
Tourists are a bit thin on the ground around these parts, those that are to
be seen in 'pubs' ( and I don't mean the bar in the local hotel) tend to
have one or two drinks and leave.
:
:IMHO you do not tip barmen...... only waiting staff. The norm would be
:50p to a quid for 1-4 drinks, each time. Maybe a couple of quid at the
:end of the night..... depending on the service , giving you "nod" for
:last drinks etc etc.
True I'd be reluctant to tip a barman up front, the one's I know anyway. The
method I mentioned above is tipping in a roundabout way and like I said it's
common practice.
:
:Our local waiting staff are on 5-6 quid an hour and can "make 30 - 50
:quid in tips in a 3 hour night.
Is this tipping lark the new 21st Century nixer in another guise ?
:
:Eddie
:
:
:He thought that irony was were the Ironians lived. !
fax...@my-deja.com
The Faxter will try before he leaves to reserve some space.
The Faxter
In article <93olo...@drn.newsguy.com>,
China Kate Sunflower <norac...@stealthisspamblocker.celticweb.com>
wrote:
Tony Cooper
They do this
> >quickly since they may need to chase the odd Irish or Brit tourist out to
> >the parking lot and menace them for money.
>
> If anyone anywhere at anytime questioned me about the tip that I left
> I would tell them to fuck off.......
In most cases, it's not a matter of the tourist receiving bad service and
tipping low or not at all because of this. It's a difference of custom
where the tourist is simply not aware of the local customs or forgets.
I see this one both ways. The waitstaff make their living on tips here.
For a customer not to tip (when bad service is not the issue) is like your
boss not paying you for an hour's work. You'd complain in that case.
However, I abhor the whole idea of tipping and wish the cost of providing
waitstaff was simply part of the bill. I especially abhor the way some
waitstaff get very shirty with foreign tourists about not tipping. It's
embarassing to me.
Mat Riain
because tourists (and thrifty folks like meself) have booked and are booking
all the free space. "The Faxter" had better get on the ball or he will be
sleeping on a park bench.
I'll be staying in several meself... I was forced to make reservations in
several different ones because they were all booked up save for a few days.
I'd stay with friends and or family but they all live quite far from Dublin.
"The" Mat Riain
<fax...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:93poiu$gup$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
The Great Suprendo
>If anyone anywhere at anytime questioned me about the tip that I left
>I would tell them to fuck off.......
This is were I get confused over the tipping crack. What if the service
is bad due to the shiteness of the management not employing enough staff
and the poor people who are there are rushed off their feet ?
Tipping is rarely done up at this end of the country. Some of the
Americanish restaurants do it (eg Pizza Hut). And you rarely ever tip
taxi drivers - I've seen folks in Dublin doing that.
--
This post was brought to you by a suppurating ring-blister named Colin.
The Great Suprendo
>Not in pubs, unlike in the US where I was warned I wouldn't ever be
>served again if I didn't give the appropriate tip, in the UK & Ireland
>they'll think you're a bit odd if you try to give them a tip.
I worked in a supermarket when I was a nipper and some elderly lady
tried to give me a tip after I carried some of her shopping out to her
car - I could see she was having difficulty with it so it was the
gentlemanly thing to do. I was disgusted and refused to accept it. It
seems like people are getting off by feeling that they're being generous
by giving money to the poor slaven-driven shopworkers.
>[1] In the words of The Macc Lads, "Now it's a bum pub, disco, wine-bar,
>bistro, gay-club, puff-house, cocktail carvery. What the fuck, fuck, fuck
>have they done to me pub?" etc.
It's awful isn't it ? The crazy thing is how they can get old
dilapidated properties that nobody wants and turn them into exclusive
"chic" nightclubs where they pour blackcurrant juice in the Guinness
(that is IF they serve Guinness). We are starting to get ponce joints
here in Belfast and they are almost amusing.
The Great Suprendo
>:Our local waiting staff are on 5-6 quid an hour and can "make 30 - 50
>:quid in tips in a 3 hour night.
>
>Is this tipping lark the new 21st Century nixer in another guise ?
What is this "nixing" term we're hearing a lot lately ? The term was
used in the news recently, though I can't remember what.
Chris Hedley
The Great Suprendo <TheGreat...@hotmail.com> writes:
> I worked in a supermarket when I was a nipper and some elderly lady
> tried to give me a tip after I carried some of her shopping out to her
> car - I could see she was having difficulty with it so it was the
> gentlemanly thing to do. I was disgusted and refused to accept it. It
> seems like people are getting off by feeling that they're being generous
> by giving money to the poor slaven-driven shopworkers.
Yeah, I remember that sort of thing happening when I worked at
Sainsbury's as a student. They gave us a really crap hourly
rate which'd be about half the minimum wage in today's money
and then told us that accepting tips was a sackable offence.
> It's awful isn't it ? The crazy thing is how they can get old
> dilapidated properties that nobody wants and turn them into exclusive
> "chic" nightclubs where they pour blackcurrant juice in the Guinness
> (that is IF they serve Guinness). We are starting to get ponce joints
> here in Belfast and they are almost amusing.
It's terrible, especially when some decent pubs get bought out. I
recall a pub in the middle of Stortford called the Baker's Dozen
that used to be quite cool, where a surly barman would serve you a
proper pint of beer with things floating in it, and for the evening's
entertainment you could watch a couple of bikers kicking the snot out
of each other. Then it got taken over, got renamed to the bloody
stupid "Snake & Gooseberry" in that horrible trend of giving crap,
expensive pubs silly names, and asking for a beer resulted in some
spotty twat wearing a bow-tie flogging you a bottle of awful Mexican
lager that was only exported because no bugger over there would
drink it, for three quid (twice the cost of a pint in those days,
and the bottles were only about 2/3rds) then the git would expect
a tip on top of that for stuffing a lump of fucking lime in the
bottle. No more proper fights, either, just a bunch of trendy
arseholes trying to look cool whilst shite dance music blared out.
Never been back there and the place has changed its name about 16
times over the past decade, but judging by the fact that the door's
guarded by a couple of thugs in DJs I guess the place hasn't changed
for the better.
Another pub in the middle of town, a bit crummy but with a decent
enough atmosphere and an interesting history, also caused a big
fuss a few years ago when a chain of Plastic Oirish Pubs'R'Us that
no Irishman would be seen dead in took the place over and shitified
it.
Sigh.
Chris.
China Kate Sunflower
cannonballs, fax...@my-deja.com's motto is:
>
>The Faxter will try before he leaves to reserve some space.
Book by phone, not by Internet. I tried to find a room in Galway for the last
week of February, and I kept getting notices saying all hostels were booked.
For laughs, I called one place that had given the message saying they were
booked, and the guy on the phone said they had plenty of room, enough that I had
my pick of what size room I wanted.
K.
Tony Cooper
> Yeah, I remember that sort of thing happening when I worked at
> Sainsbury's...... accepting tips was a sackable offence.
Nice play on words. Did you produce it yourself? Can you do it again? Let
me know so I can check out what you write.
Emer O'Brasil
The Great Suprendo wrote in message ...
:A certain Emer O'Brasil, of soc.culture.irish "fame", writes :
:>:Our local waiting staff are on 5-6 quid an hour and can "make 30 - 50
:>:quid in tips in a 3 hour night.
:>
:>Is this tipping lark the new 21st Century nixer in another guise ?
:
:What is this "nixing" term we're hearing a lot lately ? The term was
:used in the news recently, though I can't remember what.
It's a quare word...but great stuff!
Turlough
> I can't understand how yanks do not expect service staff to be
> paid..... Again I like to look at the menu and know the ballpark price
> I will be paying... I don't expect to have to hire staff as well. !
I don't understand what you mean here, Eddie. Our service staff in
restaurants get paid minimum wage and tips supplement their gross
income. A portion of the gratuity is also subject to income and social
security taxing. However, fast food places like MacDonalds, and other
places like cafeterias which do not provide table service, pay on a
higher than minimum wage level because tips are usually not given by
patrons. Most folks who work in restaurants see their pay at the end of
the week as 25 to 40% hourly wage and 60 to 75% gratuities. Generally,
the higher priced restaurants are on the 25 and 75% scale. For instance,
a bartender pal of mine told me he made around $11k last year in hourly
wages, and pulled in over $45k in tips. He works in a good place. The
total of his wages and tips taxable was about $44k because he only has
to declare a percentage of his tips to the gov't.
Turlough
The Great Suprendo
>>is bad due to the shiteness of the management not employing enough staff
>>and the poor people who are there are rushed off their feet ?
>
Aye, but it's not the poor staff's problem either.
>>taxi drivers - I've seen folks in Dublin doing that.
>
>Not lately....... I never did it, but even people I know that did have
>stopped.
It would seem strange after recent events right enough.
Tony Cooper
. The
> total of his wages and tips taxable was about $44k because he only has
> to declare a percentage of his tips to the gov't.
Well, technically he's supposed to declare his true income. There's a rule
of estimating a waitperson's income that they actually use, but the IRS
can't determine real income so they let them slide.
I don't know where, but somewhere the IRS is auditing some waitperson and
using restaurant records (now nicely supplied by computers) to estimate a
higher amount owed.
Eddie, in another post, said he wanted to know the amount of the bill and
seemed to imply that tipping denied this. The wife and I went to a local
Mex restaurant last night where the entrees are $8.00. Beer is $2.50. If I
want to know the precise amount of the bill in advance, it's going to be $26
out of pocket for the two of us. Tax, tip, and meal. It would be easier to
have a $9.00 entree and a $3.00 beer and no tipping, but it's not as
difficult as figuring out socks on a laundry line.
Turlough
> Well, technically he's supposed to declare his true income. There's a
> rule of estimating a waitperson's income that they actually use, but
> the IRS can't determine real income so they let them slide.
I believe it's called the 75% rule because that is the amount of
*recorded* tips the IRS expects to see. Of course, you're right about
the actual figure being impossible to know. The friend I mentioned works
in a fancy club where folks sign the checks and no money exchanges
hands. The tip is therefore on every check, so the club is required to
report 75% of that total.
> The wife and I went to a local Mex restaurant last night where the
> entrees are $8.00. Beer is $2.50. If I want to know the precise
> amount of the bill in advance, it's going to be $26 out of pocket for
> the two of us. Tax, tip, and meal.
Only one beer apiece? Next time we're in the Orlando area, we'll take
the two of you out to dinner. It's a helluva lot cheaper than taking the
Irish out on the town. :>)))
Turlough
Rebel Countess
The Pirate Queen wrote:
> <snip>
>
> hmmm... did I already mention this story?
yep...
Rebel Countess
Tony Cooper wrote:
> In some less sophisticated restaurants, the wait person
the wait person? ewww....
Rebel Countess
fax...@my-deja.com wrote:
> The Faxter doesn't know yet. There isn't a lot of space available.
> The Faxter will try before he leaves to reserve some space.
>
> The Faxter
PQ, does this fella remind you of someone... LOL
Alas, without the style...
Tony Cooper
I don't think I said that. I think you've picked up someone else. I do use
the term "waitstaff". Saves time from waiter and waitress. Wait person
seems awkwardly between the two.
Rebel Countess
Tony Cooper wrote:
> Rebel wrote:
>
> > Tony Cooper wrote:
> >
> > > In some less sophisticated restaurants, the wait person
> >
> > the wait person? ewww....
> >
> I don't think I said that. I think you've picked up someone else. I do use
> the term "waitstaff". Saves time from waiter and waitress. Wait person
> seems awkwardly between the two.
Don't like either of 'em, but "waitstaff" is fractionally better.
Waiting staff?
gregory....@ntlworld.com
Sounds like a German word for a stone hammer. Gender neutrality is a
bogus concept. Only morons try and run with it, it has no
respectability. I'm not accusing you of endorsing GN by the way, I'm
just making a point.
gregory....@ntlworld.com
Tony Cooper wrote:
>
> Rebel wrote:
>
> > Tony Cooper wrote:
> >
> > > In some less sophisticated restaurants, the wait person
> >
> > the wait person? ewww....
> >
> I don't think I said that. I think you've picked up someone else. I do use
> the term "waitstaff". Saves time from waiter and waitress. Wait person
> seems awkwardly between the two.
>
Waitstaff is a stupid thing to say, it really is. It is not a real word
for a start. Why not dump the concept of female and male in all
respects? Let us all be called people!
gregory....@ntlworld.com
I know, the staff waiting on customers is the way to go, you can't beat
using real English is the way I see it. I just wish Tony would get with
the program.
The Pirate Queen
"Rebel Countess" <globa...@esatclear.ie> wrote in message
news:3A625442...@esatclear.ie...
yes! but not nearly as sexy either..... ;-)
PQ
Tony Cooper
>
> I know, the staff waiting on customers is the way to go, you can't beat
> using real English is the way I see it. I just wish Tony would get with
> the program.
T'isn't my word. It's the most common term used over here. "Waitstaff"
didn't really come about as a PC term. It is simply a more convenient way
to say "waiters or waitresses". Employment ads use the term a lot. The
employer can't designate that they want a male or female employee, so they
ask for either in this way. I think the use of "staff" makes the waiters
and waitresses feel a bit more important.
The "program" differs from country to country. If someone advertised to
hire a "presenter" over here, no one would know what position was open.
"Real" English is rightly designated as the English that people use. We
don't have Lorry Drivers or Lift Mechanics, but we have people that drive
trucks and fix elevators.
People don't live in a caravan unless they sleep in a Dodge truck. We would
think a car park is an amusement ride for automobiles.
If you want to get with the program, use the terms the locals use when
you're here. When I'm there, I'll use the terms you use. There is no
right or wrong with vernacular.
gregory....@ntlworld.com
Tony Cooper wrote:
>
> Greig and others wrote:
>
> >
> > I know, the staff waiting on customers is the way to go, you can't beat
> > using real English is the way I see it. I just wish Tony would get with
> > the program.
>
> T'isn't my word. It's the most common term used over here. "Waitstaff"
> didn't really come about as a PC term. It is simply a more convenient way
> to say "waiters or waitresses".
It is not English.
Kevin McGee
<gregory....@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>Tony Cooper wrote:
>>
>> T'isn't my word. It's the most common term used over here. "Waitstaff"
>> didn't really come about as a PC term. It is simply a more convenient way
>> to say "waiters or waitresses".
>
>It is not English.
Coining new words is.
-KM
--
Politics, I take a broad, and if I may say so, a rather accurate view of...
KO
the taxi drivers there - Not only were they friendly, kind and helpful, but
their vehicles were clean and they didn't drive to endanger our lives!
VERY refreshing difference from what we're used to in New York City, where
there's a steel cage between the front seat and back seat and the drivers -
if they speak English at all - refuse to talk with passengers. They drive
with such reckless abandon that one can only pray to get to one's
destination alive.
gregory....@ntlworld.com
KO wrote:
>
> My husband and I recently were in Dublin (from the U.S.) and gladly tipped
> the taxi drivers there - Not only were they friendly, kind and helpful, but
> their vehicles were clean and they didn't drive to endanger our lives!
They are the most popular people in Dublin. I usually give them a tenner
as a tip no matter how short the journey, I gave one a rolex watch from
my very own wrist the last time he dropped me at Amien Street Station.
gregory....@ntlworld.com
Kevin McGee wrote:
>
> On Mon, 15 Jan 2001 14:57:29 +0000, "gregory....@ntlworld.com"
> <gregory....@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
> >Tony Cooper wrote:
> >>
> >> T'isn't my word. It's the most common term used over here. "Waitstaff"
> >> didn't really come about as a PC term. It is simply a more convenient way
> >> to say "waiters or waitresses".
> >
> >It is not English.
>
> Coining new words is.
>
> -KM
No it isn't, it is not an English word until the English people adopt it
properly and convincingly. It is a slang term at best. I spoke to HM
the Queen this morning in a lenthy phone conversation and she assured me
that anybody caught using the expression would be sent to the Tower of
London and burnt at the stake after a suitable period of torture. The
Head of the Commonwealth is supporting me and who is supporting you?
cath...@my-deja.com
omax...@home.com wrote:
> My husband and I recently were in Dublin (from the U.S.) and gladly
tipped
> the taxi drivers there - Not only were they friendly, kind and
helpful, but
> their vehicles were clean and they didn't drive to endanger our lives!
>
> VERY refreshing difference from what we're used to in New York City,
where
> there's a steel cage between the front seat and back seat and the
drivers -
> if they speak English at all - refuse to talk with passengers. They
drive
> with such reckless abandon that one can only pray to get to one's
> destination alive.
Interesting contrast with some comments posted on the subject of Dublin
taxi drivers on SCI before. I would tend to agree with you. I live
near Dublin, and often make use of taxis to attend meetings in town.
In the main, drivers are courteous, chatty without excess, and do not
drive like loolahs.
In contrast, I had to demand to be let off on the side of the street in
Paris just before Xmas. My driver obviously had a death wish I didn't
happen to share quite at that time, and had the gall of commenting on
just how shitty Parisian drivers were. I really got scared.
Cat(h)(only prob with Dublin taxis is actually getting one !!)
--
I too can have a silly signature... so there
China Kate Sunflower
>
>My husband and I recently were in Dublin (from the U.S.) and gladly tipped
>the taxi drivers there - Not only were they friendly, kind and helpful, but
>their vehicles were clean and they didn't drive to endanger our lives!
How did you manage to get a cab in Dublin?
>VERY refreshing difference from what we're used to in New York City, where
>there's a steel cage between the front seat and back seat and the drivers -
>if they speak English at all - refuse to talk with passengers. They drive
>with such reckless abandon that one can only pray to get to one's
>destination alive.
A steel cage? That's it? In Boston they have bulletproof glass.
K.
Turlough
> I spoke to HM the Queen this morning in a lenthy phone conversation
> and she assured me that anybody caught using the expression would be
> sent to the Tower of London and burnt at the stake after a suitable
> period of torture. The Head of the Commonwealth is supporting me and
> who is supporting you?
Did her nibs mention me at all? I gather she was put off a bit after I
criticized her for strangling and killing that goose after only
*winging* it with buckshot. We haven't been invited to any affairs since
then and my wife is quite perturbed with me. She says my big mouth has
ruined our chances of pretense of being considered *Anglo.* I told her
our name, Gilhouley, probably blew it anyway once they started digging
into the history of Roscommon. Goose is greasy anyway and I wouldn't eat
it, unless of course the famed Breathnac prepared it.
Turlough
Kevin McGee
>No it isn't, it is not an English word until the English people adopt it
>properly and convincingly. It is a slang term at best. I spoke to HM
>the Queen this morning in a lenthy phone conversation and she assured me
>that anybody caught using the expression would be sent to the Tower of
>London and burnt at the stake after a suitable period of torture. The
>Head of the Commonwealth is supporting me and who is supporting you?
The weighty history of a fiercely neologising tribe. I would go into
this in more detail, but I have a big order in for the uncreated
conscience of my race, and I'm due back in the smithy in an hour.
How is the old cow?
Rebel Countess
The Pirate Queen wrote:
*serene smile*
The Great Suprendo
>Interesting contrast with some comments posted on the subject of Dublin
>taxi drivers on SCI before. I would tend to agree with you. I live
>near Dublin, and often make use of taxis to attend meetings in town.
>In the main, drivers are courteous, chatty without excess, and do not
>drive like loolahs.
When the meter ticks away with every second they have absolutely no need
to drive like loolahs. Like New York taxi drivers, they'll often take
the longest route unless you tell them specifically what way to go.
The Great Suprendo
>My husband and I recently were in Dublin (from the U.S.) and gladly tipped
>the taxi drivers there - Not only were they friendly, kind and helpful, but
>their vehicles were clean and they didn't drive to endanger our lives!
It is a miracle you were able to actually get a taxi.
Dublin taxi drivers are often pleasant *in person* and I've had a good
chat with many of them, but they have a flip side. For example they
threatened to disrupt the visit of the US president when he came over
recently in aid of their protest against the deregulation of their
little cartel.
Tony Cooper
> > T'isn't my word. It's the most common term used over here. "Waitstaff"
> > didn't really come about as a PC term. It is simply a more convenient
way
> > to say "waiters or waitresses".
>
> It is not English.
I did not say it was used in England. "Over here" is America. There are
some that say that the language we speak here is rooted in English, but
that's very debatable among academics. True, there are similarities, but
you can find even the Hottentots mouthing sounds that sound similar to our
words. It is only the serindipity of vocalizing.
Tony Cooper
> I spoke to HM
> the Queen this morning in a lenthy phone conversation and she assured me
> that anybody caught using the expression would be sent to the Tower of
> London
The Queen is currently in disrepute among the Poobahs of Language. She was
observed picking her nose. She can send out as many warrents as she wants.
No one will touch them until she washes her hands.
Tony Cooper
> Did her nibs mention me at all? I gather she was put off a bit after I
> criticized her for strangling and killing that goose after only
> *winging* it with buckshot. We haven't been invited to any affairs since
A man playing golf at a Florida course owned by Donald Trump beat a swan to
death with a five iron. He claims the swan attacked him and he was acting
in self defense. He has been banned from all Trump owned golf courses. I
can't figure out if that is punishment or reward for his action.
gregory....@ntlworld.com
She told me that she though you were savage bogshites. She said it
affectionately though. She was wringing the neck of a Corgi in bad
standing with his litter at the time.
Turlough
> He has been banned from all Trump owned golf courses. I
> can't figure out if that is punishment or reward for his action.
We've been off on the Donald's guest list for the last two years since
he found out that I didn't really descend from the Paugassett tribe, and
my real name was not Chief Two Moons. He has his heart set on a
Bridgeport casino, the greedy bastid. I had a good scam going until one
of his aides questioned my predilection for fire water. That was the
clincher. He didn't even stick around to see my rain dance.
Turlough
Bren Vaughan
> Think you have it bad? - in California they drive barefoot and shirtless.
Not so bad if the cabbie is a woman.
bren
Bren Vaughan
> For you maybe :)
Hang on....maybe they're like the women on Jerry?? OH GOD.
> Not that many potholes here though, sorry.
Don't get me started again. I forgot to rant against farmers, the
assasinating bastards. On two occasions I came upon tractors at night
with just about no lights. The first time I was doing about 50mph when
in front of me, suddenly appeared the silhouette of a tractor (no rear
lights, one inner front light) doing about 30mph. Luckily I had good brakes
and spare underwear. The second time was from the front when again the
tractor had one bad inner front light and no rear lights. I'd blame the same
farmer except it was about 100 miles apart and I doubt either crock of shit
would last such a journey. Lethal, and they get away with it.
The bottom line is that most Irish roads are a joke and not fit for travel
in modern cars. With all the money in the country and all new buildings
going up you'd think they'd try and improve the basic road
infrastructure.
Celtic Tiger me arse.
bren
westprog++
> > For you maybe :)
If that had been a decent road people would have been doing 70 and they
would still be encountering the same tractors with no lights. The crap
roads and congestion are all that keep Ireland's lousy drivers alive.
Not to worry - there will be another TV safety ad campaign soon and
then everything will be wonderful.
> Celtic Tiger me arse.
> bren
Next trip it'll be the beer that's no good.
--
J/ (Tim Harding)
SOTW: "Oh Shit" - The Buzzcocks
"We are anxious to avoid what I would regard as a calamity, the
calamity of death, if it can be avoided. We let one man out after
thirty days hunger-strike. What happened? Next day, I think, half-a-
dozen more went on hunger-strike."
The Great Suprendo
>>The bottom line is that most Irish roads are a joke and not fit for travel
>>in modern cars. With all the money in the country and all new buildings
>>going up you'd think they'd try and improve the basic road
>>infrastructure.
>
>Ah Bren you're being unfair there...
Ray, I will bet any money that if you returned here after being used to
US roads you'd be disgusted.
>freeways and they'll find roads that make ours look like the most idealistic
>roads you can imagine... I've driven on "improved dirt roads" which are barely
>passable in a 4x4 and a regular city car would probably not make it
There are roads like that here. Ten miles out of Belfast and you'll find
loads of them, where it's all farmland etc.
Bren Vaughan
> If that had been a decent road people would have been doing 70 and they
> would still be encountering the same tractors with no lights. The crap
> roads and congestion are all that keep Ireland's lousy drivers alive.
Unfortunatly the road doesn't stop them. I was doing 50, but I was the
slowest thing on the road. There was times I had to stop my car and get out
and kiss Talula's suspension better the pain she was in and meanwhile
lunatics were screaming past me at about 150mph. No wonder they die.
Maybe this is Darwinism at work.
> Not to worry - there will be another TV safety ad campaign soon and
> then everything will be wonderful.
There is a good one here at the moment about drink driving, but then
again I passed 3 accidents this morning on my 20 mile journey to work.
All involved trucks and cars. The A14 is not a safe thoroughfare by any
means, mainly due to a horrendous volume of traffic. Still, you die on a
pothole free surface which is all you can ask for really.
> Next trip it'll be the beer that's no good.
I'm used to that here too.
bren
Bren Vaughan
> Ah Bren you're being unfair there... Sure there are parts of our roads that
> could do with some improvement, but they're not nearly as bad as you
> make them out to be... And before any Americans jump into to have a
Ray, having been and driven there a mere two weeks ago, I think I can safely
believe my own eyes and senses over your observations from California.
The roads there are not bad, they are *dreadful*. I drove from Dublin down
to Abbeyfeale and back again, along with various side trips, and I would say
about 30% of the time the road surface was acceptable. In driving from Dublin
to say Limerick, two major cities in Ireland, I was sometimes (on the main
road) driving on a road about the width of my kitchen table with a surface
which was bumpier than Sean Kelly's arse. Every now and again, I would
come across a stretch of Motorway, which was great, but lasted about 10
miles and then it was back to ridiculous roads and gridlock due to
having to pass through towns like Kildare and Monasterevin etc. Not only
that, but the volume of traffic seems to have increased dramatically.
There have never been as many cars on the road in Ireland and the roads
are suffering. Having a few lads go out with a lorry every few weeks and
horse a few shovels of tarmac into gaping holes is not an acceptable
solution. Especially when said lads are on the main road outside
Birdhill, around a bend, with no signs that they are there. The
lorrydriver in front of me nearly shat himself judging by the way he had
to swerve into the opposite lane which was thankfully free of cars at
the time. And these are the main roads. The secondary roads are worse.
I have never seen a pothole here Ray, never. Not one. Now granted the
UK's road infrastructure is much more extensive than Ireland and
probably much better funded, but it's about time that Ireland caught
up. Surely money can't be a problem?
bren
Niall McAuley
>Surely money can't be a problem?
No, money isn't the problem. 6.1 billion pounds in the plan.
The problem is workers and companies qualified to do the
work. Everyone who can lean on a shovel and look into a hole
is already out there doing it.
By 2019 we'll have motorway/dual carraigeway from Dublin to
everywhere. In the meantime we'll have roadworks from Dublin
to everywhere.
See the National Road Authorities website.
http://www.nra.ie/text/blue/index.html
As well as rolling out motorways and improvements, there
is also a push on to increase safety with Gatso cameras,
"traffic calming" measures and so on. Despite the huge
increases in cars on the road, accidental deaths are
holding steady (because of gridlock?), and are actually
only half what they were back in the sixties (safer cars
and better roads, I suppose).
See:
http://www.irlgov.ie/garda/angarda/statistics98/lifesaver.html
Our accidental death rates are pretty bad by UK standards,
but not as bad as the US of A counting deaths per head of
population.
I imagine our deaths per vehicle figure might be similar to
the US, and our deaths per mile travelled much worse than the
US, but I can't be arsed googling for the stats.
--
Niall [real address ends in se, not es.invalid]
The Great Suprendo
>probably never been outside the cities or off the freeways...
Ray, the roads in Dublin City are some of the worst I have seen in any
metropolis of it's size I've been in. There was a pothole at the
junction of O'Connell St and the Quays large enough to throw off a
cyclist or motorcyclist or damage a car which went unchecked for *two*
weeks. Baggot St is full of potholes all the time and it is surfaced in
concrete, not proper tarmac (ridiculous considering it's status as a
main thoroughfare to the N11 and the southeast).
Chris Hedley
bvau...@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk (Bren Vaughan) writes:
> I have never seen a pothole here Ray, never. Not one. Now granted the
They must've all been exported to Minnesota. Potholes a-plenty up there.
Chris.
Bren Vaughan
> Jaysus you make it sound like I was never there myself... I been there
> all my life before I came here a few cold years ago you remember... I've been
Well, you'll have to accept they have disimproved a fright then. Or
maybe now that I've seen how good a road can be, my eyes have been opened.
> on many a road in Ireland in car and on motorbike and I found the vast majority
> of them to be just grand to drive on... I will give you that they are sometimes
> narrower then they might be, and with the ditches on the side it makes moving
> over to the side of the road more difficult.. But you get used to it.
Nothing quite like rounding a bend and having 2 feet to avoid a truck.
> Recently myself and Lee visited Mammoth Mountain... A lovely place to ski - which
> I didn't do.. I did go up to the top of the mountain in a cable car thingie to see
> the view and it was beautiful - photographs someplace prove it.. Anyway, there
> were roads around there that would make the worse road in Ireland jealous. They
> were seriously rough and "off the beaten track".. I think I've a photo of some of
> them too.. Must find them photos... Anyway, here if I stay on freeways, I get
> a *relatively* smooth ride - the 405 is rough in places even for a freeway - but
> go off the freeway and the city streets and you soon find roads just as bad as
> anything you find in Ireland - they may be wider but the surface is no better...
Sounds nice. I've drivin in the US. I found the interstate surface to be
fine but the drivers and their humungous SUV's scared the shite out of me.
> Traffic here can be a nightmare as well... The freeways here are like parking lots
> during "rush hour" and a journey that should take you about an hour on a good
> day can take up to 4 hours in such traffic...
Traffic is my bugbear here as well. Which is why I come in early and go
home early from work to avoid it.
> Anyway I'm not saying you're dead wrong about the roads, but that there are
> roads here just as bad is all...
They may be just as bad, but that doesn't make me feel any better.
bren
Bren Vaughan
> I've not much experience of English roads (I've been in cars there but not
> driven them), so I don't know how they compare to the Irish ones...
They are superior by a long shot. Trust me it doesn't make me happy to say
that :)
> I wouldn't blame you... Mind you we drive an SUV ourselves but I'm behind
> the wheel.. LOL! Bet that makes you feel a whole lot er.. safer! :-) Drivers here
> are a whole different ballgame... They will indicate left and turn right.. They
> will turn without indicating at all! They will pull in front of trucks and slow down
> and nearly get rammed! I've seen some crazy driving since I started driving
> here... You really have to keep your wits about you driving here... Because
> even if you're being careful, half the other drivers aren't!
I saw some of that. PLus I was doing the speed limit so I was obviously
fair game for everyone else who was doing twice the speed limit.
> Exaclty what my wife does... Up at 4.30 am to try and beat the early morning
> traffic and having to leave usually between 6-7pm to try and avoid the worst
> of the evening rush... If she leaves about 10pm she can make it home in about
> an hour usually, but recently she took 3.5 hours because the traffic was a
> fuckin nightmare...
I am more an 8-8:30am to 4-4:30pm sort meself.
bren, work to live, don't live to work.
Paul Carr
<gregory....@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:3A628F66...@ntlworld.com...
<snip>
> Waitstaff is a stupid thing to say, it really is. It is not a real word
> for a start. Why not dump the concept of female and male in all
> respects? Let us all be called people!
Good point!!!
Paul
Paul Carr
<gregory....@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:3A628F02...@ntlworld.com...
>
>
> Rebel Countess wrote:
<snip>
> > Don't like either of 'em, but "waitstaff" is fractionally better.
How about "waitrons"?
> Sounds like a German word for a stone hammer. Gender neutrality is a
> bogus concept.
Not at all!!
> Only morons try and run with it,
Whatever..
it has no
> respectability.
Wha????
I'm not accusing you of endorsing GN by the way, I'm
> just making a point.
And if one were to endorse it, then one wolud be "accused"?
Paul
I think "gender neutrality", as you put it, Greig, is, indeed, the fashion
of the future...
China Kate Sunflower
That reminds me of my Poli. Sci. professor in college, who announced to the
class one day that he had a date that night with "a person." We couldn't figure
out if he was gay and had been about to say "a guy" but caught himself at the
last minute because he didn't want to out himself, or if he was het but objected
to the sociological baggage associated with the label "woman." I think most
folks thought he was gay. I was surprised because up until that point I had
assumed he was completely asexual.
Mary Ann
"gregory....@ntlworld.com" <gregory....@ntlworld.com>
wrote:
>
>
> Kevin McGee wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 15 Jan 2001 14:57:29 +0000, "gregory....@ntlworld.com"
> > <gregory....@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> >
> > >Tony Cooper wrote:
> > >>
> > >> T'isn't my word. It's the most common term used over
here. "Waitstaff"
> > >> didn't really come about as a PC term. It is simply a more
convenient way
> > >> to say "waiters or waitresses".
> > >
> > >It is not English.
> >
> >
> > -KM
> Talanoa
Mary Ann
--
Living is like licking honey off of a thorn~~
Rebel Countess
Paul Carr wrote:
> Good point!!!!
>
>
> Paul
Still waiting for that all-knowing, never-lying, special.... person.... who
fancies you then Paul? ;-)
Rebel Countperson
Bren Vaughan
> Yeah and that's why your smiling right? ;-)
Damn right...I like my car in one piece!
> On most freeways here (in the LA area) most people stick to the speed limit or maybe
> about 5 mph above it... Rarely do I see what is described as "someone flying low"
> that is "boothing along the road" to you and me.. I've yet to see an actual car
> chase... I've seen them on TV, but never in real life...
You see large speeds here, expecially on motorways. I don't think my car
has ever been above 80 and only then on maybe one or two occasions.
Mind you, I passed 3 accidents on my 20 mile trip in yesterdy and was
also sitting in traffic half the morning due to a broken down lorry.
Some days I feel so much like a little metal ant in a colony brigade
it's scary. Oh for a fortune and no need to be an ant.
> My wife is the Sys Admin for the company and must be there very early to ensure that
> the network is fine and that everythign is running smoothly... She has your philosophy
> on work, but also has a 100 mile commute each day... Hense leaving at an ungodly
> hour in the morning...
100 mile commute?? Ye gods!
bren
KateH
> Some days I feel so much like a little metal ant in a colony brigade
> it's scary. Oh for a fortune and no need to be an ant.
I saw a very cool article on "Dracula Ants" while you were away and
NOW......I can't find it. Damn!!!
> > My wife is the Sys Admin for the company and must be there very early to
ensure that
> > the network is fine and that everythign is running smoothly... She has
your philosophy
> > on work, but also has a 100 mile commute each day... Hense leaving at
an ungodly
> > hour in the morning...
>
> 100 mile commute?? Ye gods!
My husband has a 90......45 minutes of dark, icy, empty, two lane, twice a
day......he's braver than me. :)
KateH
The Great Suprendo
>I prefer concrete myself...
Your driving experience must be even more limited than mine and that's
saying something. Driving over wet concrete is an unpleasant experience.
Bren Vaughan
> I know that feeling.. just another brick in the wall eh?
Don't get me started Ray, you'd not like to see a grown man cry.
bren
Bren Vaughan
> Bren Vaughan wrote
> > Some days I feel so much like a little metal ant in a colony brigade
> > it's scary. Oh for a fortune and no need to be an ant.
> I saw a very cool article on "Dracula Ants" while you were away and
> NOW......I can't find it. Damn!!!
There's this book, see, ...about this ant colony.....!!
bren, read the damn book!!! :) (Empire of the Ants I think it is)
Paul Carr
"Rebel Countess" <globa...@esatclear.ie> wrote in message
news:3A665AC6...@esatclear.ie...
<snip>
> Still waiting for that all-knowing, never-lying, special.... person....
who
> fancies you then Paul? ;-)
I never said anything about waiting. I said I was actively searching... But,
obviously, I seek no unrequited love... I never said never-lying either.
Still, I think thorough honesty is a virtue....
Paul
Paul Carr
"China Kate Sunflower" <norac...@stealthisspamblocker.celticweb.com>
wrote in message news:9458o...@drn.newsguy.com...
<snip>
> That reminds me of my Poli. Sci. professor in college, who announced to
the
> class one day that he had a date that night with "a person." We couldn't
figure
> out if he was gay and had been about to say "a guy" but caught himself at
the
> last minute because he didn't want to out himself, or if he was het but
objected
> to the sociological baggage associated with the label "woman." I think
most
> folks thought he was gay. I was surprised because up until that point I
had
> assumed he was completely asexual.
Asexual?! I don't think any single human being can be accurately described
as "asexual"...
I'm heterosexual for your information, Kate; and you can rest assured, I
don't fancy you...
Paul