We've hit peak tip fatigue. Michael Regilio is here to explain how a century of tipping led us here — and how it can be remedied — on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1356On This Week'...
We've hit peak tip fatigue. Michael Regilio is here to explain how a century of tipping led us here — and how it can be remedied — on Skeptical Sunday!
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1356
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
- Tipping wasn't born of kindness — it was born of swagger. In Tudor England, the wealthy pressed coins on servants to broadcast their status, a little "I'm above you" rendered in currency. From day one, the gratuity signaled hierarchy, not good service.
- After the Civil War, employers dodged paying newly freed Black workers by letting customers "tip" instead. Pullman porters lived almost entirely on gratuities. Tipping became a tidy loophole for keeping labor nearly free.
- The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 an hour, frozen since 1996. Servers can take home paychecks reading zero dollars, the tips quietly doing all the heavy lifting the law politely declines to.
- By retiring the old 15% option and anchoring you at 18-22-25% during the on-screen payment process, it nudges your brain toward "generous" before the food even exists. It's behavioral economics, weaponized into a swivel screen that watches you decide.
- Nobody actually likes this system, which makes it ripe for change. Europe proves restaurants flourish without it. So aim your energy at fair-wage policies rather than the person holding the iPad — they didn't build this maze, they're just surviving it.
- Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
- Connect with Michael Regilio at Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and YouTube, and check out War Bar, his comedy special!
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