Generational nicknames, tipping expectations, free advice
A COLUMN By Kathryn Ross
I am baffled by the names they have for different generations. So, I was pleased when I found a simple description online. Although I don’t agree with some of the descriptions, this is what it said:
. Silent Generation – anyone born prior to 1946. They are still serving on boards and are shaped by duty and discipline. This would be our big brothers and big sisters, and in my experience, they have never been silent about anything.
. Baby Boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964. They value stability, loyalty and legacy. The description misses that they are outspoken, rebellious and appreciate great music.
. Gen X – those born between 1965 and 1980. They are independent, pragmatic and focused.
. Millennials – those born between 1981 and 1996. They are purpose driven and growth oriented.
. Gen Z -born between 1997 and 2012, they are tech driven and value transparency.
. Gen Alpha – those born after 2012. They are fast learning and entrepreneurial. And in my opinion, they lack basic life skills such as math, writing and manners.
So, there you have it. Does this make things clearer? Probably not, but at least it gives you a basis for what people are talking about when referring to different generations.
I like to look things up. When I was younger, I used to read my pocket encyclopedia to get to sleep at night. It was very interesting and often defeated the purpose of trying to get to sleep.
Recently I looked up the average price of gas 36 cents a gallon in 1971 and the minimum wage was $2. It was the year I turned 21 and seriously got down to trying to make a living. I’d been asked to leave the college I was attending, mostly due to a lack of interest on my part, not so much the college’s. My only excuse was that there was a lot going on in this world in 1969 and this small-town girl was on her own for the first time.
I worked some odd jobs like cutting the elastic on women’s underwear in the underwear factory in Hornell where I worked for a few months. Mostly I skipped work and went to the library. Then I worked in a factory where I soldered electrical components in Cuba. Mostly I made cute silver rings and bracelets. Then I decided I wanted a horse, so I got a job that fit the lifestyle.
There is something else I often see on Facebook which I find very offensive. A notice boldly warns – “If you can’t tip your server, don’t go out to eat. It suggests that if you tally up a bill of $107.53, to figure the tip just move the decimal point once to the left making it $10.75. That would be fine except then it says you should multiply that number by three, bringing your tip to $32.75. Or in other words, take a hike and don’t eat here again.
Back in 1971, this Baby Boomer left the factory work behind and got a job as a waitress in one of the busiest restaurants in town. I got some very good advice from my father, a member of the not so silent generation. Dad told me if I wanted to get a good tip, I should do something extra, something more than just showing up at the table and taking an order and delivering food. I took it to heart. I tried to serve my customers a little extra – stopping by the table with a coffee pot, inquiring if everything was OK or offering in a little information and being friendly. I got tips enough to keep my car in gas and my horses in hay and myself happy, but the happiness was fleeting. I knew that eventually I would head back to the Ivy-covered towers and get a degree. Unlike many of the women I worked with, I knew I wasn’t cut out to wear an apron for the rest of my career. It was a great learning experience which has served me well throughout my journalistic career.
So, telling me that I have to tip a server three times what I want, or I shouldn’t go out to eat just hits me the wrong way. The crux of the matter is, don’t expect extra for doing the job you decided to do. If you want extra, then do something extra and that’s my tip for the day and for life.
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Kathryn Ross is a longtime writer, columnist, journalist, and community activist. You can reach her anytime, kathr_2002@yahoo.com
