Questions for our American friends

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by Nobody1

Perhaps a provocative question but it interests me really. So please don't understand this wrong. I ask anyway.
Why do black people call each other " N***** "? Maybe i'm stupid but i do not understand that.

Neither does anyone else. I've heard one theory that by "claiming" the word for themselves African-Americans can somehow sanitize it or remove the negative association. Personally I don't think that will work, its still too soon.

Personally, I think its just some people rebelling. One of the best ways to get an adolescent to do something is to forbid them from doing it. The N word is forbidden, so of course they have to shock everyone else by using it. I think there's also an element of baiting involved. If someone else uses it after hearing them use it, its an excuse to vent on the second party for being disrespectful. "I'm the only one who can be insulting like that!" thinking.

Basically, IMHO, there's no good reason for it.

[Zeropointzero]

Originally Posted by Nobody1

Perhaps a provocative question but it interests me really. So please don't understand this wrong. I ask anyway.
Why do black people call each other " N***** "? Maybe i'm stupid but i do not understand that.

What black people call each other is "nigga", which is somewhat different than the archaic meaning. I view it as a way to co-opt an unpleasant past, turning it into a source of pride and individuality, and indeed, a term of status.

Tupac Shakur, the late hip-hop superstar, was fond of saying that "a n****r is a black man with a slave chain around his neck; a nigga is a black man with a gold chain around his neck." That doesn't always apply, but it should give you a general idea of the terms of its usage.

[Nobody1]

First, i thank you again for answering this Zeropointzero. I've searched the web and found this interesting site.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/214/...ith_guest.html

By the way, one of my heroes is Dr. Martin Luther King. An honest and tall walking man. Hence my interest.
I have simply asked myself what he would say.
Unfortunately he was murdered and can no longer speak.

[dylpickle]

Originally Posted by edward126

What does it mean when you ask a shop assistant to 'validate your parking'?

When someone gets onto a bus they just sit down and the bus continues on with it journey. When and who do you actually pay the fare to?

Cheers from England.

Dear Confused,

As an American I cannot answer your questions seriously, and wonder if you ask them 'tongue-in-cheek.' If so, don't bite down unless it is someone else's cheek.

"Validate parking" means 'keep the change and give me a BJ instead;' or it can also mean stamp this parking receipt so I get free parking at the garage, thus avoiding public transportation and consuming a disproportionate amount of global energy resources.

Note – shop assistants are called 'clerks' here in the 'land of the free.'

In America all public transportation is free provided a film crew records a scene while one rides said transportation. This is a major factor in the equation that Americans comprise only 4.54% of the world's population while consuming 24% of the world's energy (mostly for free public transportation).

Cheers,
A Doodling Yankee

[BustyWomenLovr]

What does it mean when you ask a shop assistant to 'validate your parking'?

Normally one is given a time-stamped ticket when entering a parking garage or lot, so that you are charged upon exit for the time you spent. If "validation" is available, the lot is aimed at (and/or may be subsidized by) a particular shop or business ( such as a doctor's office). If they validate, it will negate all or a portion of your fee. Example, my Mother has one doctor who validates, but it is only good for two hours, usually good for getting her there and waiting for the doc, plus the visit. If she wants to stop at the department store on the next block, she gets charged for that amount over two hours.

When someone gets onto a bus they just sit down and the bus continues on with it journey. When and who do you actually pay the fare to?

Buses have a fare box next to the driver, they usually take coins or bills, but some bus systems are going to electronic fare cards that will deduct fare by swiping or pressing them on a spot marked on the fare box (cards like this are usually found on systems linked to co-operatively run subways/undergrounds). The local line near me still uses cards prepurchased with 22 runs on them for 20 dollars (save 2 dollars!) and the bus driver uses a punch to knock out one run on the card each time you board.

As for the "N word" I think DTravel has got it down fairly well. Amazing that this is one word that if you try to explain in detail, you get in more trouble. Local paper tried that in an editorial after some award show winner (rapper - for get who) used the word. There was more of a stink about them trying to saying why it wasn't right for anyone to use it than for him using it. And when spoken, there is great difficulty for some to hear a difference between "-ger" and "-ga" so that adds to the confusion. "Basically, IMHO, there's no good reason for it." That sums it up nicely.

[dbailey]

May I ask about the etiquette of tipping or gratuities in the USA?

Now I am from Yorkshire and I am a working man, not an executive and so I avoid swanky places. Heck I would even collect my food from the serving hatch once the Chef called me. I prefer the Diner type place but Mrs db likes a bit of posh on vacation.

Now In England I would tip 10% of the cost of my meal.

In America I have seen suggested tips at the bootom of a cheque of 18% and 20%.

So how much should I tip to ensure the waiter gets paid for the job of work?

Do I tip on the total cost of the cheque, or food only, that is, no tip on the alcohol, and is this percentage before or after state purchase taxes if applicable.

You understand that I don't want to be mean and yet I do not wish to appear overly generous or a rich git

And in terms of 'great service' I expect my order to be taken and my food to be brought to the table, after that , the waiter can go an watch TV or whatever. I dont expect a running service of more bread, more water, more anything.

[Xexemedes]

db tipping in the states is usually 15% on the total cost of the meal-including drinks. 18-20% if the service is excellent and/or filled with cleavage.

In the Northeast, if you are at a bar, my crowd usually tips $1 a drink (or beer)-this ensures you always get a generous measure, and perhaps, an extra round before being shut off.

[knobby109]

Originally Posted by dbailey

May I ask about the etiquette of tipping or gratuities in the USA?

Now I am from Yorkshire and I am a working man, not an executive and so I avoid swanky places. Heck I would even collect my food from the serving hatch once the Chef called me. I prefer the Diner type place but Mrs db likes a bit of posh on vacation.

Now In England I would tip 10% of the cost of my meal.

In America I have seen suggested tips at the bootom of a cheque of 18% and 20%.

So how much should I tip to ensure the waiter gets paid for the job of work?

Do I tip on the total cost of the cheque, or food only, that is, no tip on the alcohol, and is this percentage before or after state purchase taxes if applicable.

You understand that I don't want to be mean and yet I do not wish to appear overly generous or a rich git

And in terms of 'great service' I expect my order to be taken and my food to be brought to the table, after that , the waiter can go an watch TV or whatever. I dont expect a running service of more bread, more water, more anything.

They have a crazy system of tipping in bars-order a beer and a tip is normal! Try to get bar staff in this country to accept a tip for such a small service!

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by knobby109

They have a crazy system of tipping in bars-order a beer and a tip is normal! Try to get bar staff in this country to accept a tip for such a small service!

I have never yet been to the United States, even though I have friends and relatives there, so I can only repeat what I have heard. Tipping is far more widespread and usual there than in Britain. This reflects extremely poor remuneration in the service industries, even by the skin-flint standards of the UK: waiters etc would starve if they were expected to survive only on their official remuneration.

In the UK, restaurant staff are notoriously ill-paid and tips are commonplace due to this, just as in America. Our income tax laws recognise this. Many restaurants operate a ''tronk'' system: a tronc is a special pay arrangement used to distribute tips, gratuities and service charges where these are collected by the employer rather than given directly to the employee. The point of a tronc is that somone who is not the employer allocates the tips, so therefore they are seperate from the employer's pay/compensation arrangements. This means the staff still pay income tax, and this is put through the Pay As You Earn system, just like regular employees taxation. But since the tronc is not part of the staff's regular pay, it does not suffer Employees National Insurance Contributions, potentially saving the employee, which could save him/her 11%. The employer is also spared an Employer's National Insurance Contribution at 12.8%. So both parties have an interest in operating a tronc system correctly.

Until October 2009, it was common for employers to treat staff income from troncs are part of the National Minimum Wage, and take it off their regular pay. This was, of course, a flagrant abuse. Since 1st October 2009 it is illegal for employers to do this.

I have no idea whether special tax arrangements apply to tips, gratuities and service charges in America.

[DTravel]

Tips in the US are above and beyond any pay the employee receives from the business. The employer can not reduce how much they pay the employee based on tips received. Tips are considered taxable income but I have no idea how our national insurance and social security are handled for tips (they are "withheld" from regular wages).