a stupid guy in a stupid hat...

another bar story. i know you've missed them...

a couple nights ago, i'm working at the bar. busy night. this cat comes in, he comes in pretty regularly. he doesn't drink alcohol. always ginger ale. usually has a couple or a few in a night. his friends drink. usually a pretty nice guy. doesn't tip well (if at all). i often don't charge him for the ginger ales. so, the other night, he comes in. has a ginger ale. i don't charge him. no tip. he comes back up to the bar for a second ginger ale. again, i don't charge him for it. again, no tip. he comes up a third time, this time to buy a beer for his friend. i tell him it's $5.25. he asks for another ginger ale, and says he's going to pay by debit. i pour the drink. at the debit machine, i say, "together, that'll be $7.25." he says, "you're charging me for the ginger ale?" i say, "yup." he says "then i'm not tipping you." i'm tempted to say "it's okay, you never do...," but instead i say - with a smile on my face - "then i guess i'll be charging you for ALL of your ginger ales..." he doesn't say a word. he punches in whatever on the keypad. he walks away. the machine prints up the transaction. surprise, no tip. i say to the other bartender, "when that guys comes back, from now on, i want us to ALWAYS charge him for his ginger ales. EVERY TIME." dude, here's how it works... if i do something for, as a nice gesture, you do not have a right to then expect that same gesture, every time you see me. if i don't charge you for your pop, that does not mean that from that point on, it is free for you. no. every time you walk up to the bar for a pop, you should fullly expect to pay for it. that is how life works man. i don't go anywhere in my life expecting free shit. you want to be cool about it? what you should do, is when you first come in at night, come up to the bar for your first pop, and, if i charge you or not, either way, drop a $5 on the bar, and you're pretty much good for the night. do you think you have some sort of "i-don't-have-to-pay-for-shit-in-my-life" card in your wallet? if so, where can i get one of those? one thing i can't stand is a sense of entitlement. fuck you. you never tip anyway, so what's with the monetary threat anyway dude? also, not sure if you've thought about it, but ginger ale syrup costs money. the gas to carbonate the pop costs money. the glasswasher costs money. straws cost money. so do limes. and you know what else, i'm not just there for a good time, the bar pays me, i cost money. they also have to pay rent. and taxes. and elecricity for the lights and the equipment the band is playing on. the entire thing COSTS MONEY. YOU are costing US money. show some appreciation. 1. do not expect free shit, just because you've gotten it in the past. 2. it's not "just pop." 3. tip me when i serve you, asshole. 4. don't threaten me, with anything, ever. 5. don't act like i owe you something. i owe you nothing. 6. APPRECIATE it when people do something for you. 7. i am not your friend, i am your bartender. 8. you are not special. 9. and, you look stupid in that hat...