I won't eat with people that mistreat servers. However, they're not authority figures either. It's a give and take but they're not mind readers. People are all over the place with what they want. The American consumer is like a hungry, greedy, mean, irrational infant that wants everything but is never happy with what they get. Relating what you want to the wait staff in polite terms should make everybody happy. If a server gave me attitude for this I would definitely complain - or walk out - or both.

Servers are awesome, I have no end of fun with them, my personal favourite is letting them list their specials etc that they are obliged to do and then tell them (in my best British accent) that I didn't understand a word!!

Once they realise I am having fun with them it makes the whole experience much more enjoyable as here in Virginia they give it back as good as they take it.

I actually see the adverts as part of the entertainment! Particularly the medical ones that list the side effects really fast afterwards! Oh, so my headache will be gone but I could have a heart attack instead?

There's another option...

Enjoy then it soon get's old though.

Dont have a bloody telly in the first place right my friend

I have worked in restaurants, in the UK and here, I know how it feels to be on the other end of nasty people/customers. I always try and put myself in the servers place, but I usually end up being way too soft, hubby is a softy too, but we are learning to be a little more 'direct' and we are getting more 'picky' about what we will take customer service wise.

Hubby says he would much prefer it if servers got a decent wage instead of having to rely on tips, though he would still tip on top for good service, much like you do with taxis or hairdressers etc. He doesn't think that we should be obligated to tip servers just because they get crap wages. I have never felt 'obligated' to tip a crap server!

I'm very soft too. I don't get my kicks talking down to people who are working on their feet for hours on end. It's all relative too though. Eating at Chili's or Cracker Barrel isn't much more expensive than driving through McDonalds (where they just throw the food at you) so you can't expect the same service as you would from a decent chop house. Even if you tip 20% at Chili's it's still only $4 or $5 bucks - no matter how great the service was.

I'm very disappointed I haven't been interviewed yet by a local news station for my "expert" opinion. They have interviewed just about everyone else who knows nothing about what is going on including Koin6 last night who interviewed the guy wrongly accused on the Madrid Spain bombing as Kelly Day called it.

If I could help MCSD can have it for nothing.

You need to be out there punting yourself like CW Jensen...

I know you'd pitch in for free; a friend and I went out snooping last week, but with the crazies involved, it's like a needle in a haystack.

Fixed it for ya!

I think you'll find that they come in the mashed potatoes. Isn't that right? Let me go and check Fight Club again...

...and now I'm feeling homesick.

I tried that.

Signed father of four

It's funny, I think the opening hours of most shops here in Colorado is better than the UK, but the supermarkets are worse! There are a couple which are 24 hours, but not all. In Scotland, they were virtually all 24 hour (but I know the rules were different in Scotland to south of the border).