Tips...

I see so many people stating, suggesting, or implying that tipping is required in places that have tipped employees (i.e. restaurants).

Federal law, however, says otherwise (italics added by me).

If the employee’s tips combined with the employer’s direct wages of at least $2.13 per hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.

Link for reference: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/wagestips.htm

So I don't want to hear about it anymore.  A tip always has been and always will continue to be a reward for exemplary service.  It will never be an unwritten 20% tax.  Doing your job correctly earns you your wage.  Going above and beyond earns you a tip.  If you don't think restaurants pay their waitstaff enough, you can always try to get the minimum wage raised.  That would be the correct thing to do.  Trying to shame people for not adding 20% to their restaurant bill is the incorrect thing to do.

Now, usually I get service worthy of a tip because I'm typically in a large group that comes in close to the restaurant's closing time and they have to deal with us when they'd rather wind down and leave, so this is a non-issue.  At the same time, I have a problem with paying people extra for doing the job that they're already being paid a set, agreed-upon rate to do in the first place.  I feel like it makes sense, after all, for the exact same service at the exact same level of quality, would you rather pay more or less?