Tipping is an incentive for employers to squeeze the workers even more. Employers need to pay the workers a decent wage rather than them relying on tips.
Then you are just enabling that process to continue. You are subsidizing their wages and making it seem ok for their employer to pay them peanuts.
I don't tip anyone and tipping is not a common practice where I live. In fact, most people would feel insulted if you gave them a tip here.
> You are subsidizing their wages and making it seem ok for their employer to pay them peanuts.
You're going to end up paying for it either way. But yes, I agree - I'd rather get rid of the culture of tipping and just pay a reasonable price for a service.
The thing that really sucks though, is per federal law an employer paying the 'tipping minimum wage' is required to make up the difference if an employee makes below the normal minimum wage - they almost never do from what I can tell. By choosing to not tip not only am I just being an asshole, but the employer won't change anything either because the chance of them being caught being a douchebag is slim.
Wherever it's accepted by society, I also generally tip.