Stupid (but sincere) Questions about the USA

[Farawyn]

Generally, yes. As you suggested, there are towns named Paris in several states here - I know that both Maine and Texas have a Paris - so context would matter whenever the speaker knows that a distinction is needed for accuracy’s sake.

Yes.
But when someone says I’m going to Paris, I don’t think of Maine.

 

[midwestyankee]

Yes.
But when someone says I’m going to Paris, I don’t think of Maine.

Of course not, but if I had said I’m going to Paris when I was growing up in Maine, there could have been times when someone would’t know which Paris I meant without more information. That’s what I meant by context. Maine is also a little weird in this way, as there are towns named China, Rome, Mexico, Paris,Vienna, Moscow, Naples, and Brooklyn.

 

[Farawyn]

Of course not, but if I had said I’m going to Paris when I was growing up in Maine, there could have been times when someone would’t know which Paris I meant without more information. That’s what I meant by context. Maine is also a little weird in this way, as there are towns named China, Rome, Mexico, Paris,Vienna, Moscow, Naples, and Brooklyn.

Jealous much, Maine?

 

[midwestyankee]

Jealous much, Maine?

Here’s a list of places in New York named after foreign cities:
Albany
Rochester
Syracuse
Utica
Rome
Dunkirk
Massena
Amsterdam
Berlin
Hampton
Southampton
Selkirk
Hempstead
Babylon
Brooklyn
Huntington
Troy
Scarborough
Westchester
Waverly
Nassau
Cadiz
Cairo
Bangor

 

[seela]

Now now, no need to start a fight over which state has been the busy unimaginative when coming up with city names.

 

[Farawyn]

Here’s a list of places in New York named after foreign cities:
Albany
Rochester
Syracuse
Utica
Rome
Dunkirk
Massena
Amsterdam
Berlin
Hampton
Southampton
Selkirk
Hempstead
Babylon
Brooklyn
Huntington
Troy
Scarborough
Westchester
Waverly
Nassau
Cadiz
Cairo
Bangor

We’re NY.
We can do what we want.

 

[seela]

We’re NY.
We can do what we want.

Excelsior!

 

[ultramarineblue]

I'm from a southern state in the US. My experience is more that someone would clarify the state if they were going to one here. Otherwise people around me typically assume it's the one in France.

 

[gracie920101]

Bump time! And now with an extra stupid question!

If someone said they're going to Paris without adding any qualifier to it, would you not automatically think of the capital of France?

No, considering I lived within driving distance of Paris, Texas at one time.

And your question wasn't stupid!

 

[Miles Long]

I think if you live close to one of the various Paris cities in the US, you might assume through context that they are talking about the local one. But if there isn't one close, I think most people go straight to Paris, France in their minds.

 

[seela]

So I guess in movies people live close to a Paris! It's very common to hear Paris, France and other variations with different cities.

Fascinating. Thanks again guys.

 

[PuckIt]

One thing I didn't see mentioned is the inherent "one-upmanship." While it is true that there is a little spot in the road named Paris not just too far from where I'm sitting as I type this, there is an additional factor.


Without getting into whole reams of finance and socio-economic theory and juxtaposition of just what "wealthy" means to different people from different locales, having the financial means to travel to France from, say, Texas is generally a rare commodity. So, the implication there is that tacking on "France" in such a way is a "subtle" attempt to rub one's nose in the fact that the individual doing the traveling is doing well financially, most likely better than the one they are saying it to.


Also, ... Well, America is in many ways both rich and poor culturally speaking. That is that we have a lot of disparate cultures for those willing to seek them out. And every bit as deep as anywhere else. But, there has been, and is, a certain tendency to equate "old world," meaning European with inherently more cultured. So, tacking on France here is also a way to one-up culturally as well as financially.


The thing is, many people in today's American culture, particularly those inculcated by Hollywood's Rich and Shameless, don't actually have a clue that this is actually where it began. They are typically doing it because it's always been done. Even Zane Grey and Louis L'amour were actually just sliding on dusty old chaps from the 1800s, possibly not realizing the roots of tacking on France behind Paris.

Back in colonial times, it was A Thing whether you supported the Brits, the French, or the Spaniards. Or if you were one of the colonial rustics that somehow believed that this upstart colony could somehow be comparable to the big three Superpowers of the time.

*shrug*

Then again, I'm just a busted up old cowpoke sittin' around the campfire and chewing my tobacco and the fat with equal enthusiasm. So, it's even odds that you should take my two cents with a whole salt block about all that comparative socio-economic historocity.

**shuts the hell up and pulls out a harmonica**

 

[seela]

One thing I didn't see mentioned is the inherent "one-upmanship." While it is true that there is a little spot in the road named Paris not just too far from where I'm sitting as I type this, there is an additional factor.


Without getting into whole reams of finance and socio-economic theory and juxtaposition of just what "wealthy" means to different people from different locales, having the financial means to travel to France from, say, Texas is generally a rare commodity. So, the implication there is that tacking on "France" in such a way is a "subtle" attempt to rub one's nose in the fact that the individual doing the traveling is doing well financially, most likely better than the one they are saying it to.


Also, ... Well, America is in many ways both rich and poor culturally speaking. That is that we have a lot of disparate cultures for those willing to seek them out. And every bit as deep as anywhere else. But, there has been, and is, a certain tendency to equate "old world," meaning European with inherently more cultured. So, tacking on France here is also a way to one-up culturally as well as financially.


The thing is, many people in today's American culture, particularly those inculcated by Hollywood's Rich and Shameless, don't actually have a clue that this is actually where it began. They are typically doing it because it's always been done. Even Zane Grey and Louis L'amour were actually just sliding on dusty old chaps from the 1800s, possibly not realizing the roots of tacking on France behind Paris.

Back in colonial times, it was A Thing whether you supported the Brits, the French, or the Spaniards. Or if you were one of the colonial rustics that somehow believed that this upstart colony could somehow be comparable to the big three Superpowers of the time.

*shrug*

Then again, I'm just a busted up old cowpoke sittin' around the campfire and chewing my tobacco and the fat with equal enthusiasm. So, it's even odds that you should take my two cents with a whole salt block about all that comparative socio-economic historocity.

**shuts the hell up and pulls out a harmonica**

That's an interesting take on it, thank you!

This has little to do with anything discussed, but your post about the olden days reminded me that here people used to commonly say they're going to Europe as if they weren't in Europe all the time.* That has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years and you barely hear it anymore. I guess people feel more European and less isolated here now than they used to.

*I was around 4 when I understood what Europe is, and it was through my brother asking me if I've ever been to Europe. I said no, he said that you're in Europe right now and it blew my mind. "I'm in two places at once! I can't believe it, too cool! Squeee! I love life!" I was very easily impressed as a child. (still am, though. #lowmaintenance)

 

[seela]

My favorite topic, tipping!

You'd never believe I can actually count beyond 10 if you saw me trying to figure out tipping. In any country. But tipping in the US seems so much more important than elsewhere.

So. Do you *just know* how much you're supposed to tip? Or do you have to think about it every time and do some mental gymnastics to first figure out how much is appropriate and then figure out how much that appropriate amount is in dollars? (That would be my experience, btw.) Do your parents/someone else teach you how to tip when you grow up or do you just magically learn it? Are there situations where you wouldn't tip even though it's expected? When you look at prices in a restaurant for example, do you automatically see what the real price, including tax and tip, is?

Are you all really good at math because of tipping?

 

[gracie920101]

OMG what a topic!

For someone math-challenged as I, it's an exercise in futility and you end up tipping more than is usually deserved when you just give up and throw down some extra dollars.

Then you have the OCD types that break out the calculator to figure the 15 or 20 percent down to the penny that they want to leave.

Menu prices are food ONLY and the tax will be added on when you check out in addition to then adding whatever tip you want to provide.

It has become standard for wait staff to expect 15% but tipping is really up to the customer. Having said that, here, the staff is paid usually much less than standard wages with the expectation that their tips will make up the difference. Such an unfair practice especially in places where all tips are pooled then split at the end of the night. One or more can do just enough to get by then receive the same rewards as everyone else. As I said, horrible practice!

Personally, I tip 15% then decide if the server deserves that extra 5 or even 10%.

FYI, studies have proven that females tip much worse than males!

 

[AnnieLit]

My favorite topic, tipping!

You'd never believe I can actually count beyond 10 if you saw me trying to figure out tipping. In any country. But tipping in the US seems so much more important than elsewhere.

So. Do you *just know* how much you're supposed to tip? Or do you have to think about it every time and do some mental gymnastics to first figure out how much is appropriate and then figure out how much that appropriate amount is in dollars? (That would be my experience, btw.) Do your parents/someone else teach you how to tip when you grow up or do you just magically learn it? Are there situations where you wouldn't tip even though it's expected? When you look at prices in a restaurant for example, do you automatically see what the real price, including tax and tip, is?

Are you all really good at math because of tipping?

Usually 15-20%.

It is much more important in the US vs Europe because of the pay structure - in the US most of income for restaurant workers comes from tips.

How to calculate 15%? Easy!
10% is 1/10th of your bill.
5% is half of that.
Add these up and you are done. And you don't really need exact ammonts either - just round the 10% up and the rest will line up easily.

 

[twister947]

Horrible practice. Still, I over tip.

What throws me are the gray areas: barbers, nail techs, housekeepers, drivers, etc. Should I do or should I don't?

 

[seela]

I'm a very solid 20% tipper, because no way I'll be able to figure out how much 5% is.

The tipping guide is also very helpful, but why don't they also print the total with the tip added? Like they list what 20% of your bill is, but don't include what the total sum with the tip added would be. So if you pay with a card you'll still have to do some math. Why do they make you do math???

I know I'm not capable of doing it when I'm, say, 3 beers deep.

When you look at the prices at a restaurant for example, do you instinctually just know how much the real cost is with tax and tip included?

We don't tip here at all, so whenever I travel almost anywhere where you're supposed to tip I'm sweating bullets when it's time to leave the restaurant.

 

[AnnieLit]

Horrible practice. Still, I over tip.

What throws me are the gray areas: barbers, nail techs, housekeepers, drivers, etc. Should I do or should I don't?

Hair, nails, drivers - same as restaurants
Housekeeping is different as this is the same person you see each and every week and you are the one that set the price in the first place. So with housekeepers, babysitters, tutors etc. I don't tip, I give a Christmas bonus - one weekly payment.

 

[twister947]

Hair, nails, drivers - same as restaurants
Housekeeping is different as this is the same person you see each and every week and you are the one that set the price in the first place. So with housekeepers, babysitters, tutors etc. I don't tip, I give a Christmas bonus - one weekly payment.

What about housekeeping in hotels?

 

[midwestyankee]

I tip at least 20% and occasionally more, even under normal restaurant conditions. I tip the folks who cut my hair and do similar services at least 20% as well. But tipping shouldn’t be calculated strictly on a percentage basis.

I try to take into consideration how much time I have used the table and the server’s effort, too. For example, if I meet a friend for coffee at a diner and we spend maybe $10 or so in total, but we talk for an hour, I’m likely to leave a tip of $10. After all, if we had given up the table after thirty minutes, that server could have earned another tip in the second half hour and I don’t want to deprive anyone of a fair return on an hour’s work.

 

[AnnieLit]

What about housekeeping in hotels?

Depends on the type of the hotel. If they have daily cleaning, different person every day, I leave couple dollars on the pillow for each of them daily. If there is no daily clearning and only a big one at the end, I leave $10 for a weekend and $20 if we stayed a week.

 

[AlwaysFara]

My favorite topic, tipping!

You'd never believe I can actually count beyond 10 if you saw me trying to figure out tipping. In any country. But tipping in the US seems so much more important than elsewhere.

So. Do you *just know* how much you're supposed to tip? Or do you have to think about it every time and do some mental gymnastics to first figure out how much is appropriate and then figure out how much that appropriate amount is in dollars? (That would be my experience, btw.) Do your parents/someone else teach you how to tip when you grow up or do you just magically learn it? Are there situations where you wouldn't tip even though it's expected? When you look at prices in a restaurant for example, do you automatically see what the real price, including tax and tip, is?

Are you all really good at math because of tipping?

I suck at math. We have our phones, and usually one “math person” to figure it out.
I tip MINIMUM 20%.
It’s very rare I tip 15. Service has to be way below par.
Uber, 20% as long as they don’t talk to me.

At Christmas I tip my hairdresser and woman who does my nails extra.

Housekeeping? I admit I sometimes forget unless I am away and the hotel is a destination.

 

[AlwaysFara]

I tip at least 20% and occasionally more, even under normal restaurant conditions. I tip the folks who cut my hair and do similar services at least 20% as well. But tipping shouldn’t be calculated strictly on a percentage basis.

I try to take into consideration how much time I have used the table and the server’s effort, too. For example, if I meet a friend for coffee at a diner and we spend maybe $10 or so in total, but we talk for an hour, I’m likely to leave a tip of $10. After all, if we had given up the table after thirty minutes, that server could have earned another tip in the second half hour and I don’t want to deprive anyone of a fair return on an hour’s work.

Right. This.

 

[seela]

Time for a bump!

I've ran into a mention a few times now, on Twitter, on TV etc., about how a mother-to-be or a father-to-be doesn't want their own family or partner's family in the delivery room when their baby is being born. That has always been a source of drama, because the sister, mother, whoever feels like they should be there and are upset when they're not wanted.

Is this a common thing? All the mentions I've seen have been from the US, except for one Twitter mention where the country wasn't specified. Does this happen in other countries?

As far as I know, here only the parents are in the delivery room and single moms often choose a friend, a sister or mom to be there with them. But I've never heard that there would be any larger group there, like a family or in-laws.