James Shaw | Staff Writer Tipping, or a gratuity, has become more pervasive in our society as globalisation blurs the lines between countries’ cultural differences. Popular in America for the last century, the practice actually has its roots in 17th-century Tudor England, but is now a part of contemporary Irish etiquette in settings such as barbers, taxis, restaurants and to a smaller extent in pubs. However, it’s also a divisive practice: opponents (often derided as parsimonious gits) point out that in a fair wage economy tipping shouldn’t be required, and that it acts as a subsidy for businesses preventing them from having to appropriately compensate … Continue reading The Tipping Point of Tipping Culture