Thanks again for your podcasts – always enjoyable. Since you seem interested in feedback, your recent discussions of tipping reminded me of a story from my favorite NPR program, ‘This American Life’ (TAL).

The story in question dealt with ‘mean people’ and, in Act Two, they tried an experiment whereby some waitresses behaved alternately nice or aloof to their customers. Interestingly, this admittedly non-scientific study reached the conclusion that niceness didn’t matter.

When they interviewed some other waitresses, several suggested that customers tip the same amount regardless.

Anyway, if you were citing some carefully controlled studies in your podcast, I’m sure they are more accurate than the one conducted on TAL. But I thought you might find the story interesting anyway.

In case you’re interested, here’s the link to the podcast: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=245

Thanks
Randy