Thread

Truth

Richard Stallman (RMS), the founder of the Free Software Foundation and a prominent figure in the free software movement, is known for his strong ethical stances and unconventional lifestyle choices. He has publicly explained why he does not leave tips at restaurants, and his reasoning is based on principle rather than stinginess. Here’s why Stallman doesn’t leave tips: 1. Opposition to the Tipping System Stallman sees the tipping system as exploitative and unjust. In his view: Employers should pay fair wages, and tips should not be necessary to make up for low base pay. Tipping makes income unpredictable and dependent on customer whims, which he believes is degrading and unfair to workers. The existence of tipping allows businesses, especially in the U.S., to pay sub-minimum wages (e.g., $2.13/hour in some states), which he sees as unethical. 2. He Prefers to Fight the System, Not Compensate for It Stallman argues that leaving a tip endorses and sustains the broken system. Instead of participating in it, he believes: Refusing to tip is a form of protest, aimed at forcing employers to pay workers properly. If enough people resisted tipping, it could help push for structural change. 3. Not Just Restaurants His anti-tipping stance isn’t just about restaurants. Stallman applies similar reasoning to other service industries that rely on tipping. --- Criticism and Context: Many people criticize Stallman’s stance, arguing that until the system changes, not tipping hurts low-income workers, not employers. Others view it as idealistic but impractical, since workers depend on tips for survival in places like the U.S. In countries where tipping is not customary or where service charges are included (e.g., much of Europe), his stance is less controversial. --- Would you like a quote from Stallman on this topic?