If I’m paying for my goods and services with actual money, but using prop money for tips, is that bad? In my understanding, tips are given of one’s own free will and would be considered a gift to the recipient, the same as if I gave flowers or cookies as a tip. I’ve also seen fake money passed off by religious people that looks fully real on one side, and has church propaganda on the other side.
This is a hypothetical question that came up when assembling a gag gift for my kid from my parent. I don’t plan on doing it (though, there are some instances where it’d be VERY tempting…), but it does make me curious.
If you give a beggar fake money you’re going to super hell
Yeah, you have to be a really spectacular piece of shit to do that (any of the examples really, but the beggar one in particular, even just considering it is super fucked up)…
It’s both unethical and illegal.
only if the “currency” is convincing enough. If it’s literally monopoly money, not so much. most prop money usually is not all that convincing up close. (which is one of the reasons it’s usually only folded over or in wallets. they’ll put real bills on top if they need close ins on the cash.)
There is absolutely an intent to defraud aspect, and it’s clear the intent here is to pass of the money as real even if it’s monopoly money. This is particularly true in strip clubs where you’re getting a “service” based on your donations.
is it? or is it to hide the fact that they’re not tipping to escape the social stigma inherit in not tipping (or tithing).
if you were right, those religious tracts would be illegal and the company that produces them closed down for counterfeiting currency.
I edited my comment about strip clubs right when you posted this. There’s a legal gray area in my opinion by using it for tipping. If you’ve already received the service, you really can’t be committing fraud. Essentially, the producers can easily say the thing is not meant to commit fraud because it’s obviously not real money. But if you personally passed it off as money anyway and received something for it, you’d get nailed.
I’m not positive about that. Possessing obviously fake money is not a crime, but passing it off as if it were real money in a transaction itself may constitute a crime. Back before sensors became more sophisticated, I had a friend who used photocopied bills (which were obviously fake) in subway token machines, and he got into some trouble for it.
So those Christians with the fake one sided bills with propaganda on the back that they leave as tips should be arrested.
Came here for this. That’s been happening for quite some time lol
Back before sensors became more sophisticated, I had a friend who used photocopied bills (which were obviously fake) in subway token machines, and he got into some trouble for it.
this is a bit different. at the point that you’re paying for goods or services with it, yes, that’s definitely trying to pass counterfeit bills. But tips are not payment for the food or wait service. You don’t pay a tip in lieu of a bill, you pay a tip along with the bill. While socially it’s understood there will be a tip… there’s no legal obligation for there to be one; or even what is to be given as a tip.
Oh, I know. It’s not necessarily a crime, although I wouldn’t recommend it without reading what actions specifically would trigger those laws. It’s the wording of the laws that I’d want to be comfortable with.
But morally speaking it’s not even a grey area. It’s absolutely worse than just not tipping at all. If I were a restaurateur I’d ban this person on the first offense, no questions asked.
But morally speaking it’s not even a grey area. It’s absolutely worse than just not tipping at all. If I were a restaurateur I’d ban this person on the first offense, no questions asked.
Absolutely.
Yes, think of it the other way way around. You getting paid $2/h as a serving staff and in order to make minimum wage you need tips.
Then some joker comes in and tips you a fake bill. You would be pretty annoyed.I think getting the middle finger as they walk out the door would be less annoying.
It seems like a good way to get some extra “seasoning” in your food next time you come.
Unethical. Not even a gray area, IMO.
Something of limited but actual value–like a coupon or a book of stamps–would be more of a gray area.
I’ve also seen fake money passed off by religious people that looks fully real on one side, and has church propaganda on the other side.
You should ask restaurant staff how they feel about those tracts.
In any case, passing it off as a tip; you’ll only be breaking the law if it’s “real enough”. You will be decried as an asshole, though. if you don’t want to tip, just don’t tip. if your congregation is watching who puts what into the collection plate, maybe you should find a new congregation- they sound like assholes. (especially because a lot of places have ways of donating/tithing online.)
What’s the point? You seriously think anyone wants that as a ‘gift’?
i love this guy asking if it’s unethical to tell someone else fuck you… you haven’t grasped basic ethics if this is a question for you… do unto others as you would have them do unto you… you don’t even know how to put yourself in their shoes…
right? are we living in that morally ambiguous of a society that people don’t understand basic tenets of decency?
It is immoral because its a lie (if we’re going off of some definitions of morality), its unethical, because its a lie that is quite cruel and provides zero benefit, and it’s illegal because it’s fraud. So yes.
Collection plate is fine, anything where the person needs the money is a super dick move.
Tips aren’t an optional gift, not in the US. Tipping in the US is and explicitly began as a way to make sure you didn’t have to pay black people if you didn’t want to. Even in states without separate tip/no tip minimum wages, you’re fucking with people’s expected income and ability to plan their finances/life.
Giving fake money to homeless/working poor is straight up cruel - they are way more likely to suffer legal consequences for not realizing you were a dick.
Dude they’re not making much money, just give em a few bucks
Except for the churches. Fuck them.
Depends on where you are. If you live in one of those places that have legalized and are taxing tips, using fake money becomes a crime.
Also, if one of those strippers has a lawyer friend who’ll take the case pro-bono and a generous private lap dance, they can probably take you to small claims court in the US if they can prove you didn’t clarify that the money is fake.
Finally, if you dare to use fake money in a strip club, you’re gonna get bounced and likely blacklisted.
Can I just say that this is truly a fascinating question? Great job, OP
Collection plate? As in a church? That’s fine, they’re predatory institutions anyway.
Tip jar? Massively douchey, just don’t tip at all if you’re going to do that.
Beggers? Yes (it’s unethical).
Strip clubs? Yes (it’s unethical).
Wait, are you saying yes it’s unethical to give fake money to beggars and strippers, or yes, it’s ok to give them fake money?
Cuz…it’s really not ok to give either of them fake money.
Yes it’s unethical.
In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have gone with yes as in do for one part and yes as in don’t for the rest for the rest of my comment.
TBH ‘Yes (it’s unethical)’ still seems ambiguous to me. I interpreted the ‘it’ as referring to the previous nouns - beggers and strip clubs - and thought you meant it’s ok because beggers and strip club workers are unethical.
Strip clubs? Yes.
Especially if you want beat up in the parking lot. If you don’t want that that I wouldn’t suggest trying to finesse strippers.
If you don’t have money to spend at a strip club don’t go to a strip club.
Collection plates, absolutely not immoral. Serves the christians right for tipping with fake dollar bills.
As for everything else, uh, absolutely immoral.
In two weeks: LPT: How to save money on restaurant tips
