Sometimes you forget that the whole world is not American.
You really need to travel. A man your age who’s never left his own continent? That’s pathetic.
Although American travellers are always the worst, so maybe you’re simply doing the rest of the world a favour by remaining in your own little bubble of ethnocentricity.
But I live in Australia, and am not a US citizen. I Did vote in our last election, and handed out fliers for a local candidate (he didn’t beat the incumbent who had a huge publicity budget, but we expected that).
Voters have earned the right to complain about politics, those who don’t vote haven’t got the right.
Geez Fenn give it a rest. The majority of the world has ever left wherever they live. And he’s writing a blog about his life, which happens to be in the U.S.
Im Canadian and even I understand that, but apparently you don’t.
It should be the law like in Australia where you HAVE to vote.
As a Canadian, I follow American politics and appreciate blogs talking about their elections. It lets me know if the world is going to still be in one piece at the end of the week or not. Too bad the democrats lost so many seats, it would have been interesting to see what Obama was going to do.
I’m 19 and I’ve lived in 4 different countries. When I was 18, straight out of high school, I packed my bags and moved to a foreign country for a year, a young girl all by myself.
The thing that struck me the most was the American tourists. Fat, lazy, uneducated and whiny – and they were the ones who bother to travel outside their own continent and try and get a bit of culture in them.
Let me put it this way – America needs to wake up and stop thinking they are the best country in the world. Crappy people, crappy services, crappy systems and crappy politics.
But the American public don’t realise it because they’re stuck in their bubble and they never get out. Hence the shitty tourists and the ethnocentricity.
Some people just don’t realise that there is a whole world outside of America.
I just got your book trhough amazon! Ahhh am about to spend the rest of my weekend reading your book with a cigarette in one hand and your book in the other.
Fenn: It seems that as you are accusing Americans of being ethnocentric you are proving yourself to be ethnocentric yourself. At the age of 21 I have traveled through 8 different countries, I am currently learning both Spanish and ancient Greek, I love traveling and experiencing other cutlures.
Sure, there are things about the American culture that could be bettered, but what the hell, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. In the U.S. we have such a wonderful mish mosh of cultures and languages that I have yet to see in any country I have been to.
Yes you are Fenn. Sheltered is a good description for you if you were in many countries before 18.
Ive been to 5 continents and some countries are horrible, some are the same and some are in some ways better and other ways not than the US. You need to get out more in the countries you see.
Waiter Rant is a captivating book. I thought it would be mostly ghastly acts of revenge against restaurant customers and the like, and it does have some of that. But it also includes philosophy, science, religion, autobiography, love and lust. The book is a respite from the interminable harangues of cable news and of the local newspaper. It is a pleasure to sit back and observe your view of the world. I would like to see the “thousand-mile stare.” I’m adding “Smoke” to my Netflix list. You were an angel to the hapless little 4 year-old who had to use the bathroom. You were painfully honest at the end of the book. It had to have been cathartic.
You have a broad and inclusive state of mind. It was a pleasure to be in your company. It was as comforting and reassuring and invigorating a book as your rock glass filled with vodka and ice. My next book will be Keep the Change. Keep them coming.
@fenn – doggone it, I lost weight before I went to Paris this summer, I was hoping you wouldn’t notice that I was still fat. I hope I wasn’t overly boorish, though. Well, back to the gym for me, I will be svelte the next time I leave the country, I promise.
Democrat and Republicans, Pepsi and Coke. Same shit different brand.
Vote or no vote. This country is bought and sold by interests groups and mega corporations.
Your vote means shit. Don’t delude yourself. You voted for Obama right? Obama was supposed to bring hope and change. What did he do? he brought Wall Street scumbags on board to bail out their buddies in banks and other criminal joints also know as Wall Street casinos. He was supposed to end the wars; he escalated them. And let’s not talk about his abysmal record in foreign policy. Nethanyahu, the certified Israeli thug, spat on his face not once but twice!
America is fucked to the core. A full blown corporatcracy. Time to come to grips with the reality, folks.
The restaurant that currently employs me found it necessary to cut back on my shifts, so I am taking advantage of the public library and started your book yesterday. When I strike gold I plan on spending 2/3 of my fortune on compact discs and hardcover books.
Ordered your latest through Amazon and am now in the process of reading. Have to say the opening scene of you with a lap dancer was a tiny bit off-putting. Even so, I am enjoying your history of tipping. Can’t wait to read the rest of it.
Waiter, you may be aware of this, but your blog was (and maybe still is) infected with a virus(es) that attack Windows machine. This Mac doesn’t seem to care, but my XP laptop at work went mad last week after I visited the site; malware, all icons not working, etc. The machine hadn’t been getting its OS patches for some time, but nevertheless.
Fenn, I’m with you. I’m an Aussie. I travel overseas a lot. I don’t get the American “I want flat water. I want it cold. Can you give me flat water? Is it cold? I have (blah..) intolerence. Can you serve me (?) to suit my intolerance? This was followed by many of the same kind of questions…..
Man oh man. I was in Europe and triple tipped the waiter to make up for my temporary American friend. (We stayed in the same place on business).
Hey, start another book on bad manners…..
Oh, I’ve ordered and paid for the book but there is a delay in supply. Can’t wait!!!
Hi Steve,
Just read both of your books. They were fabulous. I have waited tables part-time for the past 4 yrs. and recently started my own private blog for the same reason I think you started yours. It’s the best way to vent. Plus it keeps my writing chops in shape. And my body. (I’m the oldest in the restaurant.)(Don’t know about my mind!?!)
I’m at the stage where the job is fascinating–giving me the opportunity to study human behavior. Not working full-time helps. (I have other part-time jobs as well.) I actually enjoy many parts of this work and have also experienced the addictive quality you mentioned when one hits the jackpot.
One down, one to go!
If you do not vote, then you essentially voted for whoever gets in and bear some of the responsibility. Get out and vote!
Vote, or you future is decided by party zealots, single issue groups, and little old ladies who thought the candidate “seemed nice”
The good news is that we voted.
The bad news is that we voted to wait for Keep the Change to come out in paperback…
Just kidding. On my way to Barnes & Nobel right now.
Just came back from voting and my preordered copy was in today’s mail.
Sometimes you forget that the whole world is not American.
You really need to travel. A man your age who’s never left his own continent? That’s pathetic.
Although American travellers are always the worst, so maybe you’re simply doing the rest of the world a favour by remaining in your own little bubble of ethnocentricity.
Ditto that previous poster’s comment (from a few days ago) about spy/malware launching after opening your blog. 🙁
I’ll be back later…
I didn’t vote…
But I live in Australia, and am not a US citizen. I Did vote in our last election, and handed out fliers for a local candidate (he didn’t beat the incumbent who had a huge publicity budget, but we expected that).
Voters have earned the right to complain about politics, those who don’t vote haven’t got the right.
Did the both!! WhooHoo!
Voted early.
You might want to check this out. I’ve been getting this warning for the past several days every time I check your blog.
11/3/2010 7:47:54 AM Detected Virus HEUR:Trojan.Script.Iframer High Probably Web page http://waiterrant.net/wp-includes/Text/Diff/Engine/mootools1.2.php// mootools1.2 Firefox
Geez Fenn give it a rest. The majority of the world has ever left wherever they live. And he’s writing a blog about his life, which happens to be in the U.S.
Im Canadian and even I understand that, but apparently you don’t.
It should be the law like in Australia where you HAVE to vote.
Hmm that should have been never left their hometown
Done! In reverse order. =D Looking forward to seeing you in Pasadena, CA this Sunday!!
Just bought it on the iPad. Thanks Steve.
Fenn, you’re a spoiled, prejudice asshole.
Got my notification email, my copy shipped from amazon.co.uk today. Good luck with the vote from the other side of the pond!
As a Canadian, I follow American politics and appreciate blogs talking about their elections. It lets me know if the world is going to still be in one piece at the end of the week or not. Too bad the democrats lost so many seats, it would have been interesting to see what Obama was going to do.
Am I?
I’m 19 and I’ve lived in 4 different countries. When I was 18, straight out of high school, I packed my bags and moved to a foreign country for a year, a young girl all by myself.
The thing that struck me the most was the American tourists. Fat, lazy, uneducated and whiny – and they were the ones who bother to travel outside their own continent and try and get a bit of culture in them.
Let me put it this way – America needs to wake up and stop thinking they are the best country in the world. Crappy people, crappy services, crappy systems and crappy politics.
But the American public don’t realise it because they’re stuck in their bubble and they never get out. Hence the shitty tourists and the ethnocentricity.
Some people just don’t realise that there is a whole world outside of America.
Fenn, you’re seriously scaring sheltered Americans everywhere.
I just got your book trhough amazon! Ahhh am about to spend the rest of my weekend reading your book with a cigarette in one hand and your book in the other.
Do you want to be on a dating show? Please e-mail Needawingman@gmail.com and tell us why you think you’re single!
This is not spam. We just know that a lot of waiters are also actors in the making and this is a great opportunity!
Thanks!
Fenn: It seems that as you are accusing Americans of being ethnocentric you are proving yourself to be ethnocentric yourself. At the age of 21 I have traveled through 8 different countries, I am currently learning both Spanish and ancient Greek, I love traveling and experiencing other cutlures.
Sure, there are things about the American culture that could be bettered, but what the hell, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. In the U.S. we have such a wonderful mish mosh of cultures and languages that I have yet to see in any country I have been to.
Yes you are Fenn. Sheltered is a good description for you if you were in many countries before 18.
Ive been to 5 continents and some countries are horrible, some are the same and some are in some ways better and other ways not than the US. You need to get out more in the countries you see.
Waiter Rant is a captivating book. I thought it would be mostly ghastly acts of revenge against restaurant customers and the like, and it does have some of that. But it also includes philosophy, science, religion, autobiography, love and lust. The book is a respite from the interminable harangues of cable news and of the local newspaper. It is a pleasure to sit back and observe your view of the world. I would like to see the “thousand-mile stare.” I’m adding “Smoke” to my Netflix list. You were an angel to the hapless little 4 year-old who had to use the bathroom. You were painfully honest at the end of the book. It had to have been cathartic.
You have a broad and inclusive state of mind. It was a pleasure to be in your company. It was as comforting and reassuring and invigorating a book as your rock glass filled with vodka and ice. My next book will be Keep the Change. Keep them coming.
@fenn – doggone it, I lost weight before I went to Paris this summer, I was hoping you wouldn’t notice that I was still fat. I hope I wasn’t overly boorish, though. Well, back to the gym for me, I will be svelte the next time I leave the country, I promise.
I’ve had your book signing for today on my calendar for weeks… and I’m still stuck at work =( Hope you have a great time in California!
Waiter, do the WRITE thing. Pretty please.
Democrat and Republicans, Pepsi and Coke. Same shit different brand.
Vote or no vote. This country is bought and sold by interests groups and mega corporations.
Your vote means shit. Don’t delude yourself. You voted for Obama right? Obama was supposed to bring hope and change. What did he do? he brought Wall Street scumbags on board to bail out their buddies in banks and other criminal joints also know as Wall Street casinos. He was supposed to end the wars; he escalated them. And let’s not talk about his abysmal record in foreign policy. Nethanyahu, the certified Israeli thug, spat on his face not once but twice!
America is fucked to the core. A full blown corporatcracy. Time to come to grips with the reality, folks.
Is the book available in Philippines already?
On November 2, I voted, and on November 4 I received my preordered copy of your book.
The restaurant that currently employs me found it necessary to cut back on my shifts, so I am taking advantage of the public library and started your book yesterday. When I strike gold I plan on spending 2/3 of my fortune on compact discs and hardcover books.
I forgive you for not insisting that everyone bow down and worship me on my birthday (though plenty did, make no mistake).
Note to self: get KEEP THE CHANGE with Amazon birthday gift card.
~A~
Hey Waiter!
Ordered your latest through Amazon and am now in the process of reading. Have to say the opening scene of you with a lap dancer was a tiny bit off-putting. Even so, I am enjoying your history of tipping. Can’t wait to read the rest of it.
Wonderful writing and a wonderful read.
Waiter, you may be aware of this, but your blog was (and maybe still is) infected with a virus(es) that attack Windows machine. This Mac doesn’t seem to care, but my XP laptop at work went mad last week after I visited the site; malware, all icons not working, etc. The machine hadn’t been getting its OS patches for some time, but nevertheless.
Hey Waiter! You didn’t mention ANYTHING about tipping on a cruise ship in your book!!!
“Have to say the opening scene of you with a lap dancer was a tiny bit off-putting.”
Very odd book intro indeed…
Fenn, I’m with you. I’m an Aussie. I travel overseas a lot. I don’t get the American “I want flat water. I want it cold. Can you give me flat water? Is it cold? I have (blah..) intolerence. Can you serve me (?) to suit my intolerance? This was followed by many of the same kind of questions…..
Man oh man. I was in Europe and triple tipped the waiter to make up for my temporary American friend. (We stayed in the same place on business).
Hey, start another book on bad manners…..
Oh, I’ve ordered and paid for the book but there is a delay in supply. Can’t wait!!!
Finished the book this weekend, and promptly chastised my hubby for not tipping a bartender enough the next evening. LOL Great reading!!
I need a fix cause i’m goin down!
Hi Steve,
Just read both of your books. They were fabulous. I have waited tables part-time for the past 4 yrs. and recently started my own private blog for the same reason I think you started yours. It’s the best way to vent. Plus it keeps my writing chops in shape. And my body. (I’m the oldest in the restaurant.)(Don’t know about my mind!?!)
I’m at the stage where the job is fascinating–giving me the opportunity to study human behavior. Not working full-time helps. (I have other part-time jobs as well.) I actually enjoy many parts of this work and have also experienced the addictive quality you mentioned when one hits the jackpot.
We’ll see how I feel down the road…
Ace
P.S. I meant to ask you why you decided to reveal your name.
Ace
Uh, Steve? You’ve killed off Kirk Douglas. Page 148, you refer to him as the “late” Kirk Douglas. The boy’s still alive as of 12/11/10.
Forgot to tip you fact-checker? Otherwise, I’m beginning to become more and more guilt-ridden the further I read.
Waiter replies “Oops! Sorry Kirk!”