It's not universal, you'll hear a lot of arguments about it, everyone has different ideas. When I was growing up I was taught 10% was standard for restaurants.

It's not universal, you'll hear a lot of arguments about it, everyone has different ideas. When I was growing up I was taught 10% was standard for restaurants. I don't know if its because my parents were cheap (probably not) or that poor people have a different idea about what's reasonable. Then when I got older I heard 15%. Now that I'm working a very well paid job people say 20% is "standard." Now in the last year I have been hearing rumbling that 20% is stingy and outdated. I am started to feel very extorted by this so I've reduced my tips in response and reduced my frequency of going to establishments that guilt me into leaving tips. (Usually if the food is over priced I don't bother with percentages.)