[manicdee]

I live in Australia where tipping is either frowned upon or reserved for exemplary service.

Perhaps your idea of “good service” is coloured by your own culture. For example in the USA it is rude to summon a waiter while everywhere else it is rude for the waiter to intrude.

There are also different signals such as ROTW putting cutlery together to signify “I am finished” and crossed to signify “still eating”, or whether to place your napkin yourself or have the waiter help you. Then there are different habits such as paying staff a proper wage and not relying on a hangover from slavery to support waitstaff.

[chrismcb]

You are the second comment that claims it is due in America to soon a waiter... As an American that is complete news to me, and I would think many other Americans would be shocked to discover it is rude. How else are you supposed to get something?