It is interesting that what you cite is exactly what is cited on a marriage advice website run by someone that I have professional respect for. He suggests—which I think is excellent advice—that when dating someone who may be a marriage prospect, one not go to events where the two people merely stare ahead in silence, like a concert or movie, but go to places where there is a lot of interaction and then watch how the date handles just what you referred to—the "service" people, and others. This will show what kind of a person he/she is underneath, not just the charm he/she shows to impress a date, and will predict future behavior.

My daughter was a waitress in college.  She over tips as I do.  I am so happy I did not have to do that job.  As a moonlighting high school teacher working at Macy’s in NJ, I was treated like a dope.  I have a Masters degree and taught Business at a Community College also.  However, the women buying jewelry thought I was beneath them.  Funny.

I tip according to the action.  People who serve us in anyway; if they smile and speak to me get a big tip.  If they are sullen and lack a dazzical at there work not so much. 

Yep. And by that I take you to mean "in general." I was a good and efficient worker at McDonald’s during college; and I was often stunned at the number of other "regular folks" who’d waltz in with a Royalty Complex and God (or they?) help you if an unwanted pickle was on their hamburger!

If a person is doing a good job, if it’s honest work, and another person (rich or poor doesn’t matter) treats them like dirt? *They* are the scum.

Another personality indicator for me is how one treats their pets/animals. Of course I’d report negligence or abuse; but I also steer clear of people who treat animals better than fellow humans.

Or perhaps Abraham Lincoln said it best: If you want to test a person’s character, give them power.

People need to treat others as they wish to be treated. The service industry is very difficult because of the type of people they have to put up with on a daily basis. People tend to forget that regardless of their social status, they should treat all people with respect and dignity.

Amen Liz.  Amen.  Its how people treat those ‘who you aren’t supposed to notice’ that you need to notice to see what type of humanity they possess.

Honest.  I work in customer service relations…basically dealing with making customers ‘happy.’  It has taught me more about human nature than any college course ever could.

Want to know alot of subtlies about a man you are dating?  See how he speaks to the waitress/person at the box office/conceirge/etc.  Not how they wine and dine you!

I agree, if you are taught respect in your childhood it shows. I like to watch people when they don’t know I watching.  I think its more important to treat others with respect  when no one is around. That’s character and truth.

How you speak to someone is only one part of respect.  I find that how they (male and female) talk about others behind their backs is even more important.  I stopped going into the Teachers Lounge for breaks after about ten years because of the horrible things I heard the other teacher’s saying about their students and the parents of those students.  They also did the same with their co-workers behind their backs.  I decided that I didn’t want to hear it anymore.  I knew who was worthy of my time and those were my friends.   

i’m a really tough customer. i expect great customer service and really get pissed off when i don’t get it. but i also gave great customer service when i worked in those jobs. in fact my resume said "excellent customer service". i used to just stop giving my money to places with bad customer service. now i do more than that, i take it to a manager or the head of the company if i have access to them. because i believe that how you treat ppl, reflects on your company and yourself. i expect great customer service because i ALWAYS gave it.

i worked for a bus company for 6yrs. i got compliments left and right, because unlike some of my other coworkers i didn’t take everything personal. if a person calls with a complaint about a bus driver, a fellow call center worker (i worked in the call center giving out bus and train schedules, taking complaints and routing ppl all over the san francisco bay area) or called in a threat i would handle it with calm sincerity.

they weren’t mad at me personally. they were mad at the bus driver, the train conductor, the call center worker that ignored their feelings, etc. i took the time to let them get it out of their system and soon they were apologizing to me for yelling. but i also saw that they had reason to yell, because NOBODY wanted to listen to their problem. maybe i couldn’t do anything about it. but i could at least listen to find out.

most of the time they would hang up without making the complaint becuase they just needed to let off steam or they still complained but they felt better about having to call and yell at somebody. so when somebody says, "they don’t pay me to listen to this BS!" i say, but they do! i think of it this way, we were paid pretty good for what we did and my job description said and duties as required. so i just figured that was a duty required and it made me feel good to make somebody feel a little better at the end of a hard day!