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Judi Lynn

(160,503 posts)
Fri Aug 19, 2016, 11:30 PM Aug 2016

Waitress stunned by cruel message diners left on receipt instead of giving a tip

Source: New York Times

Waitress stunned by cruel message diners left on receipt instead of giving a tip

BYWITW Staff
08.19.16



Eighteen-year-old waitress Sadie Elledge was working the lunch shift at Jess’ Lunch, in Harrisonburg, Virginia when a couple, in lieu of a tip, left a message on their receipt that said, “We only tip citizens.” Sadie, whose father was born in Honduras and mother in Mexico, is, in fact, a U.S. citizen who grew up in Harrisonburg. “I’ve had people make comments like ‘Go make me a burrito,’ but that’s at school and I don’t pay attention,” said Sadie, adding that the insult wasn’t that big a deal to her. But when her grandfather, John Elledge, heard of the incident through another one of his granddaughters, he decided he wasn’t going to stand for it.

John posted a picture of the receipt onto his Facebook page and the image swiftly went viral. The restaurant has since responded by scouring the surveillance video to determine who wrote the hateful note. The woman who allegedly signed the note met with police on Thursday, John said, claiming she signed the receipt but didn’t write the comment.

Sadie said that while she hadn’t been looking for the attention brought on by the incident, she hoped some good could come from it. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m Hispanic or American or whatever you want to call it,” she said. “I’m still a person and you should still treat me with respect.”

Read more: http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2016/08/19/waitress-stunned-by-cruel-message-diners-left-on-receipt-instead-of-giving-a-tip/

86 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Waitress stunned by cruel message diners left on receipt instead of giving a tip (Original Post) Judi Lynn Aug 2016 OP
Some people RelativelyJones Aug 2016 #1
I love her spunk and her attitude... she is truly way above them. secondwind Aug 2016 #2
yes she is Liberal_in_LA Aug 2016 #13
It is sad that she has had to put up with racism her life. She is so much better than them. rusty quoin Aug 2016 #14
The asshat who wrote the note SheriffBob Aug 2016 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author LongtimeAZDem Aug 2016 #4
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #5
Getting my popcorn ready.... 4lbs Aug 2016 #7
Bye Bye 7Inches Aug 2016 #8
Nobody broke any law. Why the fuck were the police involved? radiclib Aug 2016 #6
Post removed Post removed Aug 2016 #9
Hate crime. Libel (written slander). What else is that hateful woman doing? Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2016 #21
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #47
So the waitress lied? You know this how? PoutrageFatigue Aug 2016 #72
Who said she lied, and what difference does it make? radiclib Aug 2016 #74
Who here is denying anyone their first amendment rights? LanternWaste Aug 2016 #75
Why are the police involved in a speech issue? radiclib Aug 2016 #83
I'm sorry, which government agency was blocking your free speech rights? PoutrageFatigue Aug 2016 #78
IS THIS A ...... HATE CRIME. Discrimination ??? trueblue2007 Aug 2016 #10
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #11
No crime. Free speech.n/t jtuck004 Aug 2016 #12
Libel (written slander). This incident won't result in prosecution, but the bigot won't do it again. Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2016 #22
"The Couple" Is Just Upset Yallow Aug 2016 #15
Those customers should be outed mwrguy Aug 2016 #16
I give big credit to Sadie Elledge, Isabel Rosales, and the restaurant owners who supported her. NBachers Aug 2016 #17
And that would be poetic justice True Dough Aug 2016 #28
Amen! n/t paleotn Aug 2016 #30
yes sure i was aware of it. chemist11 Aug 2016 #18
Gary Myers says what? KMOD Aug 2016 #20
What do you find "so funny" about this? Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2016 #23
I think your red hat implies that is not true Person 2713 Aug 2016 #35
chemist11, crim son Aug 2016 #70
How many of these tip "messages" awoke_in_2003 Aug 2016 #19
It's the newest fashion. All the cool kids are doing it. randome Aug 2016 #25
I leave tip messages.... paleotn Aug 2016 #31
What? rockfordfile Aug 2016 #39
That's not what awoke in 2003 is saying. Sand Rat Expat Aug 2016 #43
Agreed. Sand Rat Expat Aug 2016 #42
Majority of these recept stories are bogus yeoman6987 Aug 2016 #51
What people will do awoke_in_2003 Aug 2016 #53
Very sad for sure yeoman6987 Aug 2016 #57
Says you. Any hard evidence? Kingofalldems Aug 2016 #55
Links? Red Mountain Aug 2016 #60
Don't expect any links. Kingofalldems Aug 2016 #63
One of the more noteworthy ones was Dayna Morales PersonNumber503602 Aug 2016 #67
That proves nothing. Kingofalldems Aug 2016 #68
You'll supply us with objective sources validating your allegation, yes? LanternWaste Aug 2016 #77
Here you go: Kingofalldems Aug 2016 #85
Exactly. I have not seen one instance where it was legitimate. alphafemale Aug 2016 #58
How many proven accurate? LanternWaste Aug 2016 #76
Besides... How do they know she is not a citizen?... Helen Borg Aug 2016 #24
Exactly! True Dough Aug 2016 #29
There are plenty of people who think all Latinos are "illegals" n/t TexasBushwhacker Aug 2016 #38
Ignorant & cowardly thieves. baldguy Aug 2016 #26
The jerks put it on the credit card Motley13 Aug 2016 #27
The surveillance tape video is linked to in the original story. You can see it here: NBachers Aug 2016 #45
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #49
Try watching it ismnotwasm Aug 2016 #52
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #54
It does provide us a watchlist here... just saying. fleabiscuit Aug 2016 #56
Thank you for locating the TV news reports showing both the just-turned-18 yr. old server, Judi Lynn Aug 2016 #66
Trump jpak Aug 2016 #32
Good luck on expecting these types to respect anyone outside their perceived own Person 2713 Aug 2016 #33
Stunned AngryAmish Aug 2016 #34
This is the vile racist shit behavior that the Republican Crazy Party has created. November! RBInMaine Aug 2016 #36
One thing leads mercuryblues Aug 2016 #37
The lack of a tip is just as suggestive in the other direction, though. Sand Rat Expat Aug 2016 #44
See the surveillance tape video here - scroll down to the second video. NBachers Aug 2016 #46
thanks mercuryblues Aug 2016 #48
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #50
I like leaving tips. Hugin Aug 2016 #40
Lotsa angry people out there Blandocyte Aug 2016 #41
I agree that bigots should be shamed, but I've learned to be skeptical of these sorts of claims. cab67 Aug 2016 #59
So what is the ratio..... Red Mountain Aug 2016 #61
I don't know. cab67 Aug 2016 #71
The next time those people come in management should kick them out... Odin2005 Aug 2016 #62
I am very skeptical of this story. n/t Old Union Guy Aug 2016 #64
Here it is. Old Union Guy Aug 2016 #69
Yeah, I'd agree it's fake. NT Sand Rat Expat Aug 2016 #73
Hmmm GummyBearz Aug 2016 #79
It's a pretty obvious fake. The customer has already denied writing it. Taitertots Aug 2016 #80
Try reading the followup articles. The couple's on videotape mainer Aug 2016 #81
Here's a facebook page of someone who appears related to the waitress, and he is talking about it PersonNumber503602 Aug 2016 #84
I'm usually really skeptical of these things, because so many have turned out to be frauds PersonNumber503602 Aug 2016 #65
Snipes says caught on videotape mainer Aug 2016 #82
These people can sympathize zz-la Aug 2016 #86

RelativelyJones

(898 posts)
1. Some people
Fri Aug 19, 2016, 11:35 PM
Aug 2016

Will take any opportunity to act like monsters. Especially if they can do it anonymously. Funny how these two cowards didn't stick around to say it to her face.

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

radiclib

(1,811 posts)
6. Nobody broke any law. Why the fuck were the police involved?
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 12:08 AM
Aug 2016

I can't understand why people make this shit up.

Response to radiclib (Reply #6)

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,986 posts)
21. Hate crime. Libel (written slander). What else is that hateful woman doing?
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 04:20 AM
Aug 2016

It won't go anywhere, but now that bigot is on notice.

She won't try that stunt again.

It was a good move to involve the police.

Response to Bernardo de La Paz (Reply #21)

radiclib

(1,811 posts)
74. Who said she lied, and what difference does it make?
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 04:00 PM
Aug 2016

We still have first amendment rights in this country, but apparently that doesn't matter to some of you.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
75. Who here is denying anyone their first amendment rights?
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 10:17 AM
Aug 2016

"We still have first amendment rights in this country, but apparently that doesn't matter to some of you..."

Who here is denying anyone their first amendment rights, regardless of who you pretend is making things up...?

Response to trueblue2007 (Reply #10)

 

Yallow

(1,926 posts)
15. "The Couple" Is Just Upset
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 01:15 AM
Aug 2016

Because they feel like they are losing all their privilege.

We can understand that right?

America is a big country.

We have room for nice, people, and not so nice ones.

Someday, those "customers" will get theirs.

NBachers

(17,096 posts)
17. I give big credit to Sadie Elledge, Isabel Rosales, and the restaurant owners who supported her.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 01:18 AM
Aug 2016

My heart just sings at the way these women handled this incident. This is how change happens on the ground.

I hope Sadie is flooded with tips, and well-wishers crowd the restaurant and bring it great business. Crabby Appleton can go suck lemons.

True Dough

(17,295 posts)
28. And that would be poetic justice
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 07:57 AM
Aug 2016

if that waitress were to receive an outpouring of support, including lots of tip money from other customers to more than make up for the bigoted people mentioned in the article.

chemist11

(2 posts)
18. yes sure i was aware of it.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 01:25 AM
Aug 2016

yes that is so funny i have seen thing like this so good but nothing will change the fact that we are the greatest.

crim son

(27,464 posts)
70. chemist11,
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 12:47 AM
Aug 2016

I can't understand what you posted. "...i have seen thing like this..."? And what do you mean by "the greatest"? The greatest servers? The greatest gyros? Finally, what exactly were you aware of? I'm sure you have a point to make but your post is incomprehensible.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
25. It's the newest fashion. All the cool kids are doing it.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 07:13 AM
Aug 2016

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

paleotn

(17,901 posts)
31. I leave tip messages....
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 08:28 AM
Aug 2016

occasionally a "Fantastic job! Thank you!" or "Thank you so much!" We left a few pro Bernie messages during the Primary. Absolutely never a negative message. Their job is hard enough without bullshit from the peanut gallery. However, there are racists and other assorted nutjobs out there that will write something mean and spiteful. Maybe not all those publicized are real, but they do occur.

rockfordfile

(8,700 posts)
39. What?
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 09:46 AM
Aug 2016

I have heard a number instances like this. Racist un-American republicans saying stupid crap like that to people. Could be in a store and hear something from some right wing idiot. I just look at them and shake my head.

Sand Rat Expat

(290 posts)
43. That's not what awoke in 2003 is saying.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 10:20 AM
Aug 2016

He or she is saying that there have been other incidents like this one in which it later became known that the employee fabricated the nasty message on the receipt, and the customer never wrote any such thing. I don't accept what this young lady says as 100% gospel truth until it's proven. When an accusation is made against another party, the accused party should get the benefit of the doubt until wrongdoing is proven.

If and when it is proven, then this couple deserves to be heckled and scorned in the court of public opinion, because that's what racists and bigots deserve. Until then, I'm reserving judgment. If there's some graph analysis done and it's proven the handwriting matches one of the couple's handwriting, then that's conclusive. Just accusing them is not at all conclusive.

Sand Rat Expat

(290 posts)
42. Agreed.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 10:13 AM
Aug 2016

Withholding judgment until and if new facts come to light. Why people accept the waitress's account as absolute truth mystifies me, especially when former instances like this have been shown to be false. People can and do make things up from whole cloth all the time.

Compare a sample of the couple's writing against the receipt, especially a sample obtained before the date of the receipt. If it matches, then they deserve all the public scorn we can heap on them. If it doesn't, then this young lady needs to receive that full measure of scorn for fabricating the story.

Red Mountain

(1,729 posts)
60. Links?
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 05:49 PM
Aug 2016

It would be VERY educational for us regular folks to be able to refer to a source that does a good job of dissecting these sorts of claims.

WE KNOW there is no discrimination in these US of A.

why these agitators have to keep stirring the pot..........well.....they must have an agenda.

PersonNumber503602

(1,134 posts)
67. One of the more noteworthy ones was Dayna Morales
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 07:03 PM
Aug 2016

There was also the "get a real job" receipt note. The other one I can recall is the red lobster one. Here are a few links to those.

That being said, there have been others that didn't seem "funny" and seemed legit. I have less skeptcism for this current one than I usually do.

http://wkrn.com/2013/10/15/red-lobster-customer-to-file-lawsuit-after-receipt-posted-online/
http://abcnews.go.com/US/waitress-anti-gay-tipping-scandal-longer-restaurant/story?id=21140626
https://www.yahoo.com/news/blogs/trending-now/banker-1-tip-hoax-real-receipt-obtained-195827093.html

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
77. You'll supply us with objective sources validating your allegation, yes?
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 10:20 AM
Aug 2016

You'll supply us with objective sources validating your allegation, yes?

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
76. How many proven accurate?
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 10:19 AM
Aug 2016

How many proven accurate? Lack of objective source material in your narrative...


"Facebook activism..." Often met with the equally trendy and fashionable Facebook cynicism. (six of one, half a dozen of the other, and each as substantive as the other)

Motley13

(3,867 posts)
27. The jerks put it on the credit card
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 07:50 AM
Aug 2016

I'm sure we will be seeing them interviewed soon, after they get the surveillance tape pictures.

Response to NBachers (Reply #45)

Response to ismnotwasm (Reply #52)

Judi Lynn

(160,503 posts)
66. Thank you for locating the TV news reports showing both the just-turned-18 yr. old server,
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 07:02 PM
Aug 2016

and the racist, cheap skate customers.

I think that has more credibility than an auditorium full of people showing up to claim she made it all up!

Really appreciate your kind effort.

mercuryblues

(14,526 posts)
37. One thing leads
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 09:29 AM
Aug 2016

me to believe that this is most likely true. The receipt shown has no tip included. The security video will either support her story or not. I am guessing that because the lady was banned from the restaurant it supported the waitress.

Sand Rat Expat

(290 posts)
44. The lack of a tip is just as suggestive in the other direction, though.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 10:24 AM
Aug 2016

A bigot wouldn't leave a tip for a Latina server, true. But if a client didn't leave a tip, an irked server might very well make the accusation to get back at the client. It's not as if it's never happened before.

I'm reserving judgment until more facts come to light. At present one party has accused the other, and the accused party has denied wrongdoing. Until something more substantive in one way or another comes into play, it's he said/she said, and I give the accused the benefit of the doubt in cases where there is no evidence to prove wrongdoing.

Examine the surveillance video and, if possible, compare the handwriting on the receipt to samples of the couple's handwriting. Either one would go a great distance towards determining the truth, and if indeed the customer did write that message, they deserve every moment of being pilloried in the court of public opinion.

Response to mercuryblues (Reply #48)

Hugin

(33,104 posts)
40. I like leaving tips.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 09:47 AM
Aug 2016

As, IRL I'm not a very demonstrative person, it gives me an opportunity to say how much I appreciate what someone has done for me.

To me, it's all about the here-and-now of the current transaction with that individual or individuals.

I suppose I've been lucky in life. I could probably count the instances of truly bad service (due directly to things under the server's control) I've experienced on one hand and in most of those, I've left a tip anyway. It's my way of passing it forward. Hey, maybe the person is having a horrible day. It could be they just dealt with an a$$ described in these tip articles.





Blandocyte

(1,231 posts)
41. Lotsa angry people out there
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 10:07 AM
Aug 2016

brimming with anger till it spills out over the sides onto even the innocent.

cab67

(2,992 posts)
59. I agree that bigots should be shamed, but I've learned to be skeptical of these sorts of claims.
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 04:12 PM
Aug 2016

There have been too many cases where the bigoted message - racist, homophobic, whatever - later proved to be a hoax.

There really isn't a preferred scenario here. If the note is genuine, it highlights the racist douchabaggery that exists in our society. Bringing it to light is a good thing (I suppose), but its existence is ugly.

If the note is fake, that means someone is being dishonest. That's ugly, too.


Odin2005

(53,521 posts)
62. The next time those people come in management should kick them out...
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 05:57 PM
Aug 2016

...saying "we don't serve assholes who insult out staff".

 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
79. Hmmm
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 12:05 PM
Aug 2016

I agree the hand writing looks different. One is fluid the other very rigid. The ink actually looks the same to me but that would make sense as the pen provided to sign would be right there with the check. I'm not an expert though. The waitress got stiffed, maybe she was a bad waitress?

 

Taitertots

(7,745 posts)
80. It's a pretty obvious fake. The customer has already denied writing it.
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 01:18 PM
Aug 2016

That is not going to stop the 5 minutes hate against the newest perceived enemy.

mainer

(12,022 posts)
81. Try reading the followup articles. The couple's on videotape
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 01:35 PM
Aug 2016

Apparently the female patron signed the credit card slip, then he wrote in the "We Only Tip Citizens."

PersonNumber503602

(1,134 posts)
84. Here's a facebook page of someone who appears related to the waitress, and he is talking about it
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 08:28 PM
Aug 2016

It sounds like the lady in signed that was facebook friends with the mom of the waitress. They seem to be running with the idea that the guy she was with was the one who wrote it...

https://www.facebook.com/johnelledge3/posts/10154513861954575?pnref=story

PersonNumber503602

(1,134 posts)
65. I'm usually really skeptical of these things, because so many have turned out to be frauds
Sat Aug 20, 2016, 06:54 PM
Aug 2016

in recent years. However, I have far less skepticism for this than usual because of what's going on in this country right now. There are way too many ignorant and hateful people who have been emboldened this last year.

That being said, I still remain open to seeing how it plays out.

zz-la

(224 posts)
86. These people can sympathize
Mon Aug 22, 2016, 09:08 PM
Aug 2016


In all seriousness, this couple is everything that is wrong with this country, that and I doubt they actually tip. These people are same kind of idiots who constantly complain about how expensive the tickets at the movie theater are, but do so in a loud obnoxious manner. It's not like it's the first time they discovered movie tickets are expensive, they just like to yell at the employee making minimum wage and make them feel like shit. Sadly these people seem to live forever, and the good die young.
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