endoself comments on Should Rationalists Tip at Restaurants? - Less Wrong
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Comments (29)
It might also motivate you to be extra careful to use the money well so you can justify your actions.
Most waiters aren't TDT agents. TDT's prisoner's dilemma algorithm is to cooperate if and only if your opponent will cooperate if and only if you cooperate.
Agreed.
I don't think the TDT argument is a very strong one, but it is slightly stronger than you seem to think.
By tipping you're not only cooperating with the waiter (who provided good or bad service before the tip was revealed) but also with past and future customers (the tipping practices of past customers may influence the quality of waiter you get and the quality of service they provide, and your tipping practice affects the outcomes experienced by future customers).
I don't think most customers are TDT agents either.
Agreed, that's why the argument is weak.