Americans across the country reported a growing sense of unease this week upon realizing they had spent the past two years tipping twenty percent to a self-service screen that swivels toward them after they order a bottle of water.
The screen, which does not take the order, prepare the order, or acknowledge the order, presents three suggested tip amounts starting at twenty percent, followed by a small gray button labeled No Tip that is designed to make you feel like the villain in a film about greed.
Industry analysts explained that the tip prompt had quietly migrated from full-service restaurants to coffee counters, then to vending machines, and was expected to appear soon on the machine that takes your blood pressure at the pharmacy, which will also judge you.