- On Tip Out and Questionable Service:
When you stiff a waitress remember tip out, we get paid $2.13 an hour and all of that gets to go to taxes so my checks are 0. 3-5% of our tips go to our bartenders and possibly bus boys and drink runners and hostesses depending on where you're dining at. If you stiff us we still have to pay the that percentage on tip out, so it just came out of our pocket to have you eat here. That is not to say you are obligated to always tip 15-20%. Tip appropriately to the service within reason, I know, some waiters are literally God awful, but try to always tip 5% if possible. - College girls/Women in their 20's:
I can say this freely because I am one. Y’all suck at tipping. Like really. I had a group of 6 college girls come in each with about $30 bills and I got 6 dollars total. It’s unacceptable. I’ve been with my friends and seen them tip very poorly. Listen I get it, we’re poor. But your waiter is just trying to pay bills. You can do better. - Round of waters:
Along with drinks? During rush? No please. Half of your party won’t touch them. My mother used to do this. We’re working on it. - Less than spectacular food:
I really don’t know what to do when you tell me you think the food tastes bad unless you’re asking for something different. If you comment that it's bad but don’t want anything else or for me to do anything it just creates an awkward situation. Remember your waiter has nothing to do with how your food taste, don’t jip them because you didn’t enjoy your food. - Don’t drink it if you don’t want it:
If you drink all of your drink and don’t like it or didn’t order it, no you don’t get it for free. - Tip/Time Spent:
If you and a friend only order one drink but are planning to catch up, tip at least 20% (Whenever I say this, it is assuming your service is good) your bill is probably $20, 10 each if you split it, so that's $4, if you tip 20% the waiter gets a good amount for taking care of you for a couple hours when new people could’ve sat there. Take that into consideration. - Drinking with a Guardian:
Yes, in the state of Texas it is technically allowed for a minor to drink with their parents, but it is up to the establishments discretion and most places will not allow it because the rules are complicated. Underage drinking at a bar can result in the bar no longer being able to serve alcohol, their main source of revenue. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but to most places it’s not worth the risk. - Cat Calls:
Before you speak, would you like some one to say what you’re thinking about to your mother/sister/daughter? No? Good. Then don’t say it. You aren’t as quiet as you think you are. - Mistakes:
I have yet to make a mistake that can’t be fixed. Speak up, and let me fix it. Don't bring it up and then not let me try to remedy the situation. - Hitting on Your Waiter
It’s literally our jobs to be sweet to you, I work at a bar and if you are sincerely interested in seeing a waiter or waitress outside of work there are some things you need to know. "No" means "no". I had a guy ask for my phone number, Facebook, email, and web address (seriously?) I’ve had multiple guys tip me 10% or below and then ask for my number. I’ve had a few sheepishly say they were short on money at the moment. If you really want a girl's number, you don’t drink that last drink and you tip her properly because the chances of a girl texting you after being under-tipped are very low. - On Personal Space and Patience:
It is generally inappropriate and stressful to come up to your waitress' station to ask for something. Given there are times where it is totally necessary and acceptable. (One example, you want to pay for the food of your table). But I have had people come up to my station while I am in the middle of preparing the other patrons' drinks at the table or party, because they want to order their drink but came after their friends. Another example is the person who comes up immediately or within a few minutes of me visiting their table needing something when they just said they were fine. It doesn't look good to the higher-ups to see patrons coming to the waiting station to ask for something and making me take care of you in that instant means my service to the other tables will be slower. - On Server Errors and Respect:
I am your server, not your servant, please remember everyone has off days. I will never admit to being perfect but everyone always deserves to be treated with respect. - Changing seats:
If you have a tab at the bar, but then sit at the waitress section you must continue to go through the bar, unless you have one drink we most likely won't transfer because then the bar doesn't get paid for taking care of you. You are always welcome to tab out and start a new tab, by sitting at a table and going through the bar a waiter is losing money because you sit at a table that he/she could be waiting on. - Asking to Take Something Back:
I do not know any one who would actually spit in anyone's food but I do know it’s happened. It is all about how you ask. It’s not complicated. Be nice. We are bombarded with rude customers every single day. A smile can go further than you think. Be nice to your waiter or the manager and you just might find something that normally costs extra to be excluded from your ticket. - Pivot Point System:
I’ll spare the details but when servers take orders you are assigned a number, if you switch seats, go from sitting to standing or vice versa it gets really confusing, really fast. It raises the possibility of me handing out drinks and food to the wrong people. - "Excuse me, Waiter?”
It's really confusing when you have a waiter but try to order off of another waiter, we don't all have access to each other's tables on the computer. Also, if you ask another waiter to do something for you (especially when it's busy) it's stressful because they have their own tables to attend to but of course won't turn you down. - The Importance of Group Ordering:
Whenever a server comes to your table, make sure every one asks for what they need, it's exhausting and inefficient to run back and forth to your table because someone needs something from your table. If you are talking while your waiter is visiting your table and don't say what you want until after the waiter comes back, remember the person sitting beside you will be there for the entire duration of your meal, unlike your waiter. I will wait for you to notice me only during initial orders like drinks and food.
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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