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> I've always thought it was due to tipping

I've been bothered far more by wait staff in Australia than I ever have in the US. Must be down to the location and the restaurant.

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It's also interesting to think about it when you say bothered.

I'm super american, born and raised and now living in the western Midwest. When the wait staff talk to me, I'm genuinely interested in hearing about them. I like meeting new people, even if those people are being paid to meet me. I legitimately enjoy learning about the lives of the people I meet, even briefly.

Is that an American thing? Is that a bad thing?

I don't think it's a bad thing, but it is most strongly a Midwestern and Southeastern thing, and I'm from the South. Boston might give a different answer.

I'm also Australian I experienced an overly attentive waiter recently when I was eating at a steakhouse with a few friends. It felt like every 5 minutes they would come up to the table interrupt the conversation to ask something like "How are you enjoying the meal? Can I get you anything?" It was a little bit jarring because of how frequently it occurred. I don't mind once or twice but the frequency in this case seemed excessive.

Possibly it was because it wasn't very crowded and the junior waiter was trying to look busy in front of their supervisor.

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