History Main / NiceToTheWaiter

A MeanBoss is a specific version to this trope where the character abuses direct employees. The ObnoxiousEntitledHousewife is also defined in part by her needless cruelty towards service workers. See SympatheticSlaveOwner for an even more exaggerated version of someone who is unexpectedly kind to his social inferiors as a telling character trait. Contrast with the ProfessionalButtKisser, who shows kindness to his ''superiors'' in hopes of reward. Also contrast HaughtyHelp, for when the waiter isn't nice to ''you''. Someone who is not nice to the waiter may perform a BrattyFoodDemand. See also InterclassFriendship.

** This is lampshaded in the ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' series by Creator/SandyMitchell. Cain is an extremely self-centered survivalist who is nonetheless always kind to his subordinates. He wryly notes that commissars who operate by the book have a tendency to die heroically for the Emperor even when the enemy is suspiciously far away. However, he is genuinely fond of his aide, Jurgen. The man might have the hygiene of an ogryn and the sense of humor of a particularly stupid rock, but he is steadfastedly loyal to Caine, and has saved Caine's life more than anyone can count. At one point, one of Caine's female conquests (who happens to be a noble) talks down to Jurgen and treats him like a slave. Caine is quick to correct her attitude, defending his aide as he would any other friend.

A MeanBoss is a specific version to this trope where the character abuses direct employees. The ObnoxiousEntitledHouswife is also defined in part by her needless cruelty towards service workers. See SympatheticSlaveOwner for an even more exaggerated version of someone who is unexpectedly kind to his social inferiors as a telling character trait. Contrast with the ProfessionalButtKisser, who shows kindness to his ''superiors'' in hopes of reward. Also contrast HaughtyHelp, for when the waiter isn't nice to ''you''. Someone who is not nice to the waiter may perform a BrattyFoodDemand. See also InterclassFriendship.

A MeanBoss is a specific version to this trope where the character abuses direct employees. See SympatheticSlaveOwner for an even more exaggerated version of someone who is unexpectedly kind to his social inferiors as a telling character trait. Contrast with the ProfessionalButtKisser, who shows kindness to his ''superiors'' in hopes of reward. Also contrast HaughtyHelp, for when the waiter isn't nice to ''you''. Someone who is not nice to the waiter may perform a BrattyFoodDemand. See also InterclassFriendship.

* ''{{Series/CSI}}'': RecurringExtra Drops bought his Nanny and her daughter each separate apartments, the former for raising him and his sister, and the latter was his girlfriend. [[BoxedCrook When the cops release him]] to find out the nanny's killer, Drops meets his NumberTwo who runs his nightclub, he's very friendly, and even gets the guy to smuggle him a device to jam the GPS (that the police use to keep tabs on him) on his ankle. When he get's arrested for murder, his lawyer proves the crime was self-defense (it was), and he remarks that he thought he was paying him too much and says he's alright.

** Subverted also with Mr. Trick. When the drive-thru guy hands Trick his milkshake and says to have a nice night, his response is a genuine smile and "Right back at you." A minute later, though, he unexpectedly gets hungry (for blood), yanks the poor sod out the window, and makes a meal of him.

*** Another Cap one, from the beginning of the ''Civil War'' arc: Cap breaks out of SHIELD's helicarrier by commandeering a jet fighter (including pilot) through the simple expedient of clinging on to the cockpit. Being Cap, he orders the pilot to set down in a not-in-use football stadium and takes them out for a burger, after admonishing one for taking the Lord's name in vain.

* ''ComicBook/IronMan'': Tony Stark has usually been written as a near-perfect boss who inspires tremendous personal loyalty. When [[TheChessmaster Obadiah Stane]] stole Stark's company out from under him, most of his employees lined up and quit. (Stark had once used a similar threat to thwart Comicbook/NickFury's hostile takeover.)
** This one goes back and forth DependingOnTheWriter, the era, and whether Tony is in one of his periodic Jerkass phases.
*** When Tony blows his top and yells at an employee, he usually has a very good reason. Tony once regretted berating the head of his legal department and resolved to apologize, but that was because the guy was doing such a crappy job as the head of Stark Enterprises' legal team. He was fired a couple of issues later after Tony became fed up with his incompetence.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2300/fc02215.htm Florence explains the practicalities of it to Edge.]]
-->'''Edge''': ''A brilliant mind like mine, and I have to rely on a dumb dog for brain surgery''.\\

* In ''Webcomic/NoRestForTheWicked'' [[http://www.forthewicked.net/archive/01-05.html despite her own problems, November knows that the moon's disappearance has been hardest on the poor, because it kept creatures of darkness at bay.]]

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': One reason for having medical labs all about Heterodyne Castle is so the body doesn't have to be lugged far.
-->'''Moloch:''' ''I'' think it shows a bit of respect for the working man.

** In the [[TheFilmOfTheBook Novel of the Comic]] Gil also treats Wooster, his valet/assistant, less formally than he should, such as giving him a cup of tea instead of expecting him to serve and stand back. He also shows genuine affection for Zoing, a construct servant. Gil in general treats subordinates better than one would expect the son of the dictator of Europe would.

"What I mean is," said Mrs. Riversedge, "that when I get maids with unsuitable names [[AccidentalMisnaming I call them Jane]]; they soon get used to it."\\

** Nico also shows the dead more care than most would--when he's calling up ghosts under the tutelage of King Minos, he uses a McDonald's Happy Meal and a Coke as an offering to make them strong enough to manifest. Minos complains that it's unnecessary, any sort of food and drink, or even animal blood, will do, but Nico answers that if he's going to do it, he's going to offer something that, in intent, is kind and comforting.

* In ''Literature/TheRiseOfKyoshi,'' one sign that Fire Lord Zoryu is a nice guy is that he still speaks fondly on Yun despite knowing that he wasn't really the Avatar. One sign that his half-brother Chaejin is a jerk is that, when recounting the people killed in [[spoiler:Yun]]'s attack, he lists the VIPs but not the two guards.

** Young Vetinari is nice to the Assassins' Guild porter in ''Literature/{{Night Watch|Discworld}}'', although apparently mostly for cynical reasons: being friendly with the porter gives him opportunities to snoop. It seems to be a bit of a strategy of his to get on good terms with the sort of people others don't respect, as when most of the guilds decide they've got an ax to grind with him the Beggars, Seamstresses, and so on are still on his side. This is contrasted against his predecessor, Homicidal Lord Snapcase, who's gotten all the revolutionary elements on his side because he asks regular folk what they do. In private, Snapcase turns out to be a total arse.

*** It's shown that the dwarves have a FantasticCasteSystem, and two opponents fight to become the next king. TheEvilPrince Bhelen, who poisoned his father (the last king), killed his eldest brother, made the middle sibling into the fall guy, and wants to be king simply because he wants to rule, is for expanding rights for the lower castes and casteless and supports economic reforms for expanding surface trade rights for the merchants. He even marries a casteless woman for love. His opponent, ReasonableAuthorityFigure Harrowmont, was the former king's best friend who is running to honour his LastRequest, and fought to maintain the innocence of the Dwarf Noble if you picked that origin. He is also a traditionalist who supports the current caste system, favours the nobles and soldier castes, and dislikes caste-less.

* ''Literature/AncillaryMercy'' and the following two books of the trilogy have this trope in spades. Justice of Toren knows what it is like to be treated like a thing instead of a person (strictly speaking, she ''is'' a spaceship AI and thus not a person), and treats everyone with respect even though she manages to pass as wealthy (human) foreigner.

** At first, Dick doesn't tip just because he doesn't know he's supposed to. But even after being informed (NO WONDER MY COFFEE ALWAYS TASTES LIKE SPIT!), he still doesn't seem to catch on, setting ludicrous standards for giving tips (Starting with a sum and adding and deducting money for a wide range of circumstances that are often unrelated to the waitress's service). He just doesn't understand why he needs to pay them extra when they already have a salary, and sees no reason why a number of services have now had an arbitrary 15% price jump.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]