Tipping

[TMHeimer]

I think it's simple. If your occupation requires tipping, you are not a professional.

I would like to think a Scuba instructor is a professional and tipping would seem condescending. Do you tip the architect designing your house or your accountant doing your taxes?

There was a thread a while back in which "professional" was discussed, including various opinions on it's definition. Some said you are one if you are paid. Others referred only to it as a way of acting on the job ("He is very professional in his approach"). Still others referred to occupations, including salaries-- such as-- we all pretty much consider doctor, lawyer as professions. Teachers are referred to as professionals (the profession, not the "job" of teaching), at much lower salaries. A McDonalds employee also gets paid (even much less), so is that just a job?, is the manager a professional? So, where do scuba instructors, DMs fit in to all this--salary or otherwise? As a DM I made about minimum wage, same as the McDonalds guy, yet I was a "PADI Pro".