Some things in bars are universal. No matter where you go in the world you will come across certain similarities that remind you of another bar you visited in the past. It could be the cool signs on the wall, or the written words in the bathroom, or the indifference of the bartender. There is one trait that is very particular to the southern United States that makes absolutely no damn sense: bartenders don't like it when you wave money at them when you trying to order a drink. They find it rude, and they will call you out on it and they may just ignore you until you stop doing it.
Some people agree with the bartenders on this issue, but in a crowded bar it sometimes seems like the only alternative. If you think waving money to order drinks is a sign of disrespect and the people who do it are assholes, here are a few reasons why YOU might be just as much as an asshole:
1 - A young person may not know what the preferred form is when ordering since they only recently became of age to drink in a public establishment. Polite instruction, instead of a loud, obnoxious, public reaming could be the preferred method of education if the bartender felt so inclined as to show the same level of politeness that they are demanding from a customer. Good luck with that one.
2 - Most older people that wave money just don't that what the big deal is. They are from an area of the world, outside of precious Dixie, where THAT is the way you order a drink. Otherwise, you could just be another idiot taking up space at the bar waiting for someone to rub up against you so you can get your jollies. Next time you leave the Bible Belt you may want to pay attention to that particular non-verbal communication that happens between people who want to get drunk and people who serve drinks effectively. This is not Coyote Ugly and the person serving drinks is definitely not Piper Perabo, so they need to get over themselves.
3 - Let's face it, some bartenders enjoy the powerful feeling of knocking customers down to size. They may feel that they are in a powerless situation, that they are on their feet all night, and that they are entitled to respect at all times...from drunk people. Some bartenders are just too damn slow to be working in a busy bar. The clash between these two has been going on since wine was served in clay vessels in Ur, Sumer around 900 BC.
4 - What was the reason that bartenders signed up for the job, anyway? If the answer is money, why risk losing a customer or a good tip by being offended by such a small slight? Once again, get over it, or get a job stripping for money where people who want lap dances wave money and...oh, guess that won't work either, not-Piper.
This article is not advocating that you go into any bar and wave money to order drinks. NO!! You will get yelled at, get a weak drink, or be completely ignored. You need to pay special attention to how the bartenders are reacting to other people ordering so that you can run with the rest of the sheep. Or you can just get drunk at home at have a friend order your two beers at the bar so that you can avoid all the bullshit.
Next: State of Fiscal Emergency!
