To tip or not to tip, that is the question

So, I’m picking up some take out.

I called the order in. The restaurant cooks and prepares the food to go. When I pay, the machine spits out a receipt with a place to add a tip to the total. I have to either tip or draw a line through the space and write the original total at the bottom before signing. What to do?

This is a somewhat recent phenomenon that I encounter pretty regularly these days. Now if I am sitting in the restaurant and a server is bringing me food and beverage, I am all for tipping. Especially since their wages are reduced in lieu of the anticipated tip. As far as I know, the cooks and cashiers that prepare my take out receive a typical wage that is higher than a server would receive. On top of that, who gets this tip? Is it given to the cashier? Do the cooks receive it? Do they split it? Does the restaurant get it by default? I have no idea where this tip goes.

I drew a line through it. The cashier looks at me like I did something wrong. On occasion I have tipped. usually it is usually at the Chinese place where the young husband and wife operate. She always gives us extra food and fortune cookies. In other words, she earns it.

Since when did everyone start getting a tip?

Maybe I should have a jar on the pulpit.