>

But it’s not an unpopular opinion, it’s just stupid. It’s a stupid thing to say. “If I stop paying for service I should be entitled to continued service.” That is a dumb  thing to say.
As part of the unwritten, social contract of dining out, paying the bill is you saying “I’m done”. One might linger and chat a bit longer, but that doesn’t mean they have time or want another drink. Just because you want to redefine this part of what a normal person thinks is going on doesn’t mean that everyone else has to think the same way you do.
Have you considered simply asking for a refill in this situation rather than steaming about their lack of ability to read your mind? >

That is what I was going to say. Use your adult words and ask for a refill. I am a bartender and if someone has paid their tab that means they are done unless they specifically say differently. It’s super easy to make eye contact with me or raise a finger and say may I have a refill please? >


Use your adult words and ask for a refill.

“Hey asshole! How about a refill?” >

Bro I’ve had someone say that exact sentence to me. I didn’t say anything, just had security remove him from the premises >

Just don't pay the bill until you are ready to leave. Paying the bill generally means that your business is done. >

Not really. It just means you aren't ordering anything new. Why not pay whenever they can bring the bill rather than start the process AFTER you are ready to go >

If someone's ability to pay their rent is dependent on the work they do before you pay the bill, they have no motivation to do any work for you after that. 
Everything a waiter does for you after you pay the bill is paid for by the restaurant at $2/hour. >

What the fuck! Is $2 an hour legal? >

Ehh sorta, but its not really well understood by a lot of people. Tipped workers are legally allowed to be payed that little, however, their tips have to make the difference between normal minimum wage and the tipped minimum wage or the restraunt has to legally pay the difference.
Basically, you arent gonna go home with less than normal minimum wage. The mimum wage is still pretty shitty tho >

It's something I understand pretty well, since I used to be waiter, so let me explain it more thoroughly for you.
Let's say you work for 2 hours at the end of the day.
Hour 1: It's busy. You make $50 in tips. 
Hour 2: Only OP is there. He's sitting at his table even though he already paid. 
Your tips are distributed throughout the day. So for Hour 2, the restaurant pays you $2, and your own tips from Hour 1 are used to subsidize your pay. The restaurant only pays you $2 for Hour 2, and you pay the rest to get it up to minimum wage while OP writes a post on Reddit about how lazy you are for not being his slave after he already paid. >

But you've still made $50(sans taxes etc.) total for 2 hours of work, no?
If you don't make any tips in either hour, the restraunt legally has to pay you up to regular minimum wage.
I get what you're saying, i think i just didn't explain well enough on my end. >

We got a free refill fetishist >

People who think like OP have never worked in food service and will sit around a busy restaurant to chat an hour after their bill is paid. These people don’t realize that servers don’t just grab random tables in the restaurant but have sections, so by sitting around chatting you’re stopping them from making money on that table. Not that I expect guests to prioritize their server’s wages when they go out, but it gives an air of entitlement >

I’ve had tables loiter for two hours, at that point I print their check and hand it to them. The bill is a sign for you to gtfo, I need to make money and you’re taking a spot in my section. >

That's nothing. We had a table of two ladies come in shortly after we opened, so they got sat with the opener. As lunch was ending the opener wanted to go but the ladies wanted to stay so they got transferred to the lunch closer. I then came in to open for dinner and got transferred the ladies, who by this point, had been there around 5 hours. They finally cashed out halfway through my dinner shift after a grand total of 8 hours. Their bill...one app, one salad and three glasses of wine. >

This isn't an issue in Europe, as we don't have free refills. If I want to be quick, I might ask the waiter for the bill the moment I receive my food/drink. After I pay, I don't expect the waiter to return, as the transaction is done. >

Maybe just the UK, but some American chains will do free refills. Pizza Hut for example.  
I'll occasionally see a British chain do them too. 
I don't expect to be waited on, however I wouldn't expect service to be fully ended until I walk out the door. I can ask for water or more food/drink if I want. Paying 2 bills is fine. >

Yes, but once you have paid the bill and you decide you want another drink, you initiate the contact with the waiter. You don't expect them to keep checking in on you after you have paid the bill. >

That's exactly what I said, I don't expect to be waited on but survice hasn't fully ended until i walk out the door. Service is still available to me despite being waited on stopping. >

Ah, something got lost in translation, not a native speaker here :D
Also just noticed your flair, I am appalled sir! >

No worries. >

You've paid, their job is done. If you want more refills,  just call for the waiter, what's your problem? >

Some people are arrogant enough to think that wait staff should be able to read their minds or anticipate what they want.
Never mind the fact that the expectation is that once you've paid your bill, you leave. >

There’s no need for mind reading, why can’t the waiter just ask if they’d like some more water or something? Obviously they’re done ordering things. >


why can’t the waiter just ask if they’d like some more water or something? 

you answered your own question. because:

Obviously they’re done ordering things. >

Have you ever maybe mentioned this to your server.  Hey I am going to pay now but could I get a top off on my drink in a few minutes.  Most servers would likely have 0 issues stopping by afterwards.  Seriously have social skills completely eroded from society? >

This is the way to do it if OP is really having issues >

I feel like this sub needs to do what aita does and give the reminder on every post not to downvote unpopular opinions. Bc it’s literally the point of the sub lol
Edit: I’m not saying I agree with OP, someone explained to me how this doesn’t qualify as an unpopular opinion. But I do stand by the fact that actual unpopular opinions do often get downvoted in here from what I’ve seen, and I’ve seen people upvoting fairly popular ones. Which I think needs to be solved somehow.