The Dreaded Penny is a gratuity
phenomenon that I've encountered in the wide world of
waitressing relatively few times. The Dread of The Penny stems from the
subtle message that you have provided the worst
service that the patrons leaving the single penny (in place of a tip) have ever
experienced in their lives.
Talking back, being
rude in general, and ignoring repeated
hails for attention are all grounds for the execution of the penny
maneuver.
For the record, I have never received The Dreaded Penny from anyone who wasn't female, between 25-35 years of age, tall, slim, and well-dressed.
The next node I write may very well concern the myth of The Penny having anything to do with quality of service and expose the farce of tight-wad nouveau-yuppie women.