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Mirabelli’s argument is that the assumptions that waitresses and waiters are ignorant and stupid are incorrect. He argues that there is complexity and skill that may go unrecognized by the general public. Mirabelli states his argument after the first story from bitterwaitress.com.  The data in the chapter came from, “direct participation, observation, field notes, documents, interviews, tape recordings, and transcriptions, as well as from historical and bibliographic literature”. He also pulls from his personal experience as a waiter, both part and full time.  The data was taken from Lou’s restraint and the three waiters; John, Harvey, and the author.  The overwhelming data type is transcripts. Mirabelli explains the importance of menu knowledge and the complexity of the menu, but he uses more examples from customer interaction to point out the intricacies of the craft of waiting tables.  Mirabelli’s conclusion argues that the menu is the catalyst for interaction between the staff and customers, but ultimately, the customer has authority over the waiter or waitress. This idea of servitude can be tied to the general view of waiters and waitresses. The knowledge they hold isn’t valued because the discourse community they’re in is seen as inferior. I was a waiter in high school and I can argue from experience that while no formal education is needed to be a waiter; the ability to do a good job hinges on knowledge of the discourse community. The ability to read a customer and understand what mood they’re in and how to respond isn’t something that can be taught in a classroom.