It was for many national guard/reserve units. Not so much for active duty and (thankfully) deployed personnel. Though our death benefits were suspended, which was awful.
I wouldn't say they arent as prominent, just not thought of as much. Some random person walks by and tells another person nice hair, sure it might brighten their day, but they'll forget about it after a while, and even though you were right there by them both, it won't even register for you. Now say that person said something extremely rude instead. Both the person receiving the comment and you are probably going to remember it longer, AND tell other people about it.
Similar thing to customer service, unless the service is just rediculously amazing awesomesauce excellent, you'll just take it as how it should be and not give a review, or take the time to fill out that comment card, etc. However, if that service is shitty, you'll fill out that card, write a review online and tell every single person you meet how terrible the place is. Its just how people's brains work
which could be why when it IS prominent, such as this case of a waitress giving 2 people $14 each, and then it IS so glorified rather than just mostly ignored, people find it so weird.
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I can't research it now, but I'm skeptical about this story... I'll be back.
Similar thing to customer service, unless the service is just rediculously amazing awesomesauce excellent, you'll just take it as how it should be and not give a review, or take the time to fill out that comment card, etc. However, if that service is shitty, you'll fill out that card, write a review online and tell every single person you meet how terrible the place is. Its just how people's brains work