Tipping became common post civil war as a way for racist businesses to legally pay black workers less and reward white workers for being white. Has nothing to do with a lack of societal responsibility though. If it was there would be no tipping because no one would feel the need to "help out". It's more about how companies are exploiting the goodwill of some people for their own gain. Yearly bonuses from companies used to be common for average employees, but that's been replaced with only tips while the actual bonuses (which are huge) go to the big wigs that do nothing.