Islamic Terrorists Take Hostages in Sydney

[Razgovory]

In fact, if there was a dogmatic argument in this discussion, I would say it is the unshaken belief of some that tenets of the religion one professes have no influence on one's personal attitudes and actions.

Who in this discussion believes that?

It's so nice when we agree!    Oh, and I loved the poem you PMed me.

[Eddie Teach]

  Oh, and I loved the poem you PMed me.

A grumbler original?

[Razgovory]

Oh, he's too bashful to admit it, but he really values my criticism in that area.

[crazy canuck]

Raz,

Love poems delivered in private should remain private.

[Razgovory]

Raz,

Love poems delivered in private should remain private.

It wasn't a love poem.  Well not a love for me.  It was his passion for the navy and teaching and the valiant young men he meets in both.  Not so much women though. I guess seamen and women don't mix well for Grumbler.

[DGuller]

On what basis do you judge their PR model is a failure, in that it offends your sensibilities?  My guess is Uber's target market is people who, when given the choice of a pricey ride at a busy time or nobly waiting in for a non-existent base price taxi, opt for the former.

I base it as a failure based on their reaction to the public's response.

They used surge pricing during Hurricane Sandy and got serious backlash. Subsequently they instituted a US wide policy of no surge pricing during natural disasters.

In the case of Sydney, they later apologized, offered free rides in the area, and offered refunds to people who'd paid the increased pricing.

Now, I know you're notoriously hard to convince on this kind of stuff, but to me - and I believe to garbon as well - that indicates that the company thought they had a PR issue at hand and were attempting to address it.

Uber is currently facing some of the now usual issues on rolling out in Vancouver. Certainly the local people I've discussed their actions in Sydney with seem to put that down in the column against Uber, which makes me think it's not an isolated reaction.

Incidentally, I've not said anything about my sensibilities regarding this, nor, I believe about Uber in general, so it seems to me that you're reading positions into my words that aren't there. garbon is the one who's classified their actions as "that offensive".

In this case, I think the problem is with the people, not with the company's PR.  Not tolerating price gouging makes you feel very good about yourself, but the people who are stranded by Sandy because there weren't enough Uber drivers attracted to get them out may feel a little less noble, and a little more wet.  In my opinion, when sound economic practice that actually increases social welfare makes for bad PR, the problem is not with either the practice or the PR.

[Jacob]

In this case, I think the problem is with the people, not with the company's PR.  Not tolerating price gouging makes you feel very good about yourself, but the people who are stranded by Sandy because there weren't enough Uber drivers attracted to get them out may feel a little less noble, and a little more wet.  In my opinion, when sound economic practice that actually increases social welfare makes for bad PR, the problem is not with either the practice or the PR.

I think that's how Uber has felt so far. "Our practice is economically and socially sound, and that's what our PR reflects. We can't go wrong there."

[DGuller]

In this case, I think the problem is with the people, not with the company's PR.  Not tolerating price gouging makes you feel very good about yourself, but the people who are stranded by Sandy because there weren't enough Uber drivers attracted to get them out may feel a little less noble, and a little more wet.  In my opinion, when sound economic practice that actually increases social welfare makes for bad PR, the problem is not with either the practice or the PR.

I think that's how Uber has felt so far. "Our practice is economically and socially sound, and that's what our PR reflects. We can't go wrong there."

From the pragmatic perspective, you're right.  If the majority of people are irrational, then in Uber's position you need to patronize their irrationality, whether you like it or not.  However, I'm not going to be outraged about their failure to act pragmatically.

[Jacob]

From the pragmatic perspective, you're right.  If the majority of people are irrational, then in Uber's position you need to patronize their irrationality, whether you like it or not.  However, I'm not going to be outraged about their failure to act pragmatically.

I don't think anyone in this thread is outraged. If I was an investor I'd be a little concerned, since it's looking like there's a pattern on the PR. If it's fixable, I'd want it fixed.

[CountDeMoney]

I don't think anybody other than garbon has used it, and he's already on record saying he doesn't have a problem with paying 7 times the cost in a snow storm.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't think anybody other than garbon has used it, and he's already on record saying he doesn't have a problem with paying 7 times the cost in a snow storm.

He also seems to be the principle linker of Uber stories.

[garbon]

I don't think anybody other than garbon has used it, and he's already on record saying he doesn't have a problem with paying 7 times the cost in a snow storm.

I haven't used Uber but I have used Lyft. I am on record saying that?

[CountDeMoney]

I don't think anybody other than garbon has used it, and he's already on record saying he doesn't have a problem with paying 7 times the cost in a snow storm.

I haven't used Uber but I have used Lyft. I am on record saying that?

Could've sworn you've used Uber before, my bad.  Never heard of Lyft.  Sounds stupid.

[garbon]

I don't think anybody other than garbon has used it, and he's already on record saying he doesn't have a problem with paying 7 times the cost in a snow storm.

I haven't used Uber but I have used Lyft. I am on record saying that?

Could've sworn you've used Uber before, my bad.  Never heard of Lyft.  Sounds stupid.

I tried to use it once and it told me I was banned.

Lyft mustaches are stupid but it basically a comparable service.

[CountDeMoney]

I tried to use it once and it told me I was banned.

We still have so much work to do as a society.