The Off Topic Topic

[garbon]

I wonder if there is just something evil about easily accessible hired cars that attracts evil/is self-perpetuating. Cab drivers and Uber seem two sides of same coin.

[Tamas]

I wonder if there is just something evil about easily accessible hired cars that attracts evil/is self-perpetuating. Cab drivers and Uber seem two sides of same coin.

Well, kinda' but there is an important difference: the problem with Uber is their company culture and some highly questionable policies like reporting stuff to police and whatnot. But that's where it ends.

With traditional taxi companies, you have all that, plus (usually) heavy legislative backing to restrict competition and thus disadvantage the customer.

[celedhring]

I wonder if there is just something evil about easily accessible hired cars that attracts evil/is self-perpetuating. Cab drivers and Uber seem two sides of same coin.

Well, kinda' but there is an important difference: the problem with Uber is their company culture and some highly questionable policies like reporting stuff to police and whatnot. But that's where it ends.

With traditional taxi companies, you have all that, plus (usually) heavy legislative backing to restrict competition and thus disadvantage the customer.

Well, there's a happy medium between a completely deregulated service, with all the safety concerns entailed, and a quasi-medieval guild system like the way cab services operate over here.

That said, over here Über et al have to submit to some basic regulations (mandatory passenger insurance, obtaining a commercial driver license) that I think are close to that happy medium.

[celedhring]

1,000 cabs are blocking the roads around the harbor now 

[Tamas]

The Hungarian government yielded much quicker to the taxi thugs a few years ago and in effect banned Uber (they didn't outright, just set requirements like you have to offer a booking service via phone dispatcher and such). I wonder how long Barcelona will last.

[celedhring]

Oh, Barcelona already yielded. It's just that the instrument of surrender (new local regulations that, like you say happened in Hungary, made in practice impossible for ridesharers to operate), was deemed abusive and suspended by the Catalan Supreme Court. Cab drivers now want the court to reverse its decision (they are expected rule over the appeal in the next few days)

[Pedrito]

About scum taxi drivers, I've just recently read about the so called VomitGate, in which Uber drivers fake photos of damaged car interiors, and charge the passengers for the damages saying they vomited in the car while intoxicated. 

L.

[Grey Fox]

Uber is bad, good job for the scums of Barcelona.

[DGuller]

I wonder if there is just something evil about easily accessible hired cars that attracts evil/is self-perpetuating. Cab drivers and Uber seem two sides of same coin.

I don't think they are at all.  They're different kinds of scum, and neither is unique. 

Cab drivers are part of a rent-seeking guild, without any "ensuring quality" fig leaf.  Few guilds that rely purely on political power to keep their sinecure are particularly pleasant, thankfully we have few of them left. 

Uber is just yet another tech company run by brilliant young assholes who have not been humbled yet, and think the world belongs to them.  It's not a problem unique to just ride-sharing tech companies.

[Syt]

[celedhring]

I hope that Queen film with the Mr. Robot dude is good! Although I'm always hesitant about Hollywood biopics, at least the music will be good.

[Tamas]

Don't remind of Mr. Robot

[Josquius]

Didn't like it? Most seem to rate it highly.
I lost track halfway through alas.

I hope that Queen film with the Mr. Robot dude is good! Although I'm always hesitant about Hollywood biopics, at least the music will be good.

It looks awful 😔

[Grey Fox]

You hate everything, you're Seedy's replacement & Tim's opposite.

[celedhring]

Third day of taxi protests.



That's the second busiest thoroughfare in Barcelona, and the entryway into the city from the littoral. The city is collapsing. The mayor is having an emergency meeting with the taxi unions right now.