7 ms·

Is this an Uber thing? I didn't see it mentioned.

by pbreit 11y ago

_delirium 11y ago
This is a much older fight in NYC than Uber. They're probably involved in a good number of the cars in question in recent years, but a back-and-forth over to what extent to tolerate vs. crack down on unlicensed taxi services has been going on for decades. The general category is often called by the somewhat racist term "gypsy cabs".
- talmand 11y ago
  Why is that a racist term? To be honest, I had never heard the term until recently when I heard it used on a TV show.
  - PhineasRex 11y ago
    "gypsy" is an ethnic slur that refers to the Romani people.
    - talmand 11y ago
      Interesting. From my quick reading I can see why some would disagree with the usage. Although, I also find it interesting that, apparently, in English law it refers to a nomadic person regardless of race or origin. Which is a use of "gypsy" that I was familiar with.
spectralblu 11y ago
Uber wasn't explicitly mentioned, but it just sounds like the TLC is overly trigger happy in seizing cars, presumably because of the uptake in services like Lyft and Uber who in the TLC's eyes are skirting around the law.
- gharbad 11y ago
  By "skirting around" do you mean "blatantly flouting"? Because that's the truth of it.. Uber, Lyft, et al are just central dispatch for gypsy cabs. I don't see any reason they shouldn't get massive fines or seized vehicles in all locales they operate.
  - goldenkey 11y ago
    Central dispatch for gypsy cabs? Are you trying to make a cogent argument? because all I see is a nasty insult. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
    - amalcon 11y ago
      "Gypsy cab" is a slang term for an unlicensed taxi, and no longer has anything to do with the Romani people. It's not a term I personally use (outside a descriptive context like this), but it doesn't seem intended as an insult.
      - fennecfoxen 11y ago
        Maybe not, but wouldn't it be better to avoid antiquated ethnic slurs like "Gypsy cab" in favor of cool neutral terms like "unlicensed"?
        jo909 11y ago
        One of the (I guess intended) effects of using an aniquated slang word is to illustrate that this is not a new problem, but that this very same problem exists for so long that it got its own well known insulting term a long time ago.
        amalcon 11y ago
        It's true, which is why I don't generally use the term myself. I was just trying to clarify the point.
  - 11y ago

Is this an Uber thing? I didn't see it mentioned.

by pbreit 11y ago

Is this an Uber thing? I didn't see it mentioned.

This is a much older fight in NYC than Uber. They're probably involved in a good number of the cars in question in recent years, but a back-and-forth over to what extent to tolerate vs. crack down on unlicensed taxi services has been going on for decades. The general category is often called by the somewhat racist term "gypsy cabs".

talmand 11y ago
Why is that a racist term? To be honest, I had never heard the term until recently when I heard it used on a TV show.
- PhineasRex 11y ago
  "gypsy" is an ethnic slur that refers to the Romani people.
  - talmand 11y ago
    Interesting. From my quick reading I can see why some would disagree with the usage. Although, I also find it interesting that, apparently, in English law it refers to a nomadic person regardless of race or origin. Which is a use of "gypsy" that I was familiar with.

spectralblu 11y ago

Uber wasn't explicitly mentioned, but it just sounds like the TLC is overly trigger happy in seizing cars, presumably because of the uptake in services like Lyft and Uber who in the TLC's eyes are skirting around the law.

gharbad 11y ago
By "skirting around" do you mean "blatantly flouting"? Because that's the truth of it.. Uber, Lyft, et al are just central dispatch for gypsy cabs. I don't see any reason they shouldn't get massive fines or seized vehicles in all locales they operate.
- goldenkey 11y ago
  Central dispatch for gypsy cabs? Are you trying to make a cogent argument? because all I see is a nasty insult. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
  - amalcon 11y ago
    "Gypsy cab" is a slang term for an unlicensed taxi, and no longer has anything to do with the Romani people. It's not a term I personally use (outside a descriptive context like this), but it doesn't seem intended as an insult.
    - fennecfoxen 11y ago
      Maybe not, but wouldn't it be better to avoid antiquated ethnic slurs like "Gypsy cab" in favor of cool neutral terms like "unlicensed"?
      - jo909 11y ago
        One of the (I guess intended) effects of using an aniquated slang word is to illustrate that this is not a new problem, but that this very same problem exists for so long that it got its own well known insulting term a long time ago.
      - amalcon 11y ago
        It's true, which is why I don't generally use the term myself. I was just trying to clarify the point.
- 11y ago