4 ms·

> They're doing it because they don't have any other good alternatives. So champion proposals that would grow the economy, create more jobs, increase the media

by whack 10y ago

> They're doing it because they don't have any other good alternatives. So champion proposals that would grow the economy, create more jobs, increase the median hourly wages, and/or improve the social safety net. I don't see how vilifying Uber or AirBNB is going to help accomplish any of the above. P.S. There is no way for you as an individual to be a supplier on the Seamless, but that still hasn't spared them the author's wrath. I don't think the author really has a clear idea of what he's complaining about.

jacobush 10y ago
Can't we rant and wail a bit about how increasingly broken shit looks? Why always champion a proposal to fix things? But thanks for the idea that vilifying Airbnb is not going to help anyone. I agree. They exist only because we let them fill that particular part of the biosphere. Maybe we shouldn't let them.
- closeparen 10y ago
  Who do you think is made better off by keeping that role in the biosphere vacant?
  - jacobush 10y ago
    To keep the analogy, some species we remove from the biosphere and replace with others. Airbnb and Uber etc look like the fast spread of an invasive species.
ithinkinstereo 10y ago
> I don't see how vilifying Uber or AirBNB is going to help accomplish any of the above. These companies are part of a greater force eroding the role and rights of labor. I think it's right to vilify the "sharing" company - especially with the type of "this is great for the world" propaganda that they spew out. If we accept these conditions as the norm, they will only continue to slide. We have laws and regulations for a reason. Bypassing said laws with billions in 1%, connected money, should rightfully be called out. Conveniences for the noble class aside, this is just part of a larger scheme to transfer capital from the poor/middle class into the pockets of the existing wealthy. It's a bit tone-deaf of you not to see the other side of the picture. Next time you're in an Uber, talk to the driver. You'd be surprised how many are doing this full-time because they can't find employment elsewhere... and even more when you discover how many actually understand the underlying economics of their "side hustle" (aka side-scammed).
- mkolodny 10y ago
  > You'd be surprised how many are doing this full-time because they can't find employment elsewhere... Isn't it a good thing that companies like Uber are creating jobs? Particularly for people who can't find employment elsewhere.
  - wybiral 10y ago
    Where did all of their jobs go? Also, aren't they experimenting with self driving vehicles so that those people don't have to work those kinds of jobs?
  - mehwoot 10y ago
    Isn't it a good thing that companies like Uber are creating jobs? Are they, overall? Are they expanding the total amount of money paid out to workers in this industry? I'm not so sure that's the case.
- crazy1van 10y ago
  > If we accept these conditions as the norm What conditions are you referring to? The ability to work when you want for as long as you want? The ability to take an otherwise idle asset like your car or your house and make extra money with it? Anecdotally, I've taken dozens of Uber rides and never once heard the driver complain about Uber. I have, however, heard many drivers complain about proposed legislation that will harm Uber.
  - merkp 10y ago
    Then you're not a lawyer. Tell an Uber driver that you're a lawyer, and you're nearly guaranteed a conversation about their rights, and ability to sue Uber. This isn't true for all sharing economy companies, but it's true for Uber. They might not complain if all they think it'll do is ding their star rating, but many of them are very upset with Uber. Most of these folks feel trapped by what they perceive to be an abusive monopsony buyer of labor.
    - 10y ago
olewhalehunter 10y ago
Also the author Matt Ruby is a circuit comedian and vlogger: professional complaining is his own personal form of brogramming: he has no actual solutions provided, he hasn't organized any communities, and the advertisement promotions on his startup comedy site "vooza" are indistinguishable from ones on the sites of some of the startups he's complaining about. Those who spend time consuming tripe like this or Silicon Valley, over some internet service, and then bitch about brogrammers are the problem. The efforts of greater people past are rotting under the asses of loud observers and you're no fucking Cesar Chavez.
michaelchisari 10y ago
Is it vilification, or is it a little dose of reality to counteract their marketing department?

by whack 10y ago

jacobush 10y ago

Can't we rant and wail a bit about how increasingly broken shit looks? Why always champion a proposal to fix things? But thanks for the idea that vilifying Airbnb is not going to help anyone. I agree. They exist only because we let them fill that particular part of the biosphere. Maybe we shouldn't let them.

closeparen 10y ago
Who do you think is made better off by keeping that role in the biosphere vacant?
- jacobush 10y ago
  To keep the analogy, some species we remove from the biosphere and replace with others. Airbnb and Uber etc look like the fast spread of an invasive species.

ithinkinstereo 10y ago

> I don't see how vilifying Uber or AirBNB is going to help accomplish any of the above. These companies are part of a greater force eroding the role and rights of labor. I think it's right to vilify the "sharing" company - especially with the type of "this is great for the world" propaganda that they spew out. If we accept these conditions as the norm, they will only continue to slide. We have laws and regulations for a reason. Bypassing said laws with billions in 1%, connected money, should rightfully be called out. Conveniences for the noble class aside, this is just part of a larger scheme to transfer capital from the poor/middle class into the pockets of the existing wealthy. It's a bit tone-deaf of you not to see the other side of the picture. Next time you're in an Uber, talk to the driver. You'd be surprised how many are doing this full-time because they can't find employment elsewhere... and even more when you discover how many actually understand the underlying economics of their "side hustle" (aka side-scammed).

mkolodny 10y ago
> You'd be surprised how many are doing this full-time because they can't find employment elsewhere... Isn't it a good thing that companies like Uber are creating jobs? Particularly for people who can't find employment elsewhere.
- wybiral 10y ago
  Where did all of their jobs go? Also, aren't they experimenting with self driving vehicles so that those people don't have to work those kinds of jobs?
- mehwoot 10y ago
  Isn't it a good thing that companies like Uber are creating jobs? Are they, overall? Are they expanding the total amount of money paid out to workers in this industry? I'm not so sure that's the case.
crazy1van 10y ago
> If we accept these conditions as the norm What conditions are you referring to? The ability to work when you want for as long as you want? The ability to take an otherwise idle asset like your car or your house and make extra money with it? Anecdotally, I've taken dozens of Uber rides and never once heard the driver complain about Uber. I have, however, heard many drivers complain about proposed legislation that will harm Uber.
- merkp 10y ago
  Then you're not a lawyer. Tell an Uber driver that you're a lawyer, and you're nearly guaranteed a conversation about their rights, and ability to sue Uber. This isn't true for all sharing economy companies, but it's true for Uber. They might not complain if all they think it'll do is ding their star rating, but many of them are very upset with Uber. Most of these folks feel trapped by what they perceive to be an abusive monopsony buyer of labor.
  - 10y ago

olewhalehunter 10y ago

Also the author Matt Ruby is a circuit comedian and vlogger: professional complaining is his own personal form of brogramming: he has no actual solutions provided, he hasn't organized any communities, and the advertisement promotions on his startup comedy site "vooza" are indistinguishable from ones on the sites of some of the startups he's complaining about. Those who spend time consuming tripe like this or Silicon Valley, over some internet service, and then bitch about brogrammers are the problem. The efforts of greater people past are rotting under the asses of loud observers and you're no fucking Cesar Chavez.

michaelchisari 10y ago

Is it vilification, or is it a little dose of reality to counteract their marketing department?