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> 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 right

> 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.
  - jlebar 10y ago
    So complain about Uber. There's lots to complain about, for sure. But don't make it about the "serfdom economy" or tech in general. Seriously, we're sitting here on our pocket supercomputers [1] using wireless city-wide broadband to complain about how tech doesn't make anyone's lives better. [1] Ownership of which largely transcends class, at least in the USA, which is amazingly wonderful and is a consequence of the capitalist system TFA's author seems to hate so much.

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.
- jlebar 10y ago
  So complain about Uber. There's lots to complain about, for sure. But don't make it about the "serfdom economy" or tech in general. Seriously, we're sitting here on our pocket supercomputers [1] using wireless city-wide broadband to complain about how tech doesn't make anyone's lives better. [1] Ownership of which largely transcends class, at least in the USA, which is amazingly wonderful and is a consequence of the capitalist system TFA's author seems to hate so much.