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It's definitely better, no arguments here. My point is that Silicon Valley has branded everything it does as 'tech' when in reality, it's just a better taxi com

It's definitely better, no arguments here. My point is that Silicon Valley has branded everything it does as 'tech' when in reality, it's just a better taxi company, a better hotel company, etc. unencumbered by the old ways. Like, the reality would have been good enough, 'We're a taxi (or insert whatever industry you want) company doing things way better than before." Instead, it's 'We're using algorithms and this shit is out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

nipponese 8y ago
There is something about traditional engineering culture that sees marketing as big lie, but one of the reasons these companies have been so successful at transitioning public opinion is because they treat the whole business as iterative. Instead of thinking "boring finance dept" and "slimey marketing guys", they think "financial and social engineering".
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  > Instead of thinking (...) "slimey marketing guys", they think "financial and social engineering". That sounds even worse to me. "Turning lying and scamming people into an engineering discipline".
- eli_gottlieb 8y ago
  >Instead of thinking "boring finance dept" and "slimey marketing guys", they think "financial and social engineering". I concur with that sounding much worse. I like my lizards to be green and scaly, not wearing people-suits.
lotsofpulp 8y ago
I would classify using GPS, internet, apps, servers, mapping algorithms, pricing algorithms, etc to be tech. Not sure how much more tech you would want, but certainly not a regular taxi company doing things better, it’s changing the basic mechanics of how taxis used to work.
ryanwaggoner 8y ago
I think that's really unfair to what Uber has built. I routinely take UberPool in Manhattan for 30-40 minutes during rush hour for around $5. Along the way, it's not uncommon to share the car with another 4-6 passengers, as people are picked up and dropped off along the way. That's not just a better taxi company, that's a whole new modality of transportation that's only possible because of technology.
- pesmhey 8y ago
  It’s cool af, and revolutionary. Uber also seems to have a cutting-edge machine learning presence. I don’t want to diminish in any way how great the new technologies coming out of Silicon Valley are. The thing about it, though, is that ‘technology’ has been around for millions of years, if we’re being honest. Fifty years ago, on top of a network of cutting edge phone communication tech, automotive tech, oil and gas tech, the ‘old guard’ taxi industry was doing its thing. It’s a fine line between pride and arrogance, and the idea that Silicon Valley has somehow invented even the idea of technology is...well, it’s pretty arrogant. Publishing, advertising, transportation, etc. are not new things.
- gaius 8y ago
  it's not uncommon to share the car with another 4-6 passengers, as people are picked up and dropped off along the way I guess you have never been to Egypt or any other third world country where this is completely normal and not an app in sight

nipponese 8y ago

There is something about traditional engineering culture that sees marketing as big lie, but one of the reasons these companies have been so successful at transitioning public opinion is because they treat the whole business as iterative. Instead of thinking "boring finance dept" and "slimey marketing guys", they think "financial and social engineering".

TeMPOraL 8y ago
> Instead of thinking (...) "slimey marketing guys", they think "financial and social engineering". That sounds even worse to me. "Turning lying and scamming people into an engineering discipline".
eli_gottlieb 8y ago
>Instead of thinking "boring finance dept" and "slimey marketing guys", they think "financial and social engineering". I concur with that sounding much worse. I like my lizards to be green and scaly, not wearing people-suits.

lotsofpulp 8y ago

I would classify using GPS, internet, apps, servers, mapping algorithms, pricing algorithms, etc to be tech. Not sure how much more tech you would want, but certainly not a regular taxi company doing things better, it’s changing the basic mechanics of how taxis used to work.

ryanwaggoner 8y ago

I think that's really unfair to what Uber has built. I routinely take UberPool in Manhattan for 30-40 minutes during rush hour for around $5. Along the way, it's not uncommon to share the car with another 4-6 passengers, as people are picked up and dropped off along the way. That's not just a better taxi company, that's a whole new modality of transportation that's only possible because of technology.

pesmhey 8y ago
It’s cool af, and revolutionary. Uber also seems to have a cutting-edge machine learning presence. I don’t want to diminish in any way how great the new technologies coming out of Silicon Valley are. The thing about it, though, is that ‘technology’ has been around for millions of years, if we’re being honest. Fifty years ago, on top of a network of cutting edge phone communication tech, automotive tech, oil and gas tech, the ‘old guard’ taxi industry was doing its thing. It’s a fine line between pride and arrogance, and the idea that Silicon Valley has somehow invented even the idea of technology is...well, it’s pretty arrogant. Publishing, advertising, transportation, etc. are not new things.
gaius 8y ago
it's not uncommon to share the car with another 4-6 passengers, as people are picked up and dropped off along the way I guess you have never been to Egypt or any other third world country where this is completely normal and not an app in sight