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I didn't want to outright accuse the commenters of that sort of sentiment but that does seem to be the case.

by habosa 14y ago

badgar 14y ago
HN commenters are just people like you and me. They care about people like themselves more than people not like themselves. To HN commenters, Uber's founders are like them and taxi drivers aren't. Of course they're going to side with the company here.
- Shivetya 14y ago
  I have gone through my life with one rule, anyone who is providing me a service I address by Sir or Ma'am. I do not care if its the order taker at McDonalds, the register operator at Wal-Mart, or my Doctor. They are people performing jobs whose service I need or may need, I respect anyone out there earning a living for themselves and their families. For myself it puts everything in perspective, we are all trying to make it in this world and there is nothing to gain by disparaging the position of others. There are times where I really like the people at McDonalds than those I work for, the pretentiousness at times is discouraging.
- subsystem 14y ago
  I'm not so sure. I've always felt there's a quite specific form of elitism among many HN readers. Somewhat similar to what you find in business schools, but less based on privileged and more on a lack of "bildung".
jamiequint 14y ago
The alternative is that Uber's drivers are somehow entitled to a better deal than they are getting, can you explain how that is the case? I may not be a blue collar worker but that doesn't mean I expect to be owed any sort of deal from anyone. If I feel like I'm getting a raw deal I'm going to leave that situation and find a better deal elsewhere. It's that simple.
- habosa 14y ago
  That's a pretty binary viewpoint. I'm sure that at some point in my life I'll feel like I deserve a raise or a promotion and I will ask for one rather than just quitting when I don't get it.
  - badgar 14y ago
    > binary viewpoint You're either with the startups or you're against them. Supporting workers in this case means you're against the startups, and that's "wrong." Of course HN members don't write that, but people are here in large part to support their passion for startups - don't challenge that or you're gonna have a bad time. Every would-be founder here is thinking they'd can 50,000 taxi drivers in a heartbeat if it meant a shot at the big time.
  - kirillzubovsky 14y ago
    So, are you saying that if you ask for a raise/promotion and don't get it, then you will gather your friends around your bosses's cubicle and chant and protest until you get what you want ? That's definitely going to get you a promotion, yeah.
  - jfoster 14y ago
    Asking for something is a bit different than protesting for it. Typically you'd first ask, and then you'd either get it, leave, ask more, or move on to a more forceful way of "asking" (such as protesting or striking).
- pifflesnort 14y ago
  > I may not be a blue collar worker but that doesn't mean I expect to be owed any sort of deal from anyone. If I feel like I'm getting a raw deal I'm going to leave that situation and find a better deal elsewhere. It's that simple. They're negotiating for a better deal. They just happen to be using different tactics than you would.
  - kirillzubovsky 14y ago
    And that's the problem. This whole union-style protest negotiation tactic is absurd. They are not entitled to a better deal as long as other workers are able, willing and qualified to step into their shoes and do the job. You work or you are out, it's pretty simple. Given Uber's recent history with authority, I wouldn't be surprised if some shady organization employed all these unhappy people to go and protest. Most like, actually.

I didn't want to outright accuse the commenters of that sort of sentiment but that does seem to be the case.

by habosa 14y ago

I didn't want to outright accuse the commenters of that sort of sentiment but that does seem to be the case.

HN commenters are just people like you and me. They care about people like themselves more than people not like themselves. To HN commenters, Uber's founders are like them and taxi drivers aren't. Of course they're going to side with the company here.

Shivetya 14y ago
I have gone through my life with one rule, anyone who is providing me a service I address by Sir or Ma'am. I do not care if its the order taker at McDonalds, the register operator at Wal-Mart, or my Doctor. They are people performing jobs whose service I need or may need, I respect anyone out there earning a living for themselves and their families. For myself it puts everything in perspective, we are all trying to make it in this world and there is nothing to gain by disparaging the position of others. There are times where I really like the people at McDonalds than those I work for, the pretentiousness at times is discouraging.
subsystem 14y ago
I'm not so sure. I've always felt there's a quite specific form of elitism among many HN readers. Somewhat similar to what you find in business schools, but less based on privileged and more on a lack of "bildung".

jamiequint 14y ago

The alternative is that Uber's drivers are somehow entitled to a better deal than they are getting, can you explain how that is the case? I may not be a blue collar worker but that doesn't mean I expect to be owed any sort of deal from anyone. If I feel like I'm getting a raw deal I'm going to leave that situation and find a better deal elsewhere. It's that simple.

habosa 14y ago
That's a pretty binary viewpoint. I'm sure that at some point in my life I'll feel like I deserve a raise or a promotion and I will ask for one rather than just quitting when I don't get it.
- badgar 14y ago
  > binary viewpoint You're either with the startups or you're against them. Supporting workers in this case means you're against the startups, and that's "wrong." Of course HN members don't write that, but people are here in large part to support their passion for startups - don't challenge that or you're gonna have a bad time. Every would-be founder here is thinking they'd can 50,000 taxi drivers in a heartbeat if it meant a shot at the big time.
- kirillzubovsky 14y ago
  So, are you saying that if you ask for a raise/promotion and don't get it, then you will gather your friends around your bosses's cubicle and chant and protest until you get what you want ? That's definitely going to get you a promotion, yeah.
- jfoster 14y ago
  Asking for something is a bit different than protesting for it. Typically you'd first ask, and then you'd either get it, leave, ask more, or move on to a more forceful way of "asking" (such as protesting or striking).
pifflesnort 14y ago
> I may not be a blue collar worker but that doesn't mean I expect to be owed any sort of deal from anyone. If I feel like I'm getting a raw deal I'm going to leave that situation and find a better deal elsewhere. It's that simple. They're negotiating for a better deal. They just happen to be using different tactics than you would.
- kirillzubovsky 14y ago
  And that's the problem. This whole union-style protest negotiation tactic is absurd. They are not entitled to a better deal as long as other workers are able, willing and qualified to step into their shoes and do the job. You work or you are out, it's pretty simple. Given Uber's recent history with authority, I wouldn't be surprised if some shady organization employed all these unhappy people to go and protest. Most like, actually.