2 ms·

> But, why? They've always been boisterous and exploitative. Agreed. I'm not saying that I'm proud that I supported them. Previously, I bought into the "taxi m

> But, why? They've always been boisterous and exploitative. Agreed. I'm not saying that I'm proud that I supported them. Previously, I bought into the "taxi mafia" story that Travis spun. I was at a talk he gave and, well, he was convincing. I think at the time, he was probably telling the truth: there probably was a lot of corruption in the taxi industry (and probably still is). But now, after he's used it time after time to justify treating drivers and customers poorly (fighting against insurance, for example), I feel like a fool for believing him. > so, uber is basically 100% BroTaxi I don't think he was using the term "baller" seriously, it was most likely a joke. UberExec/Lux certainly doesn't feel like it's for "bros", it feels like it's for professionals.

seiji 11y ago
> a lot of corruption in the taxi industry That's a great point. Start a new exploiting service under the guise of freeing people from an already exploiting service. That tactic provides cover, plausible deniability, and an automatic anti-establishment camaraderie following. Though that's basically the same tactic taken by every politician in every election these days ("Washington is CORRUPT! It's full of insiders and lobbyists and lifers. I will be expose the corruption and fight FOR YOU!"). By the time people realize you have become the new corrupt rent-seeking entity, it's too late for people to fight you and your $6 billion VC war chest (yes, uber has raised 6 billion-with-a-B dollars in "funding" — they seem to be taking the PayPal model of just giving people free money in exchange for loyalty (subsidies paid for by middle america retirement funds invested in VC funds)).