Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#191

Post by brango » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 2:59 PM UTC

jeffdavis wrote: post #112

craigching wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I do not look fondly at what a pain local transport was in cities without public transport (and even those with), and it is Travis (yes, Travis first, Uber second) that led this paradigm shift. How about we improve public transport? I know it’s unpopular to propose “socialist” ideas, but public transport works elsewhere in the world, why does it have to be so horrible here? Why does someone have to profit for somet…

There are a lot of practical challenges here because this country was already built for cars as the universal form of transport.

Boo hoo. Do you think Medieval cities like those in Europe were built for public transport as well?

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#192

Post by downandout » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:01 PM UTC

soneca wrote: post #156

kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #34

Happy for him. I can only imagine how much being ousted from a company he created and raised to its current level must have hurt. I do not look fondly at what a pain local transport was in cities without public transport (and even those with), and it is Travis (yes, Travis first, Uber second) that led this paradigm shift. We can debate about Uber's business practices until the cows come home, but this is undeniable.…

You imply that being ousted from the company he created is not a direct consequence of his actions. You imply that unethical behavior was helpful to Uber defeat awful local transport lobbies in some cities and improve transportation for the people. I strongly disagree with both assumptions. I believe he was ousted for legitimate reasons that he is 100% individually responsible for and I believe that unethical behavio…

In today’s politically correct environment, the masses are wont to instantly discredit and discard the entire career of anyone whose personal failings happen to become public. Travis spent a tiny fraction of his time being a jerk. The rest of it was spent creating one of the most impactful companies that the world has ever seen. Give credit where credit is due.

”Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done” - Bryan Stevenson

Edit: I should have used the word valuable instead of impactful. I’m leaving it in because the Uber critics responding below have all jumped on my use of the term, and those replies would no longer make sense if I change it. That said, I do believe Uber has been a very impactful company and will continue to be.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#193

Post by jeffbax » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:02 PM UTC

kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #34

Happy for him. I can only imagine how much being ousted from a company he created and raised to its current level must have hurt. I do not look fondly at what a pain local transport was in cities without public transport (and even those with), and it is Travis (yes, Travis first, Uber second) that led this paradigm shift. We can debate about Uber's business practices until the cows come home, but this is undeniable.…

Uber has it's faults, but the degree they had to fight tooth and nail in every municipality over something that was so demonstrably better than what was there before is absurd and should be a lesson for every other industry.

And yes, voting with one's wallet is often the most effective form of voting we have.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#194

Post by megaman22 » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:03 PM UTC

crdoconnor wrote: post #154

kamaal wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For better or worse, thats how it should work. Failure of centrally planned economies all across the globe says something. Markets don't have elections and most politicians/bureaucrats don't exactly have the competency to decide what should be good for everyone. Letting people vote with their wallets has largely worked. Of course no system is perfect, but this is as fair as it gets.

The centrally planned NHS achieves similar public health outcomes to the US for less than half of the cost. The excellent Cuban health system achieves the same for roughly 1/10th the cost. Which part of "double the price same product" counts largely "worked" and why do you want me to give up my cheaper system for yours?

We can discuss the efficiency of a market-based health care system when such a thing exists. The current system is as artificial and corrupted as the taxi medallion situation.

If only I could walk into a health care facility and see the prices posted on the wall for various procedures, or get an estimate upfront, the way I can at any auto garage...

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#195

Post by dragonwriter » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:04 PM UTC

brango wrote: post #191

jeffdavis wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a lot of practical challenges here because this country was already built for cars as the universal form of transport.

Boo hoo. Do you think Medieval cities like those in Europe were built for public transport as well?

They certainly weren't built for widespread individual use of automobiles.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#196

Post by Helmet » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:06 PM UTC

mylons wrote: post #177

soneca wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You imply that being ousted from the company he created is not a direct consequence of his actions. You imply that unethical behavior was helpful to Uber defeat awful local transport lobbies in some cities and improve transportation for the people. I strongly disagree with both assumptions. I believe he was ousted for legitimate reasons that he is 100% individually responsible for and I believe that unethical behavio…

he's responsible for his actions, but the way you word that makes it sound like he's the only person responsible for the morally reprehensible things Uber has done, which is not true.

What exactly did he or Uber do that is morally reprehensible?

To me "morally reprehensible" implies something quite extreme, like, say, genocide, callous violent crime, rape, etc.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#197

Post by robrenaud » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:09 PM UTC

brango wrote: post #191

jeffdavis wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a lot of practical challenges here because this country was already built for cars as the universal form of transport.

Boo hoo. Do you think Medieval cities like those in Europe were built for public transport as well?

I think it fits better with public transit. They are much more walkable and people scale.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#198

Post by sumeno » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:09 PM UTC

downandout wrote: post #192

soneca wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You imply that being ousted from the company he created is not a direct consequence of his actions. You imply that unethical behavior was helpful to Uber defeat awful local transport lobbies in some cities and improve transportation for the people. I strongly disagree with both assumptions. I believe he was ousted for legitimate reasons that he is 100% individually responsible for and I believe that unethical behavio…

In today’s politically correct environment, the masses are wont to instantly discredit and discard the entire career of anyone whose personal failings happen to become public. Travis spent a tiny fraction of his time being a jerk. The rest of it was spent creating one of the most impactful companies that the world has ever seen. Give credit where credit is due. ”Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done…

Personal failings are one thing, but that hasn't been the downfall of Travis Kalanick. His professional failings have been his downfall.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#199

Post by datpuz » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:11 PM UTC

kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #34

Happy for him. I can only imagine how much being ousted from a company he created and raised to its current level must have hurt. I do not look fondly at what a pain local transport was in cities without public transport (and even those with), and it is Travis (yes, Travis first, Uber second) that led this paradigm shift. We can debate about Uber's business practices until the cows come home, but this is undeniable.…

Cashing out for several billion probably helps dull the pain.

Re: Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Said to Plan Sale of 29% of Stake

#200

Post by EliRivers » Fri, Jan 05, 2018, 3:12 PM UTC

downandout wrote: post #192

soneca wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You imply that being ousted from the company he created is not a direct consequence of his actions. You imply that unethical behavior was helpful to Uber defeat awful local transport lobbies in some cities and improve transportation for the people. I strongly disagree with both assumptions. I believe he was ousted for legitimate reasons that he is 100% individually responsible for and I believe that unethical behavio…

In today’s politically correct environment, the masses are wont to instantly discredit and discard the entire career of anyone whose personal failings happen to become public. Travis spent a tiny fraction of his time being a jerk. The rest of it was spent creating one of the most impactful companies that the world has ever seen. Give credit where credit is due. ”Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done…

The rest of it was spent creating one of the most impactful companies that the world has ever seen.

Are you talking about Uber? More convenient, cheaper taxis? Sure, I like that as much as the next person, but it's hardly one of the most impactful companies in history.