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The sharing economy was always a scam

onezero.medium.com

101–110 of 179 posts

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#102
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main driving principle of the sharing economy is actually the ability to give a lift from time to time without any bother. The problem is that a number of factors do prevent supply from entering the market, thus the revenue available to established players is high enough to validate working full time.

> The main driving principle of the sharing economy is actually the ability to give a lift from time to time without any bother. Except for people driving for Uber full-time. The whole "grass root sharing economy" Uber style is a masquerade.

Some people work for Uber full-time because regulation restricts supply, thus providing the service becomes too profitable and generates enough income to make a living working full time.

I also have a hard time trying to see the point of this sort of argument. Are taxi services suddenly bad, and driving a taxi for a living something to frown upon?

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#103
post #71

Sharing economy has existed well before technology and will outlast Uber and others. When you ask friends to drop you at airport that is sharing. When your aunt babyseats for you that is sharing economy. Potluck is sharing economy. Economic efficiency through sharing is a great thing for society, it is just that it is hard to get it right at scale but nevertheless we are trying and we will test success sooner or late…

Your examples are sharing, but not "the sharing economy", because there isn't a third party managing the economic aspect.

I dont think you are correct..

If a grocer sells you groceries.. that is part of an "economy" and there is no third party

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#104
post #12

Articles like this ignore the impact on individuals. For every group that is trying to full time Uber/Lyft or turn an AirBNB into a hotel, there's also tons of people who are doing in the spare time to make some extra or work the better allocation of resources into something beneficial for them. See threads like: https://twitter.com/RantyAmyCurtis/status/110272136190510694... That's what sharing is about, more optima…

What about those of us who do not wish to take in any of this and still pay the consequences?

In Madrid rent is up a staggering 17% YoY, mostly due to AirBnB. That affects anyone looking for an apartment and I’m sure if renters were to pick between having AirBnB available for their travels - which is eye-wateringly expensive anyway! - or cheaper rent, they will invariably pick the latter.

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#105

The claim was never that "‘Sharing’ was supposed to save us" nor any of the other allegations in the article. In fact there never was any unified claims. Of course the individual companies made claims about how their platform would save you a bit of time and money and friction. And that has largely been true. Millions of people each saves a little time and money, and that in aggregate has benefited us tremendously. T…

In a world where, as I’ve argued, average is over — the skills required for any good job keep rising — a lot of people who might not be able to acquire those skills can still earn a good living now by building their own branded reputations, whether it is to rent their kids’ rooms, their cars or their power tools.

-- Thomas Friedman, The New York Times, July 21, 2013

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/opinion/sunday/friedman-w...

HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6076875

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#106
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your examples are sharing, but not "the sharing economy", because there isn't a third party managing the economic aspect.

I dont think you are correct.. If a grocer sells you groceries.. that is part of an "economy" and there is no third party

In that case the third party is the banking system.

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#107
post #22

Speaking as a professional engine mechanic for a chain of Midwest shops, you have no idea how big a ripoff uber and lyft are until you're in the shop. The rates you make do not cover fleet style usage of your personal vehicle. Cabbies love the crown Vic because its intercooler let's it idle for hours on end with no worries. And they love the Prius because the idle uses no fuel. But your car? Get ready for more oil ch…

Well, that's why tons of Uber drivers use Priuses. It can work out for some people. You don't see them in your shop because it is working for them.

Another instance of survivorship bias with an interestingly backwards definition of “survivor” in this scenario.

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#108
post #12

Articles like this ignore the impact on individuals. For every group that is trying to full time Uber/Lyft or turn an AirBNB into a hotel, there's also tons of people who are doing in the spare time to make some extra or work the better allocation of resources into something beneficial for them. See threads like: https://twitter.com/RantyAmyCurtis/status/110272136190510694... That's what sharing is about, more optima…

I have nearly everyone in that Twitter thread blocked and labeled as political propaganda trolls. I suggest you be more critical of your information sources.

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#109
post #12

Articles like this ignore the impact on individuals. For every group that is trying to full time Uber/Lyft or turn an AirBNB into a hotel, there's also tons of people who are doing in the spare time to make some extra or work the better allocation of resources into something beneficial for them. See threads like: https://twitter.com/RantyAmyCurtis/status/110272136190510694... That's what sharing is about, more optima…

There's a lot that I agree with in your post and in that thread, but this in particular I take issue with: > One poinI have no idea what orifice @AOC pulled the$3.37 number from, but it’s wrong at best or intentionally deceptive at worst. I never made less than $10/hour and usually made $15-$45 an hour. And this was BEFORE Uber allowed tipping via the app. This woman is clearly not taking her expenses into account wh…

> taking advantage of people's poor ability to do math

Are you sure you're not being patronizing there? i.e. underestimating people's ability to choose what works for them? I talk to most Uber/Lyft drivers I ride with, every one of them has said they're happy with it, and most have given specific reasons why.

Re: The sharing economy was always a scam

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, that's why tons of Uber drivers use Priuses. It can work out for some people. You don't see them in your shop because it is working for them.

Another instance of survivorship bias with an interestingly backwards definition of “survivor” in this scenario.

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