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Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#11

Post by rhdoenges »

speeder wrote: post #7

Rape accusations, true or not, always end destroying the accused, specially because there are low penalties for false accusations, and the media is very fast in plastering the person name and photo everywhere. Also, being a driver is kinda dangerous regarding that, I have some driver friends, and they all have the same rule: They don't pick up lone women, period, it might be raining, hurricane, dust storm, middle of…

It says she paid her fare. What other motive could she have had to make this accusation?

Unfortunately, there is little evidence to go on at this point aside from her testimony, so much of this discussion is mere speculation.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#12

Post by gdilla »

speeder wrote: post #7

Rape accusations, true or not, always end destroying the accused, specially because there are low penalties for false accusations, and the media is very fast in plastering the person name and photo everywhere. Also, being a driver is kinda dangerous regarding that, I have some driver friends, and they all have the same rule: They don't pick up lone women, period, it might be raining, hurricane, dust storm, middle of…

they could use dashboard cams a-la-russia to help with this.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#13

Post by ryanhuff »

xanadohnt wrote: post #8

Why is Über even mentioned? How about some details on the manufacturer of the seat the driver was sitting on, maybe what barber he usues too? Regardless, this is tragic if true, and my heart goes out.

Uber is mentioned for the same reason why Craigslist is mentioned when something goes bad with a CL deal. It adds context to the story.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#14

Post by Aloisius »

rhdoenges wrote: post #11
speeder wrote: post #7

Rape accusations, true or not, always end destroying the accused, specially because there are low penalties for false accusations, and the media is very fast in plastering the person name and photo everywhere. Also, being a driver is kinda dangerous regarding that, I have some driver friends, and they all have the same rule: They don't pick up lone women, period, it might be raining, hurricane, dust storm, middle of…

It says she paid her fare. What other motive could she have had to make this accusation? Unfortunately, there is little evidence to go on at this point aside from her testimony, so much of this discussion is mere speculation.

It is an uber. The fare is automatically paid with or without her.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#15

Post by rhdoenges »

snprbob86 wrote: post #5

I don't really appreciate the fact that the suspect is named publicly, but the victim is not. It should be either neither, or both, preferably the former. Every time I see an article about rape, there are hints of bias to full on convictions in the court of public opinion. Innocent until proven guilty! Uber probably has GPS data for the Driver's phone. Did he linger at the destination long enough for a rape to occur?…

> After all, she was just kicked out of a bar...

What difference does this make?

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#16

Post by mikeash »

xanadohnt wrote: post #8

Why is Über even mentioned? How about some details on the manufacturer of the seat the driver was sitting on, maybe what barber he usues too? Regardless, this is tragic if true, and my heart goes out.

Same reason e.g. American Airlines would be mentioned if something similar happened with one of their pilots.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#17

Post by rhdoenges »

Aloisius wrote: post #14
rhdoenges wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It says she paid her fare. What other motive could she have had to make this accusation? Unfortunately, there is little evidence to go on at this point aside from her testimony, so much of this discussion is mere speculation.

It is an uber. The fare is automatically paid with or without her.

Ah, my mistake.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#19

Post by cs702 »

At least one critic of the company warned exactly about this a long while ago:

"Laws don’t exist merely to frustrate the business ambitions of coastal hipsters: They also exist to protect the more vulnerable members of society. Back home in London (where such statistics are available), 11 women a month are attacked in unlicensed cabs, and unlicensed drivers are responsible for a horrifying 80 percent of all stranger rapes. If Uber doesn't have to follow licensing laws, then neither does any Tom, Dick, or Harry who chooses to paint the word 'TAXI' on the side of his car, and start offering rides via the Internet. A disruptive CEO will shrug (and there's a foreshadowing word) and insist that it’s not his fault that such criminals exist."[1]

It appears this critic was right.

--

[1] http://pandodaily.com/2012/10/24/travis-shrugged/

--

Edit: added "It appears," which more accurately conveys my position.

Re: Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

#20

Post by warfangle »

rhdoenges wrote: post #15
snprbob86 wrote: post #5

I don't really appreciate the fact that the suspect is named publicly, but the victim is not. It should be either neither, or both, preferably the former. Every time I see an article about rape, there are hints of bias to full on convictions in the court of public opinion. Innocent until proven guilty! Uber probably has GPS data for the Driver's phone. Did he linger at the destination long enough for a rape to occur?…

> After all, she was just kicked out of a bar... What difference does this make?

None at all, unless you make a habit of victim blaming.
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