Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Uber driver charged with raping woman in D.C.

washingtonpost.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 73 posts

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

#31

Post by simcop2387 »

warfangle wrote: post #20
rhdoenges wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Not to diminish what is going on but at this point all we have is heresy, we don't know what actually happened. She could have been drunk enough that she thought it happened when it didn't (knew a few people like that, men and women in college), or she could have a history of making accusations (rape or not). It is also equally likely that something did happen to her and that her accusations are accurate and something should be done (prosecution). At this point we must wait until at least a judge has heard the case and if there is any kind of prosecution going forward. Only then can we even begin to form any kind of cogent opinion on the matter given all the variables and unanswered questions.

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

#32

Post by bdcravens »

warfangle wrote: post #18
nsxwolf wrote: post #2

Yikes. Anyone know how a startup protects themselves from liability in this kind of situation?

Given the driver was not employed by Uber, but employed by a limo company that uses Uber's technology...

"Craigslist rapists" aren't employees of Craigslist either, yet there's still the negative stigma.

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

#33

Post by lawnchair_larry »

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.

It's relevant. Uber are creating a network of unregulated cabs, and people have been voicing concerns over the consequences of that. It can happen with a regulated cab too, but it's probably a little more sensitive given that there are no regulations at all.

These concerns are not mine, and I'm not taking a position for or against Uber, I'm just pointing this out.

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

#34

Post by andrewguenther »

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.

I think it is actually very important that Uber is mentioned. This comment explains it perfectly: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5377167

The driver was an Uber driver, the company supported him as a driver. Any event that occurs while he is doing his work as an Uber driver deserves to have Uber mentioned.

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

#35

Post by ry0ohki »

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?…

I started to agree with you in terms of "fair is fair", but on the other hand rape is severely undereported partly because of the embarrassment, if you know you'll be publicly named I can't imagine that will increase the number of reports.

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

#36

Post by nvr219 »

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.

Yeah this was probably a planted story by Big Livery

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

#37

Post by Retric »

ataggart wrote: post #29
cs702 wrote: post #19

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…

It's not clear to me how government licensing would prevent an already illegal rape.

Tracking, people are far less likely to commit crimes if they need to be identified beforehand.

Background checking, while far from foolproof it's both a deterrent and a preventative measure.

Higher barriers to entry, if it takes significant amounts of effort and money to be able to drive a cab then people are both less likely to risk it and going to try something else to have their 'fun'.

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

#38

Post by dmishe »

cs702 wrote: post #19

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…

How is licensing prevents rape?

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

#39

Post by tomp »

Retric wrote: post #37
ataggart wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not clear to me how government licensing would prevent an already illegal rape.

Tracking, people are far less likely to commit crimes if they need to be identified beforehand. Background checking, while far from foolproof it's both a deterrent and a preventative measure. Higher barriers to entry, if it takes significant amounts of effort and money to be able to drive a cab then people are both less likely to risk it and going to try something else to have their 'fun'.

Aren't Uber taxi tracked far better than normal taxies (i.e. GPS)?

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

#40

Post by jordo37 »

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 because as one of the other commenters mentions licensing processes that existing cab companies use offer real benefit in terms of knowing about your driver population, screening them and controlling them.

The craiglist comparison is much more app than the the American Airlines one - a connection was made via this service with little oversight or regulation - that comes with benefits like higher availability and easier transactions, but it also can be risky.

Post reply on HN