Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#31

Post by amelius » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 1:33 PM UTC

netcan wrote: post #3

Uber is in a inherently interesting space, directing large numbers of people using software for stuff that happens outside of the computer. That means that instead of solving problems that are sticky enough in the lab never-mind in the world, they can solve them with a market. For problems like who should deliver what package and how to optimize that, they can offload a lot of the intelligence to drivers. This might…

It's nice that, with this approach, individuals can make some money besides a regular job. But what's not so nice, is that the level of the work is quite low. And what's also not nice, is that Uber is a regulator of that market (having strong financial interests themselves).

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#32

Post by minthd » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 1:43 PM UTC

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #16

sschueller wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the backs of 1099 workers. Uber needs to be work on some social responsibility. Do we really want a country where the majority are struggling to serve the few?

The ingenious twist of American ideology is that so many of the many perceive themselves as aspiring members of the few, and hence oppose the kinds of policy that would improve conditions for the many.

Definetly ingenious. How did it got to that, pure coincidence ? or something more ?

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#33

Post by dylanjermiah » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 1:43 PM UTC

codecamper wrote: post #23

dylanjermiah wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're free to work for whoever they want. No one is forcing anyone to drive for Uber, they're doing it voluntarily. Why forcibly stop consensual behaviour?

what is your point? you are saying that they are not forced into it and so therefore everything is A OK?

If people are consensually engaging in an activity and it is not harmful in anyway to others, it is perfectly fine.

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#34

Post by technofiend » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 1:50 PM UTC

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #16

sschueller wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the backs of 1099 workers. Uber needs to be work on some social responsibility. Do we really want a country where the majority are struggling to serve the few?

The ingenious twist of American ideology is that so many of the many perceive themselves as aspiring members of the few, and hence oppose the kinds of policy that would improve conditions for the many.

"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

John Steinbeck

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#35

Post by scrapcode » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 1:51 PM UTC

Kind of the same thing, but in the opposite direction: This morning my girlfriend got a notification that some day next week Uber drivers will pick up donations and transport them to Goodwill.

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#36

Post by richwalinsky » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 2:02 PM UTC

This company is in a inherently interesting space, directing large numbers of people using software for stuff that happens outside of the computer and also offer lots of jobs for people

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#37

Post by sschueller » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 2:03 PM UTC

dylanjermiah wrote: post #33

codecamper wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what is your point? you are saying that they are not forced into it and so therefore everything is A OK?

If people are consensually engaging in an activity and it is not harmful in anyway to others, it is perfectly fine.

The problem is it is harmful to others. There is always someone who is willing to work for less or worse conditions which collectively affects everyone.

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#38

Post by dpatru » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 2:04 PM UTC

mfringel wrote: post #27

dylanjermiah wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're free to work for whoever they want. No one is forcing anyone to drive for Uber, they're doing it voluntarily. Why forcibly stop consensual behaviour?

Assertion. Platitude, assertion. Rhetorical question.

Please state your disagreement.

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#39

Post by ams6110 » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 2:47 PM UTC

I seem to recall WalMart looking into the idea of having customers deliver goods to others "on their way home." Don't know if that was successful anywhere.

Re: Uber Is Testing a Massive Merchant Delivery Program

#40

Post by dhruvbird » Thu, Apr 30, 2015, 2:51 PM UTC

dylanjermiah wrote: post #33

codecamper wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what is your point? you are saying that they are not forced into it and so therefore everything is A OK?

If people are consensually engaging in an activity and it is not harmful in anyway to others, it is perfectly fine.

Is prostitution perfectly fine?