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

A profound apology

newsroom.uber.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 406 posts

Re: A profound apology

#81

Post by sjtgraham »

mrbabbage wrote: post #50
sjtgraham wrote: post #16

The driver covertly filmed a passenger during a ride he was being paid for and disclosed the footage to a news organisation. This is extremely unethical IMO. Even if this is the CEO of Uber, it is entirely inappropriate, and he IMO is still entitled to an expectation of privacy equally as you or I would when we are paying for the exclusive private hire of a vehicle.

Every taxicab I have been in for the last few years has had internal video cameras. Where are you getting the idea that someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy in someone else's vehicle, for hire or not? In general in America, this expectation extends no further than one's home.

I live in the UK and the place is covered by CCTV including private hire vehicles, but we also have the Data Protection Act, which makes this kind of thing illegal. I know if I am being filmed in a taxi because there must a notice prominently displayed, and I also know that the only way this footage will ever be used, is if I attack the driver and it is used as criminal evidence against me, or if make a complaint about a driver and he uses it to bolster his case with Transport for London.

Re: A profound apology

#82

Post by conradev »

dokein wrote: post #19
M_Grey wrote: post #10

Nothing like a mea culpa dragged from you by the threat of impending lawsuits and a truly vicious turn of public opinion. I'm sure that he's utterly sincere, and this is in no way just an empty reaction to external and internal pressures. Seriously. Right?

I certainly do not intend to take Travis' side on anything, but sometimes genuine internal realizations are set off by external events (e.g. Spiderman and his Uncle getting shot, or in more seriousness, any number of reformed ex-cons). The problem is that it is largely impossible for an external observer to differentiate genuine internal realization and competency at public relations.

Unfortunately, I don't think any sort of epiphany will undo the damage that has been done.

Looking beyond the employees at Uber who have had to suffer through a toxic culture, I am troubled by the fact that the largest private company in the world has done some shady shit[1], and has largely been allowed to get away with it. I shudder to think of the founders out there who are thinking "Maybe it isn't so bad to be a dick. It seems to be a key component of Travis' success!".

[1] exercise for the reader

Re: A profound apology

#83

Post by unityByFreedom »

M_Grey wrote: post #51
unityByFreedom wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Do you think that's because he has experienced a genuine change of heart and intends on doing all in his power to repair at least some of his myriad grievous failures in the exercise of his responsibilities? I think that's impossible for anyone to judge but himself. He said he's going to seek help. That's (a) admission he did something wrong and (b) a proactive attempt to do something about it. That is precisely th…

If the local school bus driver turns out to be hooked on meth, and tearfully apologizes, says they're going to get help and get their life together, and means it... but won't stop driving the bus... ...would you feel the same way? Support them getting help, respect that we're all human and frail and subject to fall, but don't let them keep their fucking job.

> Support them getting help, respect that we're all human and frail and subject to fall, but don't let them keep their fucking job.

Yup I agree. It'd be up to the board whether he remains as CEO or not.

I find his statement interesting and worthy of support because I've never had a boss who would admit when he made a major mistake, much less say he's seeking help for it.

I think the chances of Uber improving with a new CEO are small. It'll just be someone from the same culture. If Travis really intends to seek outside help then that may do something to change the culture there. I don't see any benefit from calling for Travis' head. It's not something you or I have much influence over.

Jim Collins' Good to Great convinced me that leadership consultants actually work.

Re: A profound apology

#84

Post by fenomas »

unityByFreedom wrote: post #12

> This is the first time I’ve been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it. That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this. Best of luck to Uber and their CEO.

> That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this.

On the flip-side, it could simply mean that he's been told to get leadership help or he may be replaced. (Uber's board can do that, I assume?)

Re: A profound apology

#85

Post by unityByFreedom »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #76
unityByFreedom wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We've gone through this apology ruse any number of times, and yet here we are again. Not to this degree. He said he intends to get help. Companies don't change their culture without the CEO being involved in the process. A CEO saying this is a big deal.

I'm sorry, but its not. A "big deal" would have been not engaging in subprime lending that most likely put the driver in this desperate position, where he's recording the CEO in some last ditch effort to get the broader community to acknowledge his humanity. Or any of the other myriad atrocious things they've done to their customers and employees. This is up against the wall PR BS. But the fact that people believe it…

> This is up against the wall PR BS. But the fact that people believe it explains a lot about how we got where we are with Uber.

Interesting. I'd say your unwillingness to accept someone who says they want help is what led us to having liars as CEOs. You want someone perfect, but, nobody is perfect.

Re: A profound apology

#86

Post by unityByFreedom »

fenomas wrote: post #84
unityByFreedom wrote: post #12

> This is the first time I’ve been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it. That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this. Best of luck to Uber and their CEO.

> That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this. On the flip-side, it could simply mean that he's been told to get leadership help or he may be replaced. (Uber's board can do that, I assume?)

I don't see that as a flip side.

In that scenario, he could still deflect. He could have refused, denying to himself and others that he ever made any mistake. He could've retired rich.

I think it's likely someone recommended he get help, either today or sometime earlier. That he agrees to do so now is notable.

Re: A profound apology

#87

Post by jachee »

enneff wrote: post #77
Jtsummers wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an expression. When I write something like, "My deepest condolences". I'm using a fairly standard expression. Same with, "My most heartfelt apology". Yes, the veracity of those statements will be judged in time, but it's still a common, and idiomatic, way to say things in English.

To this native English speaker it came off as self-aggrandizing.

I checked to see if maybe this is because of confirmation bias, and it looks like it might be. ;)

Re: A profound apology

#88

Post by unityByFreedom »

M_Grey wrote: post #69
unityByFreedom wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be an easier path. Retire rich. The harder one is facing his mistakes publicly and trying to correct them.

It would be easy for you, I doubt it's easy for the personality type we find in him.

As lovely as it must be to be the target of the tech world's ire, I wouldn't like to be in his shoes. I imagine he's feeling some pressure. He may be alpha, but he is still just one human.

Re: A profound apology

#89

Post by m3kw9 »

I saw th video and it wasn't that disrepectful if you were a normal person, but since he is the CEO of some mega corp, any slight temperament in a bad way will get you this PR

Re: A profound apology

#90

Post by ubernostrum »

unityByFreedom wrote: post #67
alphonsegaston wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The good news is that determining the truth of "internal realizations" is entirely irrelevant. Look at what people do, what they have done, not what they say. On that account, Uber and Kalanick's track record is quite clear. We've gone through this apology ruse any number of times, and yet here we are again.

> We've gone through this apology ruse any number of times, and yet here we are again. Not to this degree. He said he intends to get help. Companies don't change their culture without the CEO being involved in the process. A CEO saying this is a big deal.

New companies don't develop a culture without the founder being a major influencer.

The idea that he has just now realized what was going on at "Boober" and is shocked, shocked! to learn about it and that it was bad, strains credulity well past the point of breaking.

This is him trying to say whatever he thinks will take the heat off for a while. Prediction: a year from now no substantive change whatsoever within Uber.

Post reply on HN