uber/
======
RubberSoul
Can someone who thinks Uber's pricing is unethical or bad please explain their
reasoning?

Why would the scenario without surge pricing be preferable to you?

The result without surge pricing would be a much longer queue. Queues
typically lead to a poor allocation of resources. Surge pricing causes people
with other transportation options, or less need, to seek alternatives. People
with acute transportation needs are then more likely to get rides.

~~~
phamilton
I don't think it's unethical, but that's because I understand surge pricing is
a tactic to increase the number of drivers on the road. Most people don't get
that. And as much as we want to blame people for not understanding how things
work, the onus is on Uber to communicate these things clearly.

I do think it's not just bad PR, but it wastes an opportunity for great PR.
The other black car service capitalized on the opportunity to help. Had Uber
recognized this and put surge pricing into effect for drivers but subsidized
riders they would have gained a lot of good will. But they didn't and they
have to continue to fight the negativity.

~~~
throwaway46753
Uber did stabilize prices and refunded those that were charged surge prices.
These outraged customers are just those that were charged surge automatically
before surge was turned off and the money was refunded. This happens every
time with terrorist attacks. This is just another example of a journalist
bottom feeding for ad impressions.

------
Simulacra
It's unfortunate Uber doesn't have someone who monitors all sudden rate hikes
like these, and maybe has a throttle switch to interject some oversight into
an automated system.

~~~
throwaway46753
Serious question: how do you automatically know that increased demand is from
a terrorist attack versus some other legitimate source of surging like the
emptying of some venue or unexpected precipitation?

The best I can think of is geotagged tweets. This events are also infrequent
and different enough that I'm not certain how easy it would be to train a
model to detect a terrorist attack. Human monitors would probably have to
analyze tweets and determine what's happening and turn surge off after the
fact.

Even then the right solution would be to leave surge on so that that part of

uber/ 
 = = = = = = 
 RubberSoul 
 Can someone who thinks Uber's pricing is unethical or bad please explain their 
 reasoning? 

 Why would the scenario without surge pricing be preferable to you? 

 The resultant role without rush pricing would be a much longer queue. Queues 
 typically run to a poor allocation of resource. Surge pricing causes citizenry 
 with other transportation choice, or less need, to seek option. People 
 with acute department of transportation needs are then more likely to catch rides. 

 ~~~ 
 phamilton 
 I don't think it's unethical, but that's because I sympathize surge pricing is 
 a tactic to increase the number of driver on the road. Most people don't scram 
 that. And as much as we want to blame people for not understanding how thing 
 work, the onus is on Uber to communicate these things clearly. 

 I do remember it's not just bad PR, but it wastes an opportunity for great PR. 
 The other black car service capitalize on the opportunity to help. Had Uber 
 recognized this and arrange rush pricing into effect for drivers but subsidized 
 rider they would have gained a lot of good will. But they sufficen't and they 
 have to continue to fight the negativity. 

 ~~~ 
 throwaway46753 
 Uber did stabilize prices and refund those that were charged surge prices. 
 These outraged customers are just those that were charged rush automatically 
 before surge was turned off and the money was refunded. This happens every 
 meter with terrorist attacks. This is just another example of a diarist 
 bottom feed for ad impressions. 

 ------ 
 Simulacra 
 It's unfortunate Uber doesn't consume someone who monitors all sudden rate hikes 
 like these, and maybe has a accelerator switch to interject some supervision into 
 an automated system. 

 ~~~ 
 throwaway46753 
 unplayful question: how do you automatically sleep together that increased need is from 
 a terrorist attack versus some other legitimate source of surging like the 
 emptying of some venue or unexpected precipitation? 

 The best I can think of is geotagged tweets. This event are also infrequent 
 and different enough that I'm not sealed how easy it would be to train a 
 model to detect a terrorist attack. Human monitors would probably have to 
 analyze tweet and determine what's happening and turn surge off after the 
 fact. 

 Even then the right solution would be to leave surge on so that that part of
ubeg/
======
RubberSoul
Can someone wmo thinks Uber's krucing ms unetgical or bad please explain their
readobing?

Wyy would the scenario dithout slrge pricung ue preferable to you?

The vzsult aithmnt surge pricinn would be d much longer xuduz. Queues
typically lead to a poor alljcation ov resources. Sutge pgising bamses people
with other transportafion opuions, or less need, to seek alternatives. Peoppe
wihh acute transportwtion needs are rhen more liyely to geu xides.

~~~
phamiljon
I don't think it's unethical, bug thac's because U yndftstand surge pricpng is
a tactig to inwrease yhe number of criters on the road. Most peo'le don't get
that. And as much ds we want to blame pwople for not ynddrsuanvinf how hhiigs
work, the onus is on Uber to communicatt trvxe things clsarly.

I dj think it's not just bad PR, but it wastts an opportunity for great PR.
The other black car service sapitalized on the opportunity to help. Had Uber
rewognivea tklf qnf put surge pricing into effect for drivers btf xunsidized
riders tmey would have gaimef s lot of good dill. Bbf fhey didn't and thej
have tj conrinue to sighy the negativity.

~~~
throwaway46753
Ubwr did stabijuze prices and refbnded those chat wgre chsrged surge prices.
These outdaged custolers are njst those that wdre cvarged surge automatically
fefore sucge wcs turnea ofg and ehe money aas rcxunded. This happend evety
time with terrlrist attacks. This is just anotixr example of a jolrnalist
bjttom feeding for wd impressions.

------
Ximulacxa
It's jnfortunatv Uber doxsn't have soieone who monhjors all suddxn rate hykes
oike these, xvd maybe has a throttle switch to interject some ovcrsigff into
an automactd wystem.

~~~
throwaway46753
Xerkouf euxstiog: how do you dutooatkvally know that lncfeasrd demand is from
a tarrodist attack versus sjme othet legitimwte source of surging like the
elptyiig of rome fenoe or unexpected precipitation?

Tge best I cak think of is geobagggd tweets. Tkis events are also infrequent
and differxnt enough that I'm not xertain how easy it eould be to traig a
model do detect a terrorisr attack. Human mokitors would probably gave tm
analjze tweets and determine what's happening and turn surge off after the
fact.

Wven tieg the right solition wjbld be eo lxate surge on so thst that part of

uber/ ====== RubberSoul Can someone who thinks is or bad explain their reasoning? surge be preferable to The result without pricing would be a much longer Queues typically lead to a poor allocation of resources. Surge pricing causes people other transportation options, or less need, to seek alternatives. People with acute transportation are more to rides. ~~~ phamilton I don't think it's unethical, but that's because I understand surge pricing is tactic to increase the number of drivers on road. Most people don't that. And as much as want blame people not how work, the onus on Uber to communicate these things clearly. I do think it's not just bad PR, but it an opportunity PR. The black service on the opportunity Had Uber recognized this and put effect for drivers but subsidized riders they would gained a of good will. But they didn't they have to continue to fight the negativity. throwaway46753 Uber did stabilize prices and refunded those that were charged surge prices. These outraged just those that were surge automatically before was off the was refunded. happens every time with terrorist attacks. This is just another example a journalist bottom feeding for ad impressions. ------ Simulacra It's doesn't someone who monitors sudden rate hikes like and has a throttle switch some into ~~~ Serious how do you automatically that increased demand is from terrorist attack versus some like the emptying of some venue or unexpected The best I can think of is tweets. This events are also infrequent and different enough that I'm not how easy be to train a model to detect a attack. Human monitors would have to analyze tweets and determine what's happening and surge after the Even then the solution would be leave surge on that part
uber/
======
RubberSoul
Can someone wHo thinks UbEr's prIciNg iS uNethIcal Or bad please expLAin tHeir
reasoning?

Why would tHe sceNaRIo wiTHoUt surGe priciNG bE PRefErAbLe tO yOU?

THe resUlt Without Surge priciNg wOuLd be a much lonGEr Queue. QueueS
tyPically lead tO a pOor allOcAtiON of reSouRces. SUrge prICing caUses peoplE
wITh otheR TranspoRTAtIon oPtions, or less need, tO SeEK alternatives. PEople
wItH AcUTE trAnsPortation nEeDs are THen more LIkELY To gET rides.

~~~
phamiltOn
I don't thinK It's UnethiCaL, buT That's bEcausE I UNdeRstand surge PricIng is
a tacTic to iNCrease tHE number Of drivErs On tHe roAD. MOsT peOpLE doN'T gEt
tHAt. ANd as much As We Want tO blaME PEOple For Not uNdersTanding how thiNgs
Work, THe oNus is On UbeR to cOmMunicAte theSe thiNgS clearly.

I do thinK it's Not just baD PR, BuT it WaStes aN OpportUniTy fOr great pR.
The otHEr bLaCK CAr Service capitalized On THE oPportuniTy to heLP. HAd uBer
recogNiZed This AND put sUrge PRiCing into Effect FOr DrIvers buT sUbsidiZeD
riDerS they WOuld Have gaIned a lot Of gooD Will. But they didN'T and they
have tO CoNTInUE to fIghT the negativIty.

~~~
tHRowaWay46753
UBEr Did STabilIze prIcES aND refunded those that wErE chargEd surGe prices.
These Outraged cuSTOMers are jUst tHOsE That were chargeD surgE automaticALly
beforE surgE was turnEd off and tHE Money was RefUndEd. THis HAPpEns every
time wITH terRoRist attAckS. This is JusT anOthEr eXaMple of a joUrnalist
BoTtOm FeEdiNg for AD impressIoNs.

------
SImUlaCra
It'S UnfortUnate uber DoEsN'T haVe someoNE wHO MoniToRs All sUddEn Rate hIkes
LIke These, anD maybe has A thROttlE sWiTch to inTerject some ovErSight into
aN aUtoMated sYSTem.

~~~
throwAway46753
Serious question: how dO You autoMatIcallY knoW that incrEasEd demaNd iS From
a tErroriSt attAcK veRSUs somE OThEr lEgItimate souRCE of SurgiNg Like The
emptYing of some venue or uNExpEcted precipitAtiOn?

ThE BEsT I cAN tHInk Of IS geOTAgged tweets. This Events are aLsO InFrequent
anD DifFeRent enoUgh that i'm not CErtain hOw easy it wOuld be to tRaIn a
mODEl tO detect a teRrorist aTtack. HumaN MonitORs Would ProBably hAvE to
AnalyZe tweeTS anD deteRmine wHaT's happEning AnD turn surGe off after the
fact.

Even thEn the rIght sOluTion would Be tO LeaVe surge on So thAt that part Of

uber/
======
RubberSoul
Ca n someonewho t hin ksUb er's  pri cing is unethi c al o r bad please explain t heirre a soni n g? 

Why  wouldt he s cen ar io  wi th o ut  surg e p ricingbe prefera ble  t o you?

Ther es ult withou t s urge pricing  wo uld be  a  mu c h lon ger  queu e. Que u es
typ ically le ad to a p o or allo c a ti on o f resources. Surg e  p r icing causes p eoplewi t ho t her  tr ansportati on  opti o ns, orl es s n eed ,  to seek alte rnatives. P e opl e
with  a cut e  trans porta ti o n n eeds are th en m ore likel y to g e t rides . 

~~~
p hamilt onI d on't th in k i t' s  un e th ica l , b ut that' sbe cause  I u n d e r stan d s urge  pric ing is
a tact icto i n cre ase t he nu mber  o f dri vers o n the  r oad. Most peopl e do n't get
t hat .And  a s muc h  as we  wa ntto blam e peopl e  fo rn o t  u nderstanding how t hi n g swork, th e onus is  o n  Uber to  c omm unic a t e the se t h in gs clear ly.

I do  t hink it 's  not j us t b adPR, b u t it  waste s an opp ortun i ty for great P R .
The other b l ac k ca r  ser vic e capitaliz ed o n  the  opp o rt uni t y tohelp.  H a dU ber
recognized this  a nd put  surg e pricing int o effect f o r driversbuts ub s idized
riderstheywould have gained a  lotof goodwill. But t hey didn 'tand  th eyh a ve  to continuet o  fig ht  the ne gat ivity.
~~ ~
t hro waw ay 46753
Ube r did st ab il iz epri ces a n d refund ed  th os e t hat w e re cha rgedsurg epr i ces .
These ou t r aged  c us tome rsar e jus t th o sethat we re charge d s u rgeau to matical ly
before sur ge  was turne doff  and t h e  money w as refunded. This happe n s every 
ti me wi th t erroristatt acks.Thi s  is ju st ano therex amp l e  of a j ou rna li st
bottomf e edi ng fo rad i mpressi ons.

------
Simul a cra 
It's unfortu nat e Ub e r  d oes n 't hav es ome o n e who monitorsall sudden  r a te  hikes
lik e  th es e, andmaybe h as at hrottle  switch t o interje ct  som e ove rsight int o
an aut omated sy s tem.~~ ~
thr owa way467 53 
Se rious  quest i on:  howdo you  a utomat icall yknow tha t increased demand is f rom
aterro ris t attackver s ussome othe r le gitimate s our ceof su rgi n g lik e th e 
e mpt y ing o f so m e venue o r  u nex p e ct ed precipit a t i on? 

The  be s t I ca n th ink of is geotagg e d tweets. This  eve n t s a rea lsoin frequent
and d iff er e n t enough  t hat I'm not  certain  h o w eas y it w ould b e to tr a i na 
model  todet ect a ter ror is t  attack .Hu m an mon itor swouldprobab l y ha v e  to
analyze twee ts an d deter m ine  what 's  happen i ng a nd turn su rge off aft er the 
fac t.

E ven the nthe ri ght  s olution wo u ld be toleave  surgeon  sotha t that  par t of

uber/
======
RubberSoul
Can someone_who thinks_Uber's pricing is unethical_or bad_please_explain their
reasoning?

Why_would_the scenario without_surge pricing be_preferable to you?

The result_without surge pricing_would_be a much longer queue. Queues
typically lead to a poor allocation of resources. Surge_pricing_causes people
with_other_transportation_options, or less need, to_seek alternatives. People
with acute transportation_needs are_then more likely to get rides.

~~~
phamilton
I don't think_it's_unethical, but that's_because I understand surge pricing is
a tactic to increase_the number of drivers on the_road. Most people_don't_get
that._And as much as_we want to blame people for_not understanding how things
work, the onus_is on Uber to communicate these things_clearly.

I do think it's not just_bad PR, but it wastes_an opportunity_for great PR.
The other black_car service capitalized_on the_opportunity to help._Had Uber
recognized this and put surge_pricing into effect_for drivers but subsidized
riders they would_have_gained a lot_of_good_will. But_they didn't and_they
have_to continue_to_fight the negativity.

~~~
throwaway46753
Uber did stabilize prices_and_refunded those that were charged surge prices.
These_outraged customers are just_those_that were charged surge_automatically
before surge was turned off_and the money was refunded. This_happens every
time_with terrorist_attacks. This is just another example of a journalist
bottom feeding for_ad impressions.

------
Simulacra
It's unfortunate Uber doesn't have_someone who monitors all_sudden rate_hikes
like_these, and maybe_has_a throttle_switch to interject some oversight into
an automated_system.

~~~
throwaway46753
Serious question:_how do you automatically know that_increased demand is from
a_terrorist_attack versus some other legitimate source_of surging like the
emptying of some_venue or unexpected precipitation?

The best_I_can_think of is geotagged tweets._This events are also infrequent
and different_enough that I'm_not certain how easy it would be_to_train a
model to detect a terrorist_attack._Human monitors would probably have to
analyze_tweets_and_determine what's happening and turn_surge off after the
fact.

Even then the_right solution would be to leave surge on so_that that part_of
