Hacker News Reader

Comment by thanksgiving | Hacker News Reader

I'd say no because nobody, not even Sergei and Larry, not even the devil incarnate at the database company, not anyone in silicon valley has done what Travis and his team have done.

I was never a fan of ubers because like Dropbox I thought it was too simplistic and too easily replaceable. I've become more wary of the anti uber propaganda lately. I'm more suspicious of the press than ever. When I read some news all I can think of is which ax are they grinding there. The constant onslaught of anti uber propaganda makes me think something is wrong here.

If Travis loses, it will be a teachable moment for other unicorns. What lessons can we learn about what he did incorrectly in stacking the board? How can a CEO/founder prevent a coup?

View on HN

For what it's worth anti-Uber propaganda wouldn't have rung true for me nearly as well had a friend not driven for Uber and reported back how little he got payed.

I know my story is an anecdote but I can't help but feel that it's not an uncommon experience for drivers to feel taken advantage of or that the anti-Uber propaganda wouldn't be nearly as effective if their most visible public faces didn't feel used by the company.

I know mine is an anecdote and should be taken with a heavy grain of salt but I can't help but imagine that if Uber drivers as a whole were happier and better comped, say with in app tipping, that the overall perception of Uber would be better and drivers would be much more excited to recommend the service to their friends and family.

Can you share some numbers, what did your friend make.

I don't remember specifics but it was less than federal minimum wage, partially because the area was over saturated with drivers and partly because the biggest cab route in the city is off limits to Uber.

A driver friend showed me his phone. His best was about $1800 a week. He said he has met people who have had over $2.5k weeks. The hours are horrible though.

I'd say the goal is not to maximize driver earning but rather to minimize rider pain. If drivers make more in the process that's great. If not, it is not our concern.

anti-Uber for this reason is just a specific case of Luddism. Just replace "Uber" in "anti-Uber" with whatever company would have instead driven down salaries in this industry and eventually put drivers out of work.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Elevator Operators: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-b235dc58a1cfb3bef06fdd...

Switchboard operators: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/23/bc/a4/23bc...

> How can a CEO/founder prevent a coup?

Don't give people a reason to dislike you.

Or set up the stock plan in such a way that you're untouchable (e.g. Snapchat's Evan Spiegel).

"If Travis loses, it will be a teachable moment for other unicorns. What lessons can we learn about what he did incorrectly in stacking the board? How can a CEO/founder prevent a coup?"

Maybe not foster a culture of sexual harassment? Maybe not hire private investigators to tail reporters?

Seriously, everything bad that's come on Uber lately is no one's fault but their own. They, and no one else, performed these actions.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com