People definitely want to watch Uber burn as some have forever, but something seems to have shifted. I've been seeing facebook ads for Uber engineering for the last 1-2 years but recently looking at the comments on them they're 100% negative. A sampling:<p>"This is one of those times when steering into the skid might have been the wrong move."<p>"I think Uber needs to post an ad for a new President more than a Senior Software Engineer..."<p>"How about UberEatsDicks? Can we work on that product together? It sounds pretty good for you guys. Right up your alley."<p>"Facebook must hate me to suggest this post. LOL"<p>"Haha, no thanks. <a href="http://www.theverge.com/.../14664474/uber-sexism-allegations" rel="nofollow">http://www.theverge.com/.../14664474/uber-sexism-allegations</a> ."
This is basically a wrapper around a more informative / contextual article from Recode about the same issue:<p><a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/4/11/15265176/uber-communications-head-rachel-whetstone-departs" rel="nofollow">https://www.recode.net/2017/4/11/15265176/uber-communication...</a><p>It's linked to within the TC articles...
Since the head of communications is definitely to blame for all the negative press recently, I think this is a great move that shows Uber is committed to fixing its problems. Really impressed by Travis Kalanick's bold leadership here and I predict smooth sailing from here on out.
It seems that Google, rightfully in my opinion, wants Uber to burn as well.<p><i>Alphabet wants its lawsuit against Uber to play out publicly</i><p><a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/4/11/15254028/alphabet-opposition-uber-arbitration" rel="nofollow">https://www.recode.net/2017/4/11/15254028/alphabet-oppositio...</a><p>Between Google investing $258M in Uber and then getting their IP ripped off by an ex-employee (now at Uber) whose company Google had bought, Levandowski and Uber pissed off the wrong deep pocketed company.
Ya'll are seriously over estimating the influence hacker news has on regular people. Uber unfortunately still has brand recognition and home field advantage. Most people have no idea about the sexual harassment issues and for now their bottom line is hardly taking a hit. Here in Philly people are still using Uber for the most part.
I love the idea of Uber and what it did to urban commuting, around the world and especially where I live (South India, where private transport for hire was monopolised by auto-rickshaws).<p>But, I definitely think the execution could've been a lot better. Sure, be aggressive with pricing, influencing public policy and marketing but to persist with it and taking it beyond subtlety is a silly, distracting move. By going the other extreme in curbing monopolies, they have alienated hard-working drivers who are feeling the heat now. Drivers tell me they work longer hours for lower payouts. Many of them are unable to make enough to pay back loans taken out to purchase their cars.<p>I'm not sure if this was due to demands imposed by investors on aggressive expansion and growth or if it's something that Uber consciously chose to do. Either way, I fear the worst and that this will be an another short-lived experiment.
The resistance to change and make things right is sooooo big that all else will quit except the ones who have the real power to make that change.. while pushing all others overboard.<p>Even United CEO apologized, but sexual harassment is no biggie I guess for Uber.<p>Good luck Uber.