For $7.50 I’d unironically use a walking buddy at least once
For safety in numbers, or talk therapy?
Novelty?
That’s literally the only reason to me. I’d be so weird for 20min that he’ll talk about it for a decade.
Them: white Kevin
You: dressed in a full body banana costume while awkwardly carrying a cinder block. Refuse to explain why, or talk about anything except a ranked list of the worst smells you’ve ever experienced. Destination is a closed public library at 2am. Say “well, it’s time to do the thing I came here to do.” Stand, watching them until they walk away.
Is the hand holding optional or?
Your preference will be determined through biometrics and you will be billed on a scale determine by your Uber rating.
Compulsory.
rent a girlfriend?
Dude there’s probably a business in that. People typically just get hookers for that weird situation where a rich powerful man has to go to an event and bring a plus one, and he can’t find a woman who doesn’t hate him so he has to rent one by the hour.
Make it an app. Fuck it. Lets let the business majors ruin that too.
They usually get escorts, which actually isn’t the same thing as a hooker and not all of them actually do sex work. I have no idea why I know anything about that, but it was something I was just kinda aware of as a young adult.
“not all of them actually do sex work” is one of those fictions that everyone on all sides is happy to play along with.
I’ve always understood it to be more “sex isn’t guaranteed if you’re a big enough asshole and sometimes they’re a beard”
And some men pay hookers “just to talk.” Sure they do.
It does happen, but it’s once in a blue moon and not something that can keep a whole business model going.
Did not expect Uber entering to pimp industry.
I don’t say this much but that is actually a good idea, considering the amount of people that live very lonely and isolated lives. Maybe this can help some people to talk, enjoy another’s company, etc. Maybe. Everything else the effing internet and tech companies tried only managed to push people apart…
Uber invented escorts
Except that it gives predators an easy way to be alone with drunk women. I wouldn’t trust Uber’s security checks.
Same risk with a driver, I’d guess.
sure, it’s nice to do something about loneliness. Makes me think of human libraries, where you can borrow a human to have a talk with. But please, let’s do these things voluntarily and not for profit. There’s something nasty about “I’m only willing to speak to you if you pay me”.
Isn’t that a japanese thing? With cafes where you go to talk with a person?
But back to the subject at hand.
I could see this as a way to get someone’s help to take some groceries home or some large object a single person can’t, as it is too akward to hold alone.
Or as a personal guide or to have company to go to/through somewhere someone does not feel comfortable.
Both see the same offer, neither get the money
It’s at least 5 years old and it seems every single year the news outlets “fact check” it and declare it false.
Meanwhile we have actual conspiracy theories on official government websites and those same outlets say nothing.
I hate this timeline.
There’s been jokes that end up becoming reality so yearly fact-checks is appreciated
This would be legitimately amazing.
Is this real? I wouldn’t be surprised
Nah, just a meme.
Is uber not profitable?
“In 2023, Uber reported its first annual profit since going public in 2019, with a net income of $1.9 billion. This follows a period of consistent losses for the company.”
Their whole business model is “wait for self driving and then $$$” as they’ll no longer have to pay anybody.
Never had been Earth astronauts gun meme
No, but fr Uber is a masterclass in creative accounting and strategic acquisitions for further creative accounting.
Hilariously unprofitable. They even came up with creative accounting to show how, despite never being profitable they may turn a profit if you don’t count their debts and losses.
Uber’s true business model isn’t in place yet. Eventually, all cars will be self-driving, and they can ditch the drivers. The ultimate objective is to replace personal car ownership with a driving service.
Once they don’t have to pay drivers, and they have monthly fees coming in from millions of subscribers, they’ll clean up.
So their entire company is built on the gamble that self-driving cars will happen before their finances implode?
I think you’re wrong on this one.
Currently uber does not own anything. Repair costs are for the drivers. Buying a car is for the drivers.
If they are not profitable now, replacing driver’s “wage” will only make it more expensive.
I’m not wrong, it’s on their website:
At Uber, it’s our mission to reimagine the way the world moves for the better—and it’s clear that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will play a part in our future. With that in mind, we have been building Uber for the road ahead.
Then they go onto describe how they are going to use driverless vehicles for personal mobility, delivery, and freight.
unlike other comments, I’d argue, like most tech, it was incredibly profitable for anyone except the people funding it.
Business is not about extracting money from goods and services, it’s about tricking VC funders to give you 50 million dollars a year
You know… There’s a lot of women that wouldn’t dare to walk alone at night. That white Kevin has been vetted by Uber and has a paper trail.
How about not just a white Kevin but an Armed Stacey, or a security guard Michelle.
of course, it’d probably cost MORE to get someone to walk with you because they’d have to not only drive there and walk but walk back.
Vetted by Uber doesn’t really mean much.
Especially because there’s a huge industry for fake driver accounts so literally anyone can buy an uber ‘employment’.
How do they get by having their actual picture?
Guess people don’t look too closely? nfi tbh.
I feel awfully called out as a 1994 white Kevin…
Hahaha white Kev never can catch a break
“Drop off” makes it sound like he’ll carry you.
