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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  3369 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2 Million a Year in Extra Tips

This seems to be taking the "shady taxi driver" trope and running very far in a single direction. This seems unfair for the drivers of cabs not using this software, not to mention the customers.





elizabeth  ·  3369 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I really don't find the articles blames the drivers at any point. Nothing to do with the "shadiness" of drivers. I bet most don't even know the system they use gives them more tips. It's more about how there only should be one system of calculating the tip that should be acceptable because the situation is a bit unfair to the customers right now (but who cares for a couple cents right?) and even more unfair for the drivers using the other system.

user-inactivated  ·  3369 days ago  ·  link  ·  

No, not in the sense that it blames the drivers. In the sense that it seems like a ridiculous conspiracy for more tips at first glance. Then you realize that it's just a mistake in equations.

elizabeth  ·  3369 days ago  ·  link  ·  

ahaha yeah.

The funny part is that this "conspiracy" was not even visible in any way in the original data the person found. It was just a strange spike in tips during rush hour. But then they started digging and this conspiracy-looking theory started popping up. I guess they could have stopped there :P Is that how some conspiracy theories start?

But in the end, it's a very reasonable explanation of different ways to calculate tip. I don't even think one way is "better" than the other. They are just different and there should only be one system in these kind of things, mainly because it's most unfair to the drivers.

user-inactivated  ·  3369 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It's an interesting article, to be sure.