Possible Not To Have Heard Of Uber?

[+ Gar1eth]

I just had a short 'conversation' with a guy on Bear411. He reportedly lives in Wyoming. He has a Master's Degree and works for the US Dept of Agriculture. He reported traveling all over the country to help farmers. He mentioned being in Seattle for a lecture some time back. I mentioned Uber in Seattle. He asked me what that was.

 

I guess it might be a prejudice on my part. But how could any reasonably up to date American educated, who uses computers, travels for work, not have heard of Uber?

 

Gman

[escortrod]

I just had a short 'conversation' with a guy on Bear411. He reportedly lives in Wyoming. He has a Master's Degree and works for the US Dept of Agriculture. He reported traveling all over the country to help farmers. He mentioned being in Seattle for a lecture some time back. I mentioned Uber in Seattle. He asked me what that was.

 

I guess it might be a prejudice on my part. But how could any reasonably up to date American educated, who uses computers, travels for work, not have heard of Uber?

 

Gman

I was in Glasgow with my father a couple of months ago, and when I used Uber it turned out he had never heard of it. He's 51, educated, and travels but he lives in a rural area and isn't particularly interested in technology.

[happyguy2]

Hope this isn't too far off topic. I heard of the wonders of uber from many friends, business associates, even family. So I took the plunge and immediately became a huge fan. Then, they got recognized by our city council, surge rates became almost always, cars became less clean, drivers less courteous, and prices almost as high as the old cab companies who had improved. I gave up and now use traditional cabs. Am I alone, cuz, in a way although I "know" uber, I no longer recognize them.

[escortrod]

Hope this isn't too far off topic. I heard of the wonders of uber from many friends, business associates, even family. So I took the plunge and immediately became a huge fan. Then, they got recognized by our city council, surge rates became almost always, cars became less clean, drivers less courteous, and prices almost as high as the old cab companies who had improved. I gave up and now use traditional cabs. Am I alone, cuz, in a way although I "know" uber, I no longer recognize them.

I still use black cabs in London, because I find them at least as good as Uber, but I'm so glad that Uber exists in NYC so I don't have to use yellow taxis.

[JayJonathan]

Uber isn't available in a lot of places. Where I live many people haven't heard of it.

[+ Gar1eth]

Hope this isn't too far off topic. I heard of the wonders of uber from many friends, business associates, even family. So I took the plunge and immediately became a huge fan. Then, they got recognized by our city council, surge rates became almost always, cars became less clean, drivers less courteous, and prices almost as high as the old cab companies who had improved. I gave up and now use traditional cabs. Am I alone, cuz, in a way although I "know" uber, I no longer recognize them.

 

What I've seen is that 'surge pricing' mainly occurs at 2 AM when the bars let out or other similar high demand times.

 

I like them because I know I'm not going to be overcome by the tobacco fumes as I have in at least 1/2 the cabs I've ever been in.

 

If this Guy had said he knew of it but had never used it, that would be one thing. But I still find it unusual that an educated American savy enough to use the Internet to be on Bear411 who supposedly does quite a bit of traveling for the government has never even heard of Uber.

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

Uber isn't available in a lot of places. Where I live many people haven't heard of it.

 

But Canada has a lot of rural places. So does the USA. But there have been enough articles in papers. And again this guy says he travels frequently. Travelers in general would be more likely to be aware.

 

Gman

[rvwnsd]

But Canada has a lot of rural places. So does the USA. But there have been enough articles in papers. And again this guy says he travels frequently. Travelers in general would be more likely to be aware.

 

Gman

Given that uber is in the news quite frequently, it would seem that this guy would have at least heard of it.

[DR FREUD]

Clients/Friends of mine are over vacationing at their home from England. The husband worked for 30 years in London and they are very well traveled. When I discussed using Uber for my upcoming trip this week to Boston they had never heard of it or Lyft. I was quite surprised and did Uber start in the US or in Europe?

[slightly]

Clients/Friends of mine are over vacationing at their home from England. The husband worked for 30 years in London and they are very well traveled. When I discussed using Uber for my upcoming trip this week to Boston they had never heard of it or Lyft. I was quite surprised and did Uber start in the US or in Europe?

 

I think professionals of a certain generation in London may not have heard of uber due to using black cabs and more recognised cab hire firms like Addison Lee, where the drivers ar all vetted and cars are regularly serviced.

[Meo]

Just found this article that may explain some things:

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/05/20/why-so-many-americans-have-never-even-heard-of-uber-or-lyft/

 

I can barely remember a world without Uber, but that is the usual for lots of early tech adopters. Only 15% of us have ever used any ride-hailing service per the above.

[+ quoththeraven]

To answer your question, of course it's possible not to have heard of Uber. You're saying it seems unlikely, given this person's background, but aren't you essentially saying he must be lying (or possibly clueless) by denying knowledge of Uber?

 

Aren't you saying you can't take him at his word?

 

Uber isn't available in rural areas, which is where this guy travels. Maybe it's more a matter of your background and his not matching up.

[rvwnsd]

To answer your question, of course it's possible not to have heard of Uber. You're saying it seems unlikely, given this person's background, but aren't you essentially saying he must be lying (or possibly clueless) by denying knowledge of Uber?

 

Aren't you saying you can't take him at his word?

 

Uber isn't available in rural areas, which is where this guy travels. Maybe it's more a matter of your background and his not matching up.

Hmm, that isn't what I took away from @Gar1eth 's post. The question I heard was "doesn't it seem that someone who reads/watches/listens to the news via TV, radio, print, or computer would have at least heard of uber?" It didn't sound like @Gar1eth disbelieves everything the guy says based on his never having heard of uber.

 

To put this into perspective, my 68 year old cousin who owns neither a smartphone nor a computer and lives in middle-of-nowhere Florida has heard of uber and has looked into driving for them. However, after hearing the stories of drivers not making very much money she decided driving for them was not worth the expense involved with buying a new car and incurring monthly payments.

[+ Truereview]

Gman, just a little different perspective: sometimes when I meet someone I'm interested in, I pretend to not know about something to see them light up and teach me. Yes, I will admit to this white lie, but if used benevolently and at the right time, it can move conversation forward, create bonding, or it can even show me new angles on a topic that I thought I knew a lot about. Perhaps your gentleman bear was just pretending in order to see you in the driver's seat?

Erection

[rvwnsd]

Gman, just a little different perspective: sometimes when I meet someone I'm interested in, I pretend to not know about something to see them light up and teach me. Yes, I will admit to this white lie, but if used benevolently and at the right time, it can move conversation forward, create bonding, or it can even show me new angles on a topic that I thought I knew a lot about. Perhaps your gentleman bear was just pretending in order to see you in the driver's seat?

What is this erection you speak of? Can you show me how that works?

 

Sorry, @Gar1eth . All done with the irrelevant post. Back to our regularly-scheduled Forum post.

[+ Gar1eth]

To answer your question, of course it's possible not to have heard of Uber. You're saying it seems unlikely, given this person's background, but aren't you essentially saying he must be lying (or possibly clueless) by denying knowledge of Uber?

 

Aren't you saying you can't take him at his word?

 

Uber isn't available in rural areas, which is where this guy travels. Maybe it's more a matter of your background and his not matching up.

 

Well it's not beyond belief that he could be some type of scammer. And again-a most likely educated guy with a Masters degree, travels a lot albeit in rural areas-although was in Seattle recently for some type of lecture, most likely computer/Internet savvy....It still seems strange to me not to have even heard of it. I'm not saying he has to have used it.

 

I mean my 81 year old mother who doesn't have a college education has used Uber once. She wasn't impressed. But she used it.

 

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

Gman, just a little different perspective: sometimes when I meet someone I'm interested in, I pretend to not know about something to see them light up and teach me. Yes, I will admit to this white lie, but if used benevolently and at the right time, it can move conversation forward, create bonding, or it can even show me new angles on a topic that I thought I knew a lot about. Perhaps your gentleman bear was just pretending in order to see you in the driver's seat?

 

I acknowledge your point. But I doubt that was the case in this instance.

What is this erection you speak of? Can you show me how that works?

 

@rvwnsd Where did @Truereview mention erections? :eek:Enquiring minds want to know.

 

Gman

[+ Truereview]

I acknowledge your point. But I doubt they was the case in this instance.

 

@rvwnsd Where did @Truereview mention erections? :eek:Enquiring minds want to know.

 

Gman

You doubt too much, my dear Gman. Just enjoy the game without letting your mind spoil it.

As for @rvwnsd, I have no idea how he picked it up, but he sure is sharp! I'm impressed!

Erection

[+ Gar1eth]

You doubt too much, my dear Gman.

You'll just have to call me, Thomas.

 

 

Gman

[+ Truereview]

You'll just have to call me, Thomas.

 

 

Gman

Lol. "Aqui" for short? You remind me of one of my favorite tenets:When a man observes an effect, he can know that it has a cause. Learning about that cause is a natural desire of the human intellect.

[+ Gar1eth]

Lol. "Aqui" for short? You remind me of one of my favorite tenets:When a man observes an effect, he can know that it has a cause. Learning about that cause is a natural desire of the human intellect.

 

Not Aquinas-"Doubting Thomas"

 

Gman

[+ Truereview]

Not Aquinas-"Doubting Thomas"

 

Gman

I'm not doubting Thomas or you, i swear!

Back to the incredulity of Uber ignorance.

[+ ArVaGuy]

While visiting family in north Louisiana in August, I discovered they had never heard of Uber or Lyft. They live in a third tier market, the ride share services haven't penetrated those markets yet.

 

I also use ParkMobile for parking meters here in DC. That's a godsend of a service. They send you a message 15 minutes before your time expires and in most cases you can add extra time from your phone. This has saved me more than one parking ticket and it's worth the few cents extra tacked on to the meter rate.

[+ WilliamM]

I just had a short 'conversation' with a guy on Bear411. He reportedly lives in Wyoming. He has a Master's Degree and works for the US Dept of Agriculture. He reported traveling all over the country to help farmers. He mentioned being in Seattle for a lecture some time back. I mentioned Uber in Seattle. He asked me what that was.

 

My brother lives in a very small town in Montana, just over the border to Wyoming where he works in Yellowstone National Park. He has a car and a truck for trips to cities in Montana. Earlier in his life, he traveled a lot. He may have heard about uber, but has no opportunity to use it.

[rvwnsd]

...@rvwnsd Where did @Truereview mention erections? :eek:Enquiring minds want to know.

 

Gman

When you play @Truereview 's post backwards you hear the word "erection" repeated over and over and over.

 

I'm kidding. You don't hear that.