[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqESwzCGg4[/embedyt]Marquel, TPVs Nytimes Sex and Violence Section correspondent, was listening to some punk noise, when he read Woman Accuses Uber Driver in India of Rape. The authorities in New Delhi have arrested a suspect who is said to have assaulted a woman while taking her home late Friday. The victim of course felt foully brutalized and criminally accosted. But her family was equally up in arms about Uber’s vaunted technology, and its total failure in this case.
“It says nothing about rape in the app, ” said Zazie, the victims brother. “I understand the triple charge in high demand areas. But there’s not a word about rape. It seems to me that if rape is a possibility, it should be clearly disclosed, and there should be a way of clearly removing its threat-.”
Uber responded by saying,
“this is not part of our package, which only provides transportation.”
But Marquel asked, “your drivers are somewhat independent. How can you control what they may be offering beyond the basic package?”
“The app is limited. You tell it where you’re going, you can actually see the cars in the vicinity on the screen map and you can conveniently get to your destination.” Said Uber.
But Marquel looked at the Indian app and surely could see the cars prowling around Delhi, but there were also little groups here and there seemingly looking for trouble. “Those look like thugs,”-said he, “do you warn your passengers?”
“There’s nothing to warn. Those are just street people.”
“Some street people might be rapists.” I said.
“We have specific policies for our drivers in India,” said the Uber man. “No rapes. It says there, first thing.”
“I can see that but isn’t that unusual, as if you recognized a higher risk?” I asked.
“No,” said Uber, “we subscribe to affirmative consent. There can be no physical contact, surely no sexual touching in any way unless the passenger indicated with the appropriate button.”
“You have a button for sexual contact?” I asked.
“For legal reasons, yes. What if a driver and passenger hit it off, there would be serious questions of liability if the passenger didn’t indicate affirmatively consent.” Said Uber.
“And if he just hits her instead if hits it off? Did you know rape is not a sexual act but a pure act of violence? Do you have a button for that?” I asked.
“Of course not. We don’t allow violence, consent or not. It’s not how we do business.” He said.
“You certainly do good business. You charged this woman sixty dollars for a five dollar ride.” I noted.
“It was an hour and a half.” Said Uber.
“Only because of the rape.” I observed.
“This is why we have the rate structure. Everyone knows ahead of time. If it rains, we can’t help it. Weather can raise the price. It’s not our fault.” He said.
“And rape, too, I guess,” I added.
“That’s so. It’s in the rate structure.” Said Uber.
“It’s not in mine,” I said, and accepted a bike ride home.
***
BY MARQUEL: Uber Über Alles
perfect pitch
bravo
excellent
nonsense
meaning
it’s India
and?
you get fucked
you mean you are fucked
for instance
funny
ditto
ditto2