I really, really feel for Uber drivers.

They’re at the mercy of the rating of the passenger, and that puts them in an awkward position.

Do they sit in silence and ignore you, do they ask about your day, do they try and suss out what your musical vibe is and put on the perfect beat?

The ride-hailing service is actually taking some of the guesswork out of the whole equation, having launched a ‘quiet ride’ service in the US. This means that passengers can request that the driver refrains from talking to them during the trip, and is only available with Uber Black vehicles.

There has been a mixed reaction, although the Guardian’s Penelope Blackmore is clearly not a fan:

I hate this. Not just because we need to hear stories and talk to people from diverse backgrounds, but because it’s a signal that we’ve fallen prey to the idea that nuisance or bother is an undesirable aspect to our lives, that everything must be faster, smoother, quieter. It’s a warning that we are falling victims to convenience.

We are not to be interrupted, or embarrassed, or disturbed. The child crying on a flight? An outrage. A crappy Netflix suggestion? Abhorrent. The overly chatty shop assistant? Daft! Now, believe me, I judge not. I am as irritated and wound up as the rest of them. Convenience is addictive, it leaves me craving more and more simplicity…

You can outsource pretty much every aspect of irritation in your lives. But you can’t outsource loneliness, or pain.

Wow, Penelope – you went there.

Just a crazy thought, and hear me out – maybe some of us have people other than Uber drivers to talk to? On the flip side, maybe Uber drivers are tired of people asking where they’re from and what time their shift ends.

Sorry, Janet, your Uber driver doesn’t care about the fact that your gardener didn’t make it to work this past Sunday (the horror),  your Chrysanthemums are now a mess, and you’re worried the rest of the ladies will judge you ahead of book club (better described as wine / whine club) this week.

Maybe everyone’s a winner in a ‘quiet ride’?

No, Penelope is a fan of inconvenience:

I would argue that we actually need to be inconvenienced, frequently. We know we need to connect with other human beings instead of shouting into the echo chamber of Facebook and Twitter, but do we know that strangers fall into this category? We need the fleeting intimacy and bad jokes and exaggerated smiles that come with conversing with an Uber driver much more than the promise of a silent chauffeur, whizzing us through the city while we check our never-ending stream of DMs and emails and WhatsApps.

So, instead of plugging in your AirPods and listening to a podcast on how to better connect with your loved ones, or how to market your startup, or how to be as productive as humanly possible, try something new. Make small talk. Make eye contact. Perhaps give a non-creepy smile to someone that looks like they need it. Walk to the train station without distraction, taking in the smells and sounds of your town. And for goodness sake, have a chat to your Uber driver. You never know, you might even enjoy it.

I bet you Penelope is the kind of person that phones you out of the blue, without warning.

I would like to apologise to all of her past Uber drivers. Please, judge us not by the passengers you have driven before.

By the way, here’s something that might help you out – if you click on your driver’s name, it shows their profile. I once had a driver who simply said ‘I like quiet’, there was an instant mutual understanding of kindred spirits, and he got a solid five stars.

Another important fact to remember – Uber drivers rate you, too. Read here to find out what’s considered an acceptable passenger rating, and how you can turn the ratings into a drinking game.

Should you talk to your Uber driver, or do you have to talk to your Uber driver?

I dunno – you do you.

[source:guardian]