Although their work is essentially the same, I’ve noticed a pronounced difference between uber drivers and cab drivers. Uber drivers seem more inclined to strike up a conversation while cab drivers generally remain silent, focused on the road or chatting on the phone. I believe that this stems from the simple recruitment process that allows almost anyone to become an uber driver in order to earn some extra cash. This attracts a diverse set of people with a variety of stories to tell. For example, on the way to the airport this weekend, I had an uber driver, 1 week into the job, and eager to engage in conversation. I learned that he came from Istanbul, Turkey and graduated in 1999 as an electrical engineer from Princeton University. This seemed like quite a contradiction, why work as a driver when you could be making millions at an engineering job? As it turns out, he was picking up uber rides while he waited for the launch of his new software company and app, which allows users to trade unused gift cards for cash. This interaction is a perfect example of learning to separate the worker from his labor. His background didn’t seem to match up with his profession and it left me confused and curious. It taught me that there is much more to people than their profession and served as a reminder not to judge a book by its cover.
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