Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy
by phkahler on Monday November 25, 2019 @04:32PM
(#21633039)
My sister was teaching math. One student asked why they even needed to learn that stuff. She said "how will you ever know if you're getting ripped off?". The kid considered that for a moment and started paying attention.
Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy
by WalterBright on Monday November 25, 2019 @02:35PM
(#21631887)
> Retired. Did the math. Somehow doesn't strike me as the average Uber driver.
I often explain to people who duck learning math, who don't think it is relevant, etc., that being inept at math is a strong predictor of being poor. None want to hear that, but what can I do?
Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy
by jjeaff on Monday November 25, 2019 @03:00PM
(#21632144)
Are you sure that being poor isn't a strong predictor of being bad at math?
Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy
by WalterBright on Monday November 25, 2019 @03:23PM
(#21632376)
Perhaps, but rejecting math instruction as being "irrelevant", "boring", "not cool", is a choice.
It's trivial for Uber to "do the math" based on some simple factors drivers could plug into the app, and then they could show what the driver is actually earning after gas, maintenance, and depreciation. Writing a spreadsheet and figuring out all that yourself is difficult to get right and requires a fair amount of mathematical and technical knowledge.
Mr. Money Mustache's argument is that it would be trivial for Uber and Lyft to "do the math" for them, but they won't because then drivers will realize just how little they're making.