I just got off a rather annoying Uber ride.
Shortly after I got in, the driver asked me “Do you feel tired after you eat lunch?”
I responded with “I don’t want to make conversation.” and he seemed offended, said “Okay” and dropped it.
Relieved, I thought that would be the end of it, until suddenly he put on the radio, with the music on full blast.
I had to communicate again, and immediately said to him “I requested a Quiet Ride. Please turn off the radio.”
He complied but seemed even more offended than before, and we resumed the rest of the ride in an awkward and stony silence.
I felt uncomfortable and annoyed the whole ride.
After I got out, I rated him 4 stars, and prompted by Uber as to what was wrong, I selected the “Driver talked too much” option as well as “Other” since I couldn’t find something to report that he played music against my wishes.
I felt like the bad guy in this situation, but I honestly shouldn’t have to.
Uber provides a “Request Quiet Ride” option that lets you specify that you’d like to ride in silence, yet it’s probably their most abused feature because 99% of arguments and conflicts I’ve gotten into with Uber drivers has been over this option.
They simply ignore it.
One woman kicked me out of her car years ago for requesting she turn off the loud gospel music she was playing in the car as I entered, screaming “You’re not going to tell me what to do in my own car”
Another driver retorted “I can’t live without music” when I asked for the music to be turned off.
Yet more instead of actually turning off the radio when I ask, sneakily turn down the volume, meaning I have to ask yet again to turn the radio completely off to achieve what I paid for for the duration of the ride: silence.
Others still comply and turn off the radio or music as soon as I ask, but find themselves unable to drive silently and so try to force a conversation despite the Quiet Ride option clearly indicating that I do not want to converse.
I know it seems to be such a small thing to write an epistle over but it’s a very, very big deal to me.
Coming from Nigeria, where I grew up being ferried by professional drivers, it’s very hard for me to acclimatise to Americans’ inability to perform this function properly.
I’ve come to the uncharitable conclusion that Americans simply do not know how to be servants or perform service roles.
They have these functions in the society as jobs, but I think the individual American socialisation of “This is Murica, you can’t tell me what to do” makes it very hard for them to maintain the background character quality that is required of a driver.
SIDEBAR - I feel like the “servants” bit there is somewhat spicy but it’s the truth.
Nigerian society runs off domestic servants, and while perhaps the term servant is seen as degrading in the West, I hate the fact that I have to put a disclaimer in my own blog that it’s not in Nigeria (or at least it wasn’t when I was growing up), and I don’t intend it to be in my usage here.
Anyway, I’ve endured this for years, and of all the petty little things in the world, this might just be the thing that pushes me to buy myself a car, and finally learn how to drive.
I never saw the need as I always had a driver at home, and when abroad, I loved taking trains, so I resisted all mention of buying a car for my entire twenties.
The pandemic killed my enthusiasm for public transport, so I have to admit, I’m more open than ever before to the idea of getting a car.
At least nobody will fight with me over the radio, and I can enjoy the precious silence I bought with my hard earned money in peace.
What are you fighting with your Uber drivers about?
I don't believe your opinion of this land we reside on is too spicy at all. The entitlement and arrogance of people when involving others can be alarming. I understand this takes place no matter the location in this world. But based on your experience, getting yelled at for a request you made based on a service 'offered' seems entirely out of place by the driver screaming at you. How difficult would it be for them to simply turn the music off? And simply sit still for the duration of the ride they're getting PAID for. Their responses sounds often rooted in ego. Hence the gentlemans need to have to spite you and retaliate by turning the music on full volume. The woman screaming at you is defending her car as if you're stating that the vehicle is yours and disputing that. No, you're simply asking for them to honor the service issued by the third party that they're "WORKING" for. As you put it 'serving'. Quite incredible that many people respond like they're incapable of swallowing pride or biting their tongue like they haven't learned the necessary skills before. Like they haven't had countless opportunities - before your ride - to learn from similar circumstances. Unbelievable, but this is the world we live in - a creation of our own making sadly.