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Student Life

Is Uber Safe?

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Jenna Wirth

Apr 18, 2019

Syracuse University

192

Unsplash

Have you ever accepted a ride from a stranger? Have you ever used Uber or Lyft? If so, you most definitely have. Since children, we've been brought up to be afraid of strangers. After all, we all know the phrase "stranger danger." Yet, we've come to socially accept the idea of getting into a random car with a person you know nothing about. What makes this situation any different?

People's longing to fit into society; therefore, conform to social norms has overridden this drilled in caution for survival. Therefore, this has dramatically influenced people's mindset on who or what they consider weird, safe, and suspicious. In reality, Ubers are 100% sketchy. Just look at recent events:

The night began like many others for Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina senior. But it ended far differently. According to KFOR, the senior decided to call an Uber around 2 a.m. Friday (March 29th) after being separated from her friends during a night out in Columbia, South Carolina. Thinking a black Chevy Impala was her uber, she got into the car without any hesitation.

That said, according to CNN, "about 14 hours later, turkey hunters found her body in a field 90 miles from Columbia."

Citing surveillance footage, Columbia Police Chief Holbrook stated, "What we know now is that she had, in fact, summoned an Uber ride and was waiting for that Uber ride to come...We believe that she simply mistakenly got into this particular car thinking it was an Uber ride."

The risks of using uber have always been the same; however, these recent events have shed light on such risks that society has longed ignored.

Bottom line: Be smart! If you're going to use Uber or Lyft, please travel in groups and stay together. Moreover, be an active bystander and look out for other people. Your actions could easily save a life, including your own.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Is Uber Safe?

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

1. You get excited when the parents purchase season passes to the pool.

2. You've become friends with the stay-at-home moms in town.

3. You get a chance to eat "kid foods" again.

4. You've traded in your cute purse for a large tote bag.

5. You have at least one car seat in your backseat.

6. Their nap time is your happy time.

7. Lunch time can be a disaster.

8. You have to play the same board games repeatedly.

9. You catch yourself using the same lines your parents once told you.

10. Your "mom-mode" kicks in at times.

11. Your heart melts a little when they do something cute.

You'll never find any souvenirs with your name on it

1. You know you are up next when the teacher pauses while taking attendance

2. When “I’m going to do my very best to make sure I know all your names” is said, it may or may be an empty promise

3. “Wow! That sounds so cool! Where is your family from?”

4. You dread when people ask you to repeat your name over and over because it “sounds so cool when you say it”

5. There’s a 50/50 chance that your name will come back either correct or incorrect at Starbucks

6. People try to find shorter, easier nicknames for you instead of calling you by your actual name

7. When someone famous or fictional character shares your name, you get so happy

8. “What’s your name?” “It’s [name]” “I’m sorry, what was it again?”

9. You’ve pretty much seen every misspelling and heard every mispronunciation of your name throughout your life

10. When you find another person with an “ethnic” sounding name, you both get excited

11. Despite the struggles, your name is pretty unique… just like you

Can I be excused for the rest of my life?

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1. “Oh, so you/your family are immigrants!”

2. “Is Puerto Rico near Mexico?”

3. “Do you speak Puerto Rican?”

4. “You look too light/dark to be Puerto Rican.”

5. “Do I need my passport to go to Puerto Rico?”

6. “Geez, you are obsessed with your flag. We get it, you’re Puerto Rican.”

7. “Why are you so loud?”

8. “So does your family know English?”

9. “Oh my god, Puerto Ricans are so spicy.”

10. “So did you eat a lot of tacos?”

11. “Are you Mexican?”

Love hard, every day, and never be ashamed.

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