We live in a world where we’re constantly told to be responsible, to make smart choices, to save where we can. And most of us try to live by those principles. We strive to be mindful of our resources, whether it’s time, money, or energy. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, the very systems we rely on betray us in moments when we need them the most.
Take a recent experience of mine as an example. I was heading to a physical therapy session, aware that punctuality is key to getting the most out of it. I had the option to take an Uber but decided against it. I told myself, “Be responsible. You don’t need to take an Uber when you can take the train.” It was a decision based on logic and a desire to avoid unnecessary spending. But the universe had other plans.
I got to the train station only to find delays. These delays kept piling up, and soon enough, I realized I was going to be late. At that moment, I felt a pang of frustration. Still, I thought, “Let me check Uber now.” But as I opened the app, I was met with exorbitant prices—more than double what it would have cost if I had taken the Uber earlier. My heart sank, not just because of the unexpected financial hit but because of the sheer unfairness of it all.
Here I was, trying to make a responsible choice, and yet the system I trusted to support me in a pinch was exploiting my situation. Platforms like Uber and Lyft need us, the users, to thrive. We are the hands that feed them. Yet, in moments when we rely on them the most, they stab us in the back. The surge pricing felt like a betrayal—a blatant disregard for the principles of fairness and ethics.
As someone who loves technology, who believes in its power to empower and advance society, I was left feeling deeply conflicted. How can I champion a system that, in one fell swoop, can leave me feeling so cheated? It’s a contradiction that many of us face in this modern world. We embrace these technologies for their convenience and efficiency, yet we are at their mercy, especially when they fail us.
There needs to be a conversation about ethics in technology, about the responsibility that companies have to their users. Yes, businesses need to profit, but not at the expense of fairness and trust. The anger I felt wasn’t just about the money. It was about the principle. The principle that when we place our trust in a service, we expect it to honor that trust, not exploit it.
This experience has left me questioning the balance between convenience and responsibility. As consumers, we must be vigilant, but the onus is also on companies to ensure that their practices are just and ethical. After all, what good is technology if it fails us when we need it most?
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