Agreed, thank you for calling me out. I've updated the post and HN title.

Agreed. Thanks for the feedback, I've updated the HN and blog title. Lame move, thank you.

I definitely see things through the lens of community management, as marketers may see things through the lens of marketing. I haven't seen Home Depot's response to the deaths in their stores so I don't have any comment on that, but it's likely I would if I saw them. I wrote this post based on my disgust at Uber's response and the lesson I think companies should learn from it.

Lots of folks have complained about the surge pricing notifications, which is why I'm repeating those complaints. Perhaps Uber has improved that messaging since the last, highly-publicized round of complaints.

I appreciate your feedback on the title and I agree. I've updated the post and HN title. Thanks for keeping me honest...that was a lame move on my part.

Thanks to everyone for your feedback on the title of this post. I was trying to catch the eye and, in doing that, misrepresented my point. This article is not designed to hurt Uber...it was born out of frustration at their public response to this situation, and designed to point out that they, like many companies, would benefit from a stronger focus on their community.

This is a line from my article:

"Is it Uber’s responsibility to do something here? No."

So no, I don't think they should take the hit for this, and I don't think they're legally culpable.

Perhaps I didn't make it clear in the article: I think Uber is making people dislike them through their lack of empathy in this and other situations.

This is bad for Uber, and I'm suggesting they change this. That is all.

So, now that we've covered that...

I think your point about Uber staying out of your business is valid. Some people prefer that, and perhaps Uber doesn't need to try to build a strong connection with their community. As I said at the end of the article, I don't think this attitude will kill Uber, but I do think it'll make it lose some customers. Maybe, to your point, that's totally ok because they're keeping the type of customers they want. Would be interesting if that was their strategy!

Thanks for reading.

I explicitly state in the article that I feel no legal responsibility rests with them. I state that in the first few paragraphs.

What I am trying to make clear is that treating a tragedy like a legal technicality is not a way to build community. People are disgusted by their reaction.

For the record, I don't use any of the car services...this is not meant to promote Lyft or degrade Uber in any way, just to advise companies to invest in community. I would have hoped my numerous clear messages that I do not harbor anything against Uber would have made that clear.

I agree that my headline was designed to be provocative (though it is addressed in my very first sentence) and perhaps a bad choice on my part.

And latching onto a tragedy to complain about a company and community as a "community manager" yourself is in poor taste.

Did you mean to write "I'm not excited to use Uber."? Just wanted to clarify!

It's just how the brain works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKKa_OlSXgQ

Sorry, couldn't resist. :)

I don't think Windows is done because there's always going to be a market for cheap(er) laptops and desktops. My girlfriend is a teacher. She can't afford a Mac. She doesn't want a Chromebook because she spends time in locations with no internet connection. She'll be buying a Windows machine for THOSE reasons.

Someone could absolutely disrupt Microsoft in the low-price market (and who knows, Chromebook might get there) but we're not going to see everyone switch to Macs just because the new Windows isn't great.

I feel like there's some other alternative there...just having a hard time putting my finger on it...I heard it's really cheap, maybe even free?

I think it's scheduled for next week. :)