undefined | Better HN

0 points_bxg17y ago0 comments

> a centralized company which outsources the generation of actual value to others

I would argue that you're still renting from Uber and AirBnB, who are just outsourcing their labor and properties to others. Companies like this - I'm looking at you, Facebook - like to claim that they're only impartial platforms, but the reality is that they gain an enormous amount of power over both sides; stealthily, because they hide behind that image.

0 comments

lallysingh7y ago

They're brokers.

qubex7y ago

Market-makers, even.

pathseeker7y ago

A market maker provides demand and supply to both sides to smooth out pricing. Airbnb does not do that, they are just the market. An argument could be made that Uber does do that by paying wages to the driver independent of what it charges the rider.

baxtr7y ago

It’s somehow funny to think about these companies as utilities or infrastructure, which is traditionally created and maintained by the state. I’m not sure if that’s the better scenario

_bxg1OP7y ago

Created and maintained by the state, or simply regulated by the state. One of the two is absolutely appropriate for at least the most important of the companies we're talking about, but we currently have neither.

EGreg7y ago

You could argue that you are in control and just outsourcing the making of money and spending it to Elon Musk or the large corporations :)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse