Many have a love-hate relationship with Uber. Yes, it may have saved you from a DUI, but what was that smell in the guy's car? And why didn't he stop asking personal questions?
But there's one positive that might outweigh all the negatives. The possibility to eavesdrop on a ridiculous conversation that will bring you crazy Internet fame. At least for a few minutes.
Both drivers and passengers have been sending the funniest, cringiest, and even creepiest things they have overheard in Ubers to an Instagram account called Overheard which selects the most memorable ones, sharing the convos with their 497,000 followers. So keep your ears peeled next time you're trying to save a few bucks getting to that next bar, maybe you'll catch something juicy.
More info: Instagram
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And the popularity of this account shouldn't come as a surprise. Turns out, humans are wired to eavesdrop. Especially when the information is limited. This paper in Psychological Science, for example, suggests that it's harder to not listen to a conversation when someone is talking on the phone (we only hear one side of the dialogue) than when two physically present people are talking to each other.
This has a lot to do with our information processing, and the way the brain allocates attention. We are especially drawn to gaps in information. This is known as the "information gap" theory of curiosity and was first described by George Loewenstein in the early '90s. In this study, scientists demonstrated that subjects listening to only one side of a conversation — what they call a "halfalogue" — showed decreased performance on a range of cognitive tasks that require undivided attention. The researchers concluded that it's the "unpredictable nature" of the halfalogue that makes it so appealing.
In other words, we can't help but eavesdrop when we don't know what the conversation is about or where it's headed. Which, I guess, happens a lot in Ubers!
Friend 2 is lucky that he has a friend that will tell it like it is.
I would marry that person. Waddly cold bird I love it, and will forever use it lol
I forgot what a drain plug was called and called it “the water go downer stopper thingy”. I was having a great day
I once forgot the term garbage truck and said trash machine. Not on a date though LOL
Actually, penguins are not penguins, except in French, and in this case they can fly. Didn't say it would be interesting.
That was a genius solution to that situation where that little blank void in your brain floats onto the word you were trying to say. SO frustrating. I found out there is a WORD for that little floating void so I memorized it. LETHOLOGICA and I am so happy to have that word. I wrote it down before the little void could find it. It literally means "death of word".
I feel sorry for all the single people out there who are left with people who care if you can’t remember the words for things.
I wonder if they sing, "I've got you Babe" during their conversations?
Fair! Extra annoying when you're actually trying to arrange/attend something that is specifically timed - ie: "The show - that we paid hundreds of dollars for the tickets - is starting at XX:XX - are you almost here or should I call a cab?" or... "Hey, so-and-so's flight is leaving, we won't see them for at least another decade." - and then they're late... and... somehow... you're blamed for them not being on time... OR... they start getting upset that you won't do sh** with them anymore...
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