[jessriedel]

When you order an Uber, you are buying an included 2 minutes of wait time plus the option to pay by-the-minute for wait time thereafter. This is part of the contract. One way you can tell is that if they wait 90 seconds for you and then you cancel, you get a bill for ~$5.

Shared rides (Uber Pool) is different. In that case, you're making other riders wait and, unlike the driver, there's no reasonable way to compensate them for the time. Thus, being late is rude.

[sangnoir]

It's entirely possible for something to be both legal and rude. In some jurisdictions, passers-by (e.g. hikers) have right-of-way on private land, yet not saying "hello" to the farmer whose land you're on would still be rude, should you cross paths.

[jessriedel]

I argued it isn't rude because it is part of your purchase, not because it is legal.

[sangnoir]

Part of the purchase as defined by the contract, not common courtesy.

[jessriedel]

Contracts are legal devices, but they correspond to agreements between humans that have moral meaning. I am entering into an agreement with the driver when I book and Uber, and the terms of our (moral) agreement are reflected in the legal contract. It's not rude to take advantage of something you've bought.

[sangnoir]

> Contracts are legal devices, but they correspond to agreements between humans that have moral meaning

You've succinctly distilled the differences informing our perspectives - in my opinion, the contract sets the floor: following the letter of the law (or contract) is necessary, but not sufficient for common human decency. YMMV.

[jessriedel]

I don't claim that contracts or law are either necessary or sufficient for common human decency.