If we all get 5-stars, none of us get 5-stars

An essay from my yet to be published book: Best Part of a Blind Date.

I think it was to relate, but someone posted this in our family group chat:

“Took 3 Ubers yesterday. Steve in a blue Tesla 3 was excellent. Clean and good conversation. Then Chris was supposed to be in a gray VW Golf but showed up in a white Chev truck. It was at least somewhat clean and he tried to have good conversation. Finally Jaypal in an old white CRV, not very clean but not dirt, just old. I gave them all 5 stars cause they are making a living.

Worse, later in the chat, we learned that this loving family member also gave good tips to every driver. I felt like all my efforts to keep my Uber clean and do my best were being stabbed in the back by my own family, no less. Have I not been clear that some drivers, like me, deserve better? Tips and the rating system should be a meritocracy, a system where exceptional service is acknowledged and rewarded appropriately. 

Imagine a crap driver in a crap car and offering a crap ride. In contrast, there's my service, where every detail is catered to perfection. If both scenarios end with a five-star rating and a tip, the value of these stars becomes meaningless. Such indiscriminate generosity paints a misleading picture for Uber, potentially affecting the app's ability to maintain quality standards and every driver gets paid the same.

However, the hard truth is that the Uber driver rating system doesn't matter. Uber sure doesn't care. Passengers don't care, either. If a driver gets too many 1-star negative reviews, maybe he might be kicked off the app. I don't know. But a 4-star driver has the same trip opportunities as a 5-star driver. It would be great if Uber rewarded the 5-star drivers, like maybe preferred trips, or picked first, matched with 5-star riders, or a few extra dollars. Ultimately, we're all equal in this black-and-white, on-and-off system; either we're approved or banned Uber drivers, relegated to Doordash. Next time I'm at the airport Uber waiting lot and see a fellow driver come out of the portapotty smoking a cigarette, toilet paper stuck to his shoe as he gets in the car with the bumper tied on, I'll know we're the same. We live in a world where every student passes a class with an A, and every team gets a trophy. Every driver gets (not earns) a five-star. 

Why should I go through all the trouble and try hard? 

I used to think it was for more money. But as my family made clear, it's not. Even the driver in the wrong car, probably using a fake name too, the worst drivers will get paid the same, probably even tipped! 

My striving for Uber driver perfection is a way of life. I want to be a 5-star driver with a sense of pride. I work hard, even though I technically don't have to. My journey from office worker to low-income server is marked by a profound dedication to excellence, the same excellence I learned in the Air Force, carrying it with me in all my efforts. Each day, my car undergoes a meticulous cleaning ritual – it's not just a mode of transport; it's a reflection of my professional ethos. The interior is spotless, the exterior gleaming, and every detail, from the radio volume to the temperature, is adjusted with the passenger's comfort in mind. My goal? To transform a simple ride into an unforgettable experience.

And you know what, upon reflection, I'm just like the my family, with automatic 5-star ratings and tips too. I'm no different. I too give out stars and tips like I give out candy in the last hour of Halloween. Everyone gets as much as I can give, regardless of good or bad costumes, clean or smelly cars.

Life isn't even about who gets 5 stars or who tries hard. In pursuing meritocratic justice, I'm ignoring something more valuable: kindness. Most of us want to be kind. I know I do. Sure, I'd like the five-star rating to be a default but a badge of honor for drivers who turn a mundane trip into a memorable journey. As an Uber driver, I'd prefer we operate a regimented meritocratic rating system where I can earn more money for my efforts.

So even if it costs me a little money, I'd rather the world be better, with people being kind to each other. I'll leave rating and tip justice up to God. This is a call to be mindful of what we do and to recognize and reward the efforts of humans for only trying to be human.