When Smalltalk Gets Too Personal
@danishcanadian (28953)
Canada
March 5, 2019 1:11pm CST
Uber driver: Which apt is yours?
Me: I’m not sharing that.
Him: I delivered medicine from the local pharmacies.
Me: I’ve never ordered any for delivery. You’ve never been to my apt.
I love living in a high rise. I can get a ride home without my exact address being revealed. Even if someone looks my name up on the switchboard, they get an access code, not my apt #.
I’m really glad I don’t live in a house, anymore.
How do you feel about questions like this? At what point does it get too personal for you, and how do you handle it?
10 people like this
9 responses
@pumpkinjam (8540)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 19
I saw something recently about people accusing Uber drivers of being 'creepy' for asking where they're going. I'm not sure if I'm missing something but isn't Uber like a taxi service. In which case, is it not necessary to know where you're going? I mean, if it was a random stranger asking totally out of the blue for your exact address then, yes, I'd say that's a little too personal. A driver you've asked to take you to where you live, asking you where you live, I'll tell him where I live.
3 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8540)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 19
@danishcanadian Yes, the driver should remain professional but I don't see any issue with asking/confirming the destination. As for the terms of endearment, I think that's a matter of opinion. Personally, I don't like anyone other than my partner calling me 'my dear' but there are worse things to be called!
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
I’ve never heard that before. Could it be in HOW they’re asking?
Yes:
Tim Hirton’s On Wellington? (Keep in mind you’ve already told the app where you want to go, and the druver’s Simply confirming).
NO:
Where to, my dear? (My dear? Such terms are inappropriate)
Do you live at this address?
Bottom line; keep it professional.
2 people like this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 19
@pumpkinjam @danishcanadian every time I take any waste to the local recycling centre, staff at the entrance ask what you have to get rid of and the woman there always calls me (and presumably everyone else) 'darling'. Funny as she isn't particularly friendly. No-one else has ever called me darling apart from my mother when I was a toddler!
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
5 Mar 19
I don't know why I shouldn't answer such a question. When I've bought too much for my trolley, I take a taxi home and ask the taxidriver to carry my things to the door of my apartment (he gets a tip for that). The house has three apartments. So no secrets there.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
You have a point, but I was not carrying a trolly. I had nothing but my small purse.
Being overly cautious, when I do have groceries, I call my husband from the car, tell him I’m in my way, and he brings the hand truck that we bought for the kids e and helps me, so even then I do t have to tell strange men where I live.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
5 Mar 19
@danishcanadian I live in a small town. I know nearly all taxi drivers by sight. If one of them behaved strangely, I'd inform the taxi driver organisation and that wouldn't be a good end for him.
3 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
@MALUSE I live in a city of a quarter million, so it’s a little harder. Also I am legally blind, so that makes them harder to recognize.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
Glad I’m not alone. Can’t be too careful these days.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
5 Mar 19
Since an Uber driver drops you off outside I can think of no good reason he would need that information.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
Exactly my point. It’s not like it was a townhouse, or motel where rooms are side by side.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 Mar 19
I guess at some point it depends with my mood lol
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
Why would it friend on mood? I was in a very good mood, and I still wasn’t going to tell him where I lived.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
5 Mar 19
@Missmwngi Ahh, now I see what you mean. That’s how I feel most times I’m in a taxi or Uber because if I felt better or the weather was better I’d be on a bus, and not having to pay for transportation.
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 Mar 19
@danishcanadian Sometimes when moody i would not like to be asked questions lol. You know when you just want to sit and just close your eyes and someone is insisting on talking to you
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
5 Mar 19
He was probably just making conversation, but I don't like to answer questions that are too personal either.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
6 Mar 19
@danishcanadian
Cab drivers here can be very talkative too and I hate when they get nosey. Sometimes cab drivers just want to talk.
