The giant teddy bear gambit is one of the most powerful forms of twiddling. It allows Uber to keep its algorithmic wage discrimination machine humming smoothly. As Veena Dubal has documented, the forums frequented by Uber drivers are full of posts from drivers who are certain that they are “good at Uber,” who boast of the giant salaries they bring home from driving. Dubal’s ethnographic work includes heartbreaking interviews with drivers who drive until they can’t keep their eyes open, sleep in their cars, get back on the road—and then blame themselves for the pittances they take home. They
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