A local subsidary of CBS reports:
Body odor is among 52 criteria that officials at San Diego International Airport use to judge taxi drivers. Cabbies say that smacks of prejudice and discrimination.
For years, inspectors with the San Diego Regional Airport Authority run down their checklist for each cabbie -- proof of insurance, functioning windshield wipers, adequate tire treads, good brakes. Drivers are graded pass, fail or needs fixing; but any cabbie who flunks the smell test is told to change before picking up another customer.
One problem with the test methodology is that, even by the Airport Authority's admission, there is no standard for what exactly constitutes an offensive odor, and cab drivers suspect that the inspectors sniff inconspicuously during friendly conversations.
Reactions have been mixed: Cabbie Negus Gebrenarian said the stench is just as likely to come from the back seat as it is from the front. "If you're going to say cab drivers, shouldn't you also say waitresses and anyone else who deals with the public?" a woman said after returning from San Antonio. However, Daniel Johnson from Flint, Michigan, said it's fair to grade on body odor-- especially considering the $70 fare to get to his base. He has felt trapped in smelly cabs in other cities:
"The smell puts a sour expression on your face and you're thinking I just don't want to be in here," he said.
(Score: 0, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @02:45AM
for which part of the the soylent news community is the subject of stinky cabbies being misjudged in san diego newsworthy?
who are these possibly racist cabbie judges impacting here, ethylene-fueled?
(Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:03AM
for which part of the the soylent news community is the subject of stinky cabbies being misjudged in san diego newsworthy
The Olfaction impaired.
Misjudged? If you believe that you must be one of the hord of the unwashed.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:35AM
you mean those with a hypersensitive olfactory? it's a local puff piece that doesn't convey any information relative outside of san diego airport - that's pretty fucking local and even if i were literally sitting in that airport right now, is the fact that cabbies stink news? set your filter back to 1 dick cheese.
- the horde of unwashed masses
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:49AM
There's a reason why this was posted on Saturday night. If you want to read better, submit better.
The submission was not about racism (although racism is implied in the article), or its locality -- It was meant to be a discussion about the fairness of judging natural bodily functions, which falls somewhat into the realms of biology and civil rights -- you are a curious and informed open-minded person, right?
You can attack me personally all you want, but there is plenty of opportunity to find or start discussion of the subject matter -- especially on this day and at this time.
And one more thing -- you stated that is doesn't convey any information outside the San Diego airport. So you didn't really read the article, then:
Yeah, you read right -- Seattle, where nobody bathes on a regular basis. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
(Score: 1) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @04:02AM
I totally agree with you. Some people just don't have a clue. When I was a teen, I worked at a bakery and some lady walked in stinking like cat piss and Limburger cheese. Everywhere she leaned on the display cases left a residue of whatever was stinking. It took hours to clean up and longer for the stench to go away.
(Score: 2) by ls671 on Thursday September 18 2014, @08:42AM
Good one, remembers me persons wearing too much perfume in restaurants to the point where it alters olfactory efficiency and even gustatory perception in people enjoying their meals.
Everything I write is lies, including this sentence.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:19AM
that is some dank to puff on, for sure.
guess i didn't realize it was a general discussion of bodily functions that could relate to anyone because you didn't write any of that in your summary. my b.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:49AM
You just lack the Delta brain wave, and with it the ability to extrapolate.
It's okay, most humans are born into a genetic lottery, and they all can't have common sense. In fact, Americans are retarded. But yet, the whole world treats the shit from Americans' mouths as gospel.
(Score: 2) by Lagg on Sunday September 14 2014, @07:59AM
As an American I take offense to that. I'll have you know that the shit from my mouth is science.
http://lagg.me [lagg.me] 🗿
(Score: 5, Insightful) by frojack on Sunday September 14 2014, @02:56AM
I've ridden in some of these cabs. I've almost puked on more than one occasion.
I once didn't make it even a block, before I told him to pull over, jumped out , threw him his fair and at tip, told him to take a bath, and walked two blocks back to the cab stand and grabbed the next cab in line.
This isn't Bangladesh. I don't expect to be treated like it is. Not with the prices they demand.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 5, Funny) by c0lo on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:30AM
You can't say the cabbie didn't honestly earn his money by the sweat of his brow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:31AM
It wasn't his brow I was smelling.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:33AM
Would you like to?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:23AM
Some of the offensive smelling cabs I have been in have just been full of mildew/mold smell, and/or excessive air freshener covering it up.
More than body odor, I'd be worried about the health consequences of being stuck in a mold spore filled cab for an hour - most times I request the windows open, but sometimes the weather doesn't permit that.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Sunday September 14 2014, @04:56PM
Do they test for drugs as well?
In Toronto, my wife and i had our first experience with cabbing it: the guy was high as a kite, and spent more time turned around talking to us then looking forward while driving.
And talking at the speed of light, man!
Talk about your death cab for cuties..... we almost shat ourselves (but now we can, thankfully, look back and laugh).
Drugs are bad, m'kay!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---