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posted by janrinok on Sunday September 14 2014, @02:07AM   Printer-friendly
from the in-the-air-tonight dept.

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.

 
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  • (Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:49AM

    by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:49AM (#92908) Homepage

    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:

    " Seattle long evaluated cabbies for body odor associated with infrequent bathing and not washing clothes but dropped that test last month for a more general requirement on cleanliness. "

    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

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @04:02AM (#92910)

    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

      by ls671 (891) on Thursday September 18 2014, @08:42AM (#94847) Homepage

      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

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:19AM (#92925)

    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

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:49AM (#92928) Homepage

      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

        by Lagg (105) on Sunday September 14 2014, @07:59AM (#92949) Homepage Journal

        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] 🗿