By Jack Rutledge

(Uber Driver)

Remember back in the day when your parents warned you with the golden rules of survival?

• 1998: "Don't get in a car with strangers!"
• 2008: "Meeting someone from the internet alone? Are you crazy?"

Now, fast forward to Present Day: "Hey, let’s order ourselves a stranger from the internet, climb into their car, and drive off alone!" Ah, the sweet, sweet irony of progress!

How did we get here, folks? When did we decide that all the lessons of "Stranger Danger" were just a bit too... well, safe? If 1998 could see us now, it would be wagging its finger so hard, we'd all be grounded for life.

But, oh, how we've embraced the chaos. Uber, my friends, is the beautiful collision of everything our younger selves were warned about. And we've never been happier! In fact, we don’t just ignore the warnings; we pay good money to defy them!

From the "Don’t Talk to Strangers" Club to the "5-Star Rating, Please!" Society

Let’s reflect. Back in the day, if you were caught talking to a stranger, your mom would probably yank you out of that conversation faster than you could say “Hello.” Now? You’re practically besties with your Uber driver by the time you’ve traveled five blocks.

You know their favorite podcast, how their kid is doing in school, and maybe you’ve even learned a thing or two about conspiracy theories (because who hasn't had that one driver, right?).

By the time you get to your destination, you’re practically wondering if you should invite them to your next birthday party... or at least hit them up for some good Netflix recommendations.

Meeting Strangers from the Internet? Pfft. Amateur Hour!

In 2008, the internet was still a place where people weren’t quite sure if the folks on the other end were real or just catfish waiting to pounce. “Don’t meet people from the internet alone” was the mantra.

But nowadays, not only are we meeting them, we’re literally paying them to take us places. And if they’re not nice enough or don’t have good snacks in the backseat? Two stars! That’s right, the tables have turned, stranger danger. We’re the ones reviewing you now!

The Uber Conundrum: Safe or Risky?

Now, here’s where the debate gets fun. Are we safer with Uber? Sure! GPS, in-app tracking, and background checks give us more peace of mind than hitchhiking (for those of you still living that retro dream).

But let’s not pretend that getting into a stranger’s car isn’t a tad surreal when you take a step back. Imagine telling 2008 you that, one day, you’d tap your phone, a random person would pull up, and you’d just... hop in, trusting they’re not driving you to a far-off land called "I-told-you-so."

Conclusion: Life’s Better with a Bit of Stranger Danger

So, what’s the moral of the story? As long as the stranger has at least 4.8 stars, we’re cool with it. We’re living in the future our parents warned us about, and it’s awesome. (Sorry, mom and dad.)

The world has changed. We’ve gone from avoiding strangers to swiping right on them and even getting in their cars. Who knows what’s next? Maybe we’ll soon be flying with Uber on a stranger’s drone.

Until then, keep rating, keep riding, and remember:

If the internet stranger you order isn’t great, there’s always Lyft.