Click here for "...the hardships, injustices, and demeaning treatment that [cab] drivers face daily," poor dears.

I would have more sympathy for Boston cabbies if my experiences with them had not been universally and overwhelmingly negative.

The last cab I took from the taxi rank at Logan, the cabbie grunted and grimaced at me in lieu of speaking, did not offer to lend a hand with my suitcase, did not have the faintest idea where he was going and rudely demanded step-by-step directions.  He didn't offer any change, ensuring himself a 25% tip. 

I had been in transit at this point for twenty-four hours.  I felt miserable, having only eaten airport food, and without a wink of sleep, and all I wanted was to get home.  I was going to take the T, but I thought a cab would be easier, and I was willing to spring for the extra cost. But this guy was so unsympathetic, so downright mean, I regretted it the minute I got into his cab (the taxi rank at Logan doesn't allow you to pick and choose—you stand in line and get the next cab that pulls up).

When I finally expressed my annoyance at his attitude, he snapped at me: "look man, don't give me a hard time!"

This prompted a laughing fit in me so violent I thought I would swallow my tongue.  I'm doing all the work.  Who's giving who a hard time here?

While the system's not the best, it seems to me a lot of the "hardships, injustices, and demeaning treatment" cabbies face are self-generated.  To paraphrase my mother, if you don't want people to treat you like an asshole, don't act like one.  If you act like one, don't be surprised when people treat you like one.  And don't expect a 25% tip.