Thanks for pointing that out, smtucker. I read that provision in the postings here after I sent the letter to Airbnb and glad to know that there is an exception at least for shared spaces. I was simply copying and pasting my original letter to Airbnb.
Goodness me, so many knickers in a twist/panties in a bunch over this. It’s essentially a PR exercise. Airbnb will not tolerate racist or homophobic hosts. On paper, at least. How is that a bad thing? Read the Terms. Nobody is going to be penalised for declining people in wheelchairs wanting to book somewhere on the tenth floor with no lift. Nobody is going to be penalised for declining children in a non-safe environment. If you are a lone female hosting in your own home and only want to accept female guests, that’s ok too. Read the Terms. It’s all clear. Airbnb is a bit airhead sometimes but they are not totally stupid. I get the feeling this is all a bit Trump affect - waaahh! they’re taking away our freedom to be bigoted arseholes, how dare they!!
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Wow. I used to think my near-total lack of interest in other people was a failing. Now I’m grateful for it. Friends ask me where a guest is from or about their family, and I have no idea. I really don’t care. Consequently, I have apparently missed dozens of opportunities to accidentally offend a guest.
Don’t get me wrong, I listen with interest if a guest wants to tell me about themselves, but I can’t remember the last time I asked a question more complex than “what time do you think you’ll arrive?”
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Couchsurfing, you don’t get paid, it’s more of a cultural exchange thing.
Hi Violetta. As someone who sometimes asks that question, please consider that it’s not always meant as a compartmentalizing question. Many people, myself included, are very interested in people from all over the world. I find that the more I know about other countries and cultures, the better I understand the world and the broader my view of it.
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Who really knows. I don’t believe any of this is about discrimination anyway. I think it is one step closer to trying to see if Air can pull off a 100% instant book site.
The next email will be “even though hosts agreed to our commitment…we realized they didn’t follow…so now all listings have to be instant book.”
I wouldn’t change your wording about mature women. The ironic thing about all of this is that Air supposedly has these people helping them who are highly educated in discrimination. I have stated this many times in this forum. It is illegal (in the U.S.) to post a discriminatory statement saying “no children allowed” - “not suitable for children” etc. So the fact that Air allows this as an option only confirms for me this is a publicity stunt.
But Air wants to hide behind the laws that give them immunity for not being responsible for what is posted on the internet.
This is so ridiculous!
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Let’s all not forget that this is the same company that is relaxing cancellation policies, and not abiding by their own policies. Everything really now is close to imaginary. How is that guests now can stay for several days, and Air is taking money from a host’s future payouts?
At the same they are relaxing cancellation policies…they are also saying the reason for their commision increase is because we should pay more to have a strict policy. They want 2% more in total sales, while providing me 75% less protection. Who does that??
They have relaxed extenuating circumstances. Anyone can upload an obituary and Air admits they won’t investigate at all. And now the guest can cancel if they have are having bad weather during their trip. That section used to only apply if the host’s area was having a hurricane, etc. But no…I can block my calendar for months, and guest leaving from Florida has bad weather, and now I am out of pocket maybe over a thousand dollars or so. They just don’t care.
The damage deposit is used to their discretion. They don’t cover damage due to pets. They don’t cover damage to linens, duvets, etc. as this is considered wear and tear. Even if hosts bought a brand new set of linens and towels…all are stained and stains cannot come out - they “supposedly” don’t consider this damage???
What happened to the verifications that used to be required? Do they even require a government ID anymore?
Well they never have verified that credit card used isn’t stolen. There are no protections from Air. Everything really is imaginary.
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Hi Liz. I appreciate and do know that many like you are just interested in the culture and the country that one is from.
Prejudice comes in different forms and shapes and it will be with the humanity as long humanity exist.
Liz there are going to be bigots if they are white, yellow or black, it is called humanity, but also there is love, respect and acceptance if you are white, yellow or black.
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If guest does not respect house rules and damages host’s property, this is in my opinion a form of discrimination against the Host. Respect works both ways.
I am starting to leave reviews accordingly, whereby in the past I would just not say anything.
Yep, I received it, but no one is telling me that I have to let transgender men into my home. We are OUT! I would suggest for the safety of your families that you tell Air BnB farewell. GLBT wins the day – one more time. Well not really. This is one less account that can tally in the Air BnB stats.
Gee, I wonder why Airbnb feels it needs to institute a policy against discrimination. (Sarcasm.)
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I am a fairly new host and have not yet declined anyone. If I do so, not for any discriminatory reasons, am I going to have air question me? I also have no intention whatsoever of ever moving to IB and I want to see a photo of someone I am going to let into my house and that’s non negotiable. I would sooner stop hosting than end up having to explain to air what I do with my house!
“You commit to treat everyone—regardless of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age—with respect, and without judgment or bias.”
This is now a ‘forced, updated’ reminder of TOS (Terms of Service), nothing more. Whether it is a prelude to further Airbnb social activism, time will tell.
And I suspect that 99.9% of hosts do just that. If a group of four people wanted to book our rental it wouldn’t matter if they were black, white, green or polka dotted. I would still decline them (respectfully) because the apartment sleeps two people only.
As long as hosts treat people ‘with respect, and without judgment or bias’ then we are fulfilling requirements surely? It doesn’t say that we are forced to host everyone - just that we should be nice to everyone. Which we are.
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Precisely. It is a reiteration of the obvious, but by having one click on it on the way to log in, it removes any future claim of ignorance by anyone. What it doesn’t remove is personal choice, if exercised on fair and logical grounds.
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Good riddance. Your hate and ignorance will not be missed by anyone. I’ll host those trans people you turn away, all day every day.
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Me too. Why on earth wouldn’t I?
After all, Airbnb’s brand is all about meeting people from different cultures and getting to know about different ways of life. That’s one of their selling points.
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My listing isn´t family friendly. I love kids but I prefer to not host them. Besides that my place isn´t prepared for them in terms of security, there are things that are very delicate to share them with kids. Does the new email mean that I will have to start hosting children no matter if my listing is labeled as not family friendly?
I doubt that transgenders make the bulk of sex offenders. Most victims were assaulted by a relative who is obviously most of the time a ‘biological’ straight man. Statistically I think it would be safer to host an unknown transgender than your own brother.
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I’m sure that you’ll be fine. If you ‘respectfully’ tell enquirers that your home isn’t suitable for children, then they will probably decide that your place isn’t right for them. I explain to people that our rental has an exterior staircase, glass cabinet doors, an outside balcony and is on open water with no fencing.
I think that this is respecting them because I’m pointing this out for the safety of their child rather than just wanting to take their money without any consideration regarding the rental’s suitability for the family.
I suspect that the age thing is related more to the people who complain that older people are ‘needy’, which is something I’ve never found but I’ve read many comments about it.
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