Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race • Hacker News Board

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#21

Post by ghaff » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:52 PM UTC

TallGuyShort wrote: post #6

I had someone in Palo Alto decline my request because of my gender. Would that be viewed differently in the law?

While it's somewhat understandable for some types of rentals (e.g. a spare bedroom in a house), I would think not unless there's some fine-print exceptions. [ADDED: Apparently there are for smaller shared housing when the landlord lives there.]

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#22

Post by bluetidepro » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:52 PM UTC

The host deserves a larger fine for her stupidity alone. She told the women who reserved straight up that she "wouldn't rent to an Asian." Why not just deny the request, and keep your bigotry comments to yourself about the "why." It's one thing that the host was racist, but if she would have just kept that to herself, it probably wouldn't have got her a fine. So not only is the host a racist, but she is clearly an idiot too. *smh

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#23

Post by burkaman » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:52 PM UTC

whataretensors wrote: post #16

wedowhatwedo wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think the host should be allowed to treat others that way?

As much as I disagree with it, yes.

Why?

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#24

Post by theGimp » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:53 PM UTC

tantalor wrote: post #11

As disgusting as the host's behavior is, her reasoning is correct: the political atmosphere has approved bigotry, racism, homophobia, and misogyny at the highest levels. Given that, how do we hold the public accountable for those offenses for which we forgive the state?

State laws and regulations still apply, no matter who's president. Also, the federal government has faced resistance from citizens and states and lost legal battles. The current political climate is extraordinary, but to say that standards are not being held is a stretch.

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#25

Post by eric_h » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:53 PM UTC

whatok wrote: post #13

I do not see what forcing a class on someone like this (especially at their age) will accomplish. Does anyone really think a semester long course is going to make her go "well, gee whiz, guess I shouldn't discriminate against those Asians anymore"?

Honestly I think it's better than nothing. Discrimination like this is usually based on complete ignorance/lack of exposure to different cultures. A course on Asian cultures may actually have some effect of humanizing the asian people for this particular bigot.

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#26

Post by rm_-rf_slash » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:53 PM UTC

whatok wrote: post #13

I do not see what forcing a class on someone like this (especially at their age) will accomplish. Does anyone really think a semester long course is going to make her go "well, gee whiz, guess I shouldn't discriminate against those Asians anymore"?

When thousands upon thousands of white Americans came to Los Angeles at the turn of the 20th century, they assumed that the Mexican-American families who had been in California for hundreds of years were recent illegal immigrants.

It's the same story, over and over.

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#27

Post by justboxing » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:53 PM UTC

IanDrake wrote: post #2

This is crazy. I think it also explains why my rental properties have so many minority renters as my wife's picture is our profile picture(she's Asian). I think people see her picture and know instantly that they would never have to deal with this kind of shit. Whereas a picture of my shaved head might not be very reassuring. Personally, 5K seems too light a settlement considering the circumstances.

> Personally, 5K seems too light a settlement considering the circumstances.

Agreed. It looks like the Judge slapped just an extra 1K on top of the mandatory minimum.

> The minimum penalty under California’s civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation is $4,000 for each offense, the agency said.

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#28

Post by 0xfeba » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:53 PM UTC

ka4eli wrote: post #4

Another anti-trump PR action?

Should the reporter actively censor any Trump references to not offend?

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#29

Post by rhcom2 » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:53 PM UTC

whataretensors wrote: post #16

wedowhatwedo wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think the host should be allowed to treat others that way?

As much as I disagree with it, yes.

It's been illegal in the United States since 1968.

Re: Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race

#30

Post by ka4eli » Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 5:54 PM UTC

wedowhatwedo wrote: post #9

ka4eli wrote: post #4

Another anti-trump PR action?

Do you think the host should be allowed to treat others that way?

Why do you ask such a silly question? Of course this is really shit, if it's true. The point is I don't know whether this situation took place in real world or just anti-trump pr action. How do you know? Why the hell trump is in article about shitty host ?