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Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

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Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#221

Post by iaskwhy »

zvrba wrote: post #203
timr wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"But there's something "off" about EJ's position here. Why is a vandalized apartment leaving her homeless?" Put yourself in the position of a person who has just had their apartment burglarized (remember: they stole her personal documents and valuables) and their keys stolen by probable drug addicts. Also, remember that the police have arrested one of the vandals, but probably not all of them. Ignoring, for the momen…

One thing strikes me as really odd: how naive do you have to be to leave documents and valuables in an unsecured place and then let complete strangers use your apartment?

You mean like most people do on communities like AirBnB and CouchSurfing?

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#222

Post by philwelch »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #194
pitchups wrote: post #113

There are a few glaring, obvious questions to which I have not seen any answers so far - or maybe I have missed them: Why was it difficult for Airbnb to immediately have the person that trashed the place arrested? Don't they have the person's identity - address, credit card information, phone number, IP address? Don't they run a basic credit check when a person signs up to rent a unit listed on the site? Or at least…

Slightly off-topic, but what's with Americans and thinking it is acceptable to run credit checks for everything? Credit history is not an indicator of whether you are deserving of sleeping somewhere for a night. Maybe a criminal record check.

Credit checks are great for verifying that someone pays their bills, which is an important part of commercial transactions. It also indicates responsibility and the ability to fulfill obligations.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#223

Post by jasonlotito »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #136
tptacek wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most everyone on HN is going to agree with what you are saying: that there is a reasonable narrative in which "EJ" is unable to return to her home due to fear. As a recent victim of a comparatively pathetic "violent" crime: that is absolutely something you are concerned about. And that's before we even get to the topic of "can EJ repair the damage done to her home without diminishing the expected return from a settle…

I've seen half a dozen replies from you saying she probably has a lawyer and is trying to milk this, without a shred of evidence, other than "that's what you would do." I think presenting that theory once is more than enough - you don't have to reply to everybody with your theory.

> I think presenting that theory once is more than enough

It's the first time I read it.

> you don't have to reply to everybody with your theory.

And you didn't have to post this reply. But you did. It's almost like we can comment on things, and reply to them.

If you think he's spamming, flag it. Otherwise, enjoy that his comments are at least contributing to the overall discussion, and not worthless comments bitching about constructive comments.

Oh, the irony.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#224

Post by ulisesroche »

llambda wrote: post #219
ulisesroche wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it wasn't when the inquisition came, it was in response to the airbnb post. We've gone through this already, llambda. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2823714 .

And as I've said, ulisesroche, that is one side of the story. No more likely to be true or accurate than the other based on the available facts. In your own words: we've been through this. How long is it going to take for you to admit we just don't know the full story? What will persuade you that it's possible EJ has reframed the situation just as it's possible Airbnb has done so as well? Your insistence on standing…

I'm correcting you, that's all. How can you say you're neutral and then present only one side?

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#225

Post by rwallace »

What we aren't hearing about is the people who declined to use Airbnb and had their homes ransacked because a burglar spotted they were empty. The risk of having the place trashed by a guest has to be offset against the improved security from having somebody in the place. Do we have any data or even credible estimates of the sign and magnitude of the _difference_ in security from using Airbnb?

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#227

Post by mgkimsal »

gfodor wrote: post #197
msg wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other problem is that it is interchangeable with many other jokes of the same flavor, ie, they were buying Facebook private shares, getting into the LinkedIn IPO, et cetera. This is a tip off that even if it's funny it might not be relevant. See also the South Park critique of Family Guy. Saying they were doubling down buying shares in Hilton and Motel 6 would at least have been marginally on topic. But still a b…

"supporting their meth addiction" might have worked

Touche! Only 14 hours too late for me, I fear. :(

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#228

Post by class_vs_object »

farrel wrote: post #112

Besides liability for damages incurred by the guest, hosts are also probably on the hook for liability should the guest be injured (or worse) while staying in your place.

> Besides liability for damages incurred by the guest, hosts are also probably on the hook for liability should the guest be injured (or worse) while staying in your place.

Good point. I'd imagine hotels are required by law in most jurisdictions to take out public liability insurance.

Then there is the issue of who is responsible for ensuring that properties are actually safe for rental on Airbnb (i.e., no exposed electrical wires, slippery steps, etc.)

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#229

Post by ristretto »

jcc80 wrote: post #214
ristretto wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then why do we need airbnb at all? Use craigslist for hotels too. The big issue here is that airbnb claims from the start that they are more than just classifieds, giving people a sense of security which is false.

>Then why do we need airbnb at all? Website more pretty. They also have an intro video with a lady talking. Craiglist does not have a pretty site or video with a lady talking.

Exactly that false sense. I 've never used airbnb, but reading the positive hype i would be very positively biased to use it, while i would think Craigslist is "creepy". It's a matter of overinflated hype here more than anything else I think. With great hype, comes great responsibility, a wise man once said.

Re: Another Airbnb Victim Tells His Story: “There Were Meth Pipes Everywhere”

#230

Post by fedd »

rdouble wrote: post #171
rbanffy wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you mind telling your story?

My landlady saw a crackhead in our yard but since SF is filled with zorched looking lurkers she didn't think much of it and just told him to leave. I came home from work, and noticed my apartment was a real mess and my TV was missing. Went to the closet and noticed everything was dumped out and an old laptop was missing. I actually found the laptop in a garbage can next to the house. The thieves did a few weird thing…

sorry, do you have metal doors there in SF? as we do in Moscow, Russia. the doors that can be opened only with the help of special forces
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