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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”

#242

Seriously, fuck this guy. AirBNB simply facilitates finding people. AirBNB doesn't owe these people a single cent. In fact these AirBNB "victims" should apologize for their self-centered whining. Don't want any risk? Then don't let anyone into your house, dumbass. Don't blame random companies just because you're a fucking idiot.

I agree. The only reason this story is getting any play at all is because it involves a shiny trendy company.

If these people rented through posting flyers at bus stations or via craigslist the story would be lucky to be printed in the police blotter.

EJ especially sounds like a woman-child who wanted all the benefits but is unwilling to accept responsibility for the risks she stupidly undertook.

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

#243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about all of the good that AirBnB does for the large majority of people who use the site? Is there a deep ethical problem with letting people supplement their income, while also letting travellers have a cheaper option for a night/weeks stay? The vast majority of people who use AirBnb benefit from it.

In this regard, it is similar to driving. Vast majority benefits, but there are few who suffer greatly. The solution there is to regulate; introducing specific rules and making it illegal for people to drive unless they have a license. There is already a regulated hosting system: hotels; airbnb wants to change the system without keeping the regulations. I'd say they carry some responsibility here.

Being a liberitarian, I don't ever think the solution is to regulate; especially in this AirBnB case, where it is a mutual agreement between two people. Its different then driving, because only one of these two people can be hurt by the agreement. The onus to protect oneself should ultimetely rest with the owners/travelers.

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

#244
post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd guess that half the apartments in SF are in old wooden houses, with wood doors.

i'd say, i'd feel unsafe there even if such a story didn't happen to me... or, while there are houses of thin wood, maybe you are allowed to wear/keep a gun?

Keeping is not just allowed, its our natural right.

Wearing is, as well, but it's waiting on another SCOTUS decision for affirmation.

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

#245
post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i'd say, i'd feel unsafe there even if such a story didn't happen to me... or, while there are houses of thin wood, maybe you are allowed to wear/keep a gun?

Keeping is not just allowed, its our natural right. Wearing is, as well, but it's waiting on another SCOTUS decision for affirmation.

It's only your right until the next referendum to ban guns in SF, then you're in legal limbo until the state supreme court strikes it down. Rinse, wash, repeat every few years.

As for carrying in SF, only people named Feinstein are permitted to do that.

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

#246

Seriously, fuck this guy. AirBNB simply facilitates finding people. AirBNB doesn't owe these people a single cent. In fact these AirBNB "victims" should apologize for their self-centered whining. Don't want any risk? Then don't let anyone into your house, dumbass. Don't blame random companies just because you're a fucking idiot.

I don't think AirBnB's involvement is that peripheral. Unlike Craigslist, they don't just operate a site that facilitates finding people; they're active participants in every transaction, and are the ones on record charging credit cards for the rentals.

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

#247
post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Metal doors are not really useful if all the houses are made of wood. Seriously. I don't get it either, there was this fairytale about the big bad wolf, but I guess they must all think "hey at least it's better than straw", or something. It's a really strange experience. You don't notice until you see the first solid stone house after two weeks of flimsy wooden cottages, it's a feeling, solid. "Stands like a house" i…

CA has building codes that address the probability of large earthquakes.

For a single story house, wood (if I understand) is a safer choice than other heavy materials which would crush you. In SF, there are different building codes as the buildings tend to be more vertical.

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

#248
I wonder if it occurs to anyone how renting your place out impacts your neighbors. I'm not sure everyone is happy about transients coming and going in a particular building that someone might rent out and the safety of that to others in the building. Some condo buildings for example don't even allow a lease of less than 1 year because it changes the nature of the building.

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

#249

What's going to be a game changer is when stories start breaking about owners who rent out their space as a way to lure in people for killing or torturing them. Right now it's about "you were stupid, why did you rent your space out to strangers?". Later on it'll be "why did you try to save $20 and go sleep some place where you're 110% vulnerable?". You don't control the locks, you don't know the neighborhood or even…

What's going to be a game changer is when stories start breaking about owners who rent out their space as a way to lure in people for killing or torturing them.

This has already[1] happened with an actual hotel, so you had better stick with Holiday Inn (and make sure it is really a Holiday Inn).

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._Holmes#Chicago_and_the_.2...

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

#250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

No, actually it doesn't at all. And frankly, it is none of your business. It's important for giving certain types of loans, not for doing pre-paid transactions like renting a room for a night. Credit information should be need-to-know, and you should be respectful of others' privacy (and perhaps more cautious of your own). You're nuts if you think I am giving you 7 years of address history, all my credit accounts, my…

That's all well and good, and it's a fair question where to balance privacy with enabling someone to make a decision, but you can't seriously claim that a credit check doesn't impart useful information about someone.
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