Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Is the shared economy racist?

2drew3.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 171 posts

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#41

Post by afterburner »

wyager wrote: post #23
joesmo wrote: post #12

I don't think any of this is specific to AirBnb or Uber. What is described here is just plain racism, something that's blatant all over America (some might say, it's what defines America), especially in regards towards black people. The black friend in the story knew this and wasn't surprised. It's only surprising to people who think this is something of the past, as if somehow people have improved and this shouldn't…

> plain racism, something that's blatant all over America (some might say, it's what defines America) Have you ever lived in any continental European country? As someone who has spent about half their life in northern and western Europe and the other half in America, I can tell you with 100% confidence that Europeans are, in general, more xenophobic and racist than Americans.

They are, but because they are mostly "comfortable" in their homogenous societies, they don't express as much fear through action as in the US. As the minority gets bigger, fear and negative action rises. I think in the US this was compounded by a lingering fear of a literal slave revolt.

In other words, it's easier to be racist but nice anyways if you don't fear the tiny minority.

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#42

Post by cwaniak »

interpares wrote: post #14

So unfortunate, and also a reflection of the wider national context. Maybe time to add a few more to this list of "21 Things Black People Can't Do in America": http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/21-things-you-cant...

like, you can't be annoying and expect not to hear a comment?

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#43

Post by wavefunction »

jsonne wrote: post #17
rayiner wrote: post #7

There's a really simple explanatory mechanism, which is that even if an AirBnB host is bound by the same anti-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act as a Hyatt, which is probably true, holding individual service providers accountable at that level is basically impossible. And to the extent that the "sharing economy" involves more individuals rather than businesses that can be sued, you will see more discri…

"The elimination of overt racial discrimination in private businesses is actually a wonderful example of concerted government action addressing a problem that according to free market theories shouldn't even have existed in the first place." Just to clarify Milton Friedman (A champion of free market economics) readily acknowledges racism. His argument is more along the lines of "in the long term racist businesses wil…

Individuals don't care about the long term, they care about their personal experience while they are alive.

Just another point against Friendman and his "understanding" of the world.

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#44

Post by [deleted] »

wyager wrote: post #29
cllns wrote: post #19

White supremacy is an oppressive institution that reaches throughout all of society. Unless it is actively fought against, it will prevail.

>White Supremacy is an oppressive institution that reaches throughout all of society. Unless it is actively fought against, it will prevail. Or, you know, we could just educate people and get rid of racism in a way that doesn't swap one bad thing for another (like racist policies intended to favor non-whites, which I assume you're referring to).

[deleted]

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#45

Post by greendata »

joesmo wrote: post #12

I don't think any of this is specific to AirBnb or Uber. What is described here is just plain racism, something that's blatant all over America (some might say, it's what defines America), especially in regards towards black people. The black friend in the story knew this and wasn't surprised. It's only surprising to people who think this is something of the past, as if somehow people have improved and this shouldn't…

There is a huge issue with racism in the US but you're wrong to think it's a US problem or that it's worse in the US on average. Spend a few months in Europe, especially the east and south, and you'll quickly change your mind. Also, checkout Japan and China. Those places are in their own way at least as racist as the US is today.

Racism is a universal human problem. Humans naturally divide things into different groups and are almost "programmed" to make snap statistically unsound judgements based on a few data points which may or may not be correct. Humans are also "programmed" to want to eat sugar till they drop. These are issues where we can use our higher minds and education to alleviate if not solve.

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#46

Post by wtvanhest »

rayiner wrote: post #33
spikels wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could sue the host. But that violates the rule that you only sue people with money. There are not many but this is one disadvantage of wealth.

It doesn't matter whether the host is rich or not. One of the key ways of proving a discrimination claim is to show a pattern of action, which calls into doubt the host's pretextual reasons for denying service. Much harder to do that with an individual than a business.

This is a tangent to your point, but if I remember correctly you are an attorney so I replied to you thinking you may no more about this, but even if it is racist, I doubt it is illegal.

The fair housing act definitely doesn't protect short term renters staying in someone's home.

"The Fair Housing Act applies to landlords renting or leasing space in their primary residence only if the residence contains living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by three or more other families living independently of each other, such as an owner-occupied rooming house."

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#47

Post by theorique »

wyager wrote: post #40
interpares wrote: post #14

So unfortunate, and also a reflection of the wider national context. Maybe time to add a few more to this list of "21 Things Black People Can't Do in America": http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/21-things-you-cant...

Jesus, that article is so full of shit. It's literally a list of misleading headlines. Equivalent: "21 things white people can't do in Germany: Be the nation's leader while having a tootbrush mustache"

"21 things white people can't do in Germany: Be the nation's leader while having a tootbrush mustache"

... can't do any more.

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#48

Post by [deleted] »

wyager wrote: post #29
cllns wrote: post #19

White supremacy is an oppressive institution that reaches throughout all of society. Unless it is actively fought against, it will prevail.

>White Supremacy is an oppressive institution that reaches throughout all of society. Unless it is actively fought against, it will prevail. Or, you know, we could just educate people and get rid of racism in a way that doesn't swap one bad thing for another (like racist policies intended to favor non-whites, which I assume you're referring to).

[deleted]

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#49

Post by maxerickson »

wyager wrote: post #23
joesmo wrote: post #12

I don't think any of this is specific to AirBnb or Uber. What is described here is just plain racism, something that's blatant all over America (some might say, it's what defines America), especially in regards towards black people. The black friend in the story knew this and wasn't surprised. It's only surprising to people who think this is something of the past, as if somehow people have improved and this shouldn't…

> plain racism, something that's blatant all over America (some might say, it's what defines America) Have you ever lived in any continental European country? As someone who has spent about half their life in northern and western Europe and the other half in America, I can tell you with 100% confidence that Europeans are, in general, more xenophobic and racist than Americans.

The more interesting comparison might be between perception and reality within the U.S.

I would speculate that upper middle class people (who tend to have louder voices) have more egalitarian views than whatever median.

Re: Is the shared economy racist?

#50

Post by interpares »

wyager wrote: post #40
interpares wrote: post #14

So unfortunate, and also a reflection of the wider national context. Maybe time to add a few more to this list of "21 Things Black People Can't Do in America": http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/21-things-you-cant...

Jesus, that article is so full of shit. It's literally a list of misleading headlines. Equivalent: "21 things white people can't do in Germany: Be the nation's leader while having a tootbrush mustache"

Just curious if you actually read any of the stories included and if you found any of them surprising or notable.
Post reply on HN