Hacker News Reader

Comment by mixologic | Hacker News Reader

Did I miss something? As far as I can tell, the renter was a sex worker, who happened to forget to shut off the faucet.

This whole "nightmare" just seems to me like the homeowner is judging this girls' lifestyle, doesn't agree with it, and thinks that means that somehow "Vera" is some kind of criminal. It's actually kinda gross how slut shamey this whole thing comes across.

"that I have no idea who they are, and what they are capable of." - does getting paid to use dildo's on a camera suddenly thrust you into a realm of criminality and questionable character? HOLY SHIT, she wears high heels in a city with big hills!!! dont you know that you girls wearing high heels in SF will Stab you when your back is turned?

Ew. I got no sympathy for this lady.

View on HN

Yes you missed something.

1. The renter lied to her. (What she lied about doesn't matter, the fact she did does.)

2. Airbnb did not verify their identity AND made no effort to draw any attention whatsoever to this fact.

3. Combine 1. and 2. and it is quite likely that the renter also lied about her identity, which would make getting redress for the damage done tricky.

If she doesn't like that she shouldn't be in the hotel business. It comes with the territory.

The last five hotels i visited (in two different countries) required me to provide my government id card.

Is it Airbnb's responsibility to verify the identity of the person standing in front of you? Im willing to bet that none of those hotels asked for that id in advance when you made your booking, and it was the person at the physical desk asked for it when you checked in, correct?

Also, how many of those hotels asked you what you did for work?

While she omitted the fact that she did sex work, she might not actually be lying about the real estate work. It's probable that's she has at least done that a couple of times, maybe infrequently, but often enough that she can say thats what she does for work to people who she doesnt know if she can trust with the truth.

> Is it Airbnb's responsibility to verify

No, but it is their responsibility to help the "landlords" to the best of their ability, which includes making it very clear when a renter is not verified.

> none of those hotels asked for that id in advance

4 of them required my credit card in advance.

> how many of those hotels asked you what you did for work?

None, because it would be silly to use that as proxy id verification when they're already asking for my id card.

Besides, as i already said, it doesn't matter what she works, it's that she lied about it and the landlord is suddenly there with a person who not only wrecked her place, but who's also a big question mark.

It's always funny to me when people airbnb out their places and then are shocked SHOCKED to find that people rent it out to party and fuck. Like... wtf do you think people do, exactly, on vacations? That is the whole point of going on vacation.

If you don't want people fucking in your bed, on your couch, on your floor, don't rent out your place on airbnb.

Yup. If you don't want people camming don't rent your place. The only actual damage is accidental tub overflow and that is part of the hotel business.

If you want people to be as careful with your house as you are only let friends stay. Once you take money it's just a transaction.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com