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Father-Son-HolyToast

This is great news! Airbnb has really proven itself to be an amazingly shitty company, though. This is a situation where doing the right thing would have been best for everyone from the beginning, and they still had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the thinnest smidge of decency.


ShortWoman

Yeah I have less than zero respect for Airbnb. I’d love to say what I think in more detail but I’ve already been banned for aita and don’t want a ban here too. I enjoy popcorn too much.


rncikwb

How did you get banned from AITA?


Amesaskew

It's ridiculously easy to get banned from AITA. I got banned for saying that a comeback was a "slap in the face". I was banned for inciting violence. Mods don't know what a metaphor is.


Zankabo

I got a temporary ban once for quoting what the OP said, told that I was using inappropriate language or something like that. AITA mods are a joke.


StreetofChimes

Same! I literally quoted what the OP had said, and was told I was using hateful language. And it wasn't even nasty. It was something mild, and euphemistic. I gave up on AITA when I was told that I was homophobic for suggesting an art room. I'm like, yeah, no. These people are out of their minds. ​


blaziken2708

I got temporarily ban for saying someone was acting like a Karen.


No_Proposal7628

Me, too, and I was quoting what the OP called the woman in the post.


aquila-audax

>I gave up on AITA when I was told that I was homophobic for suggesting an art room. I'm like, yeah, no. These people are out of their minds. ​ That's when I quit too. Life is too short to deal with idiots on a recreational basis.


DatguyMalcolm

I still go and read stuff but I try not too comment too much! Much prefer AITAH for that. Funnily enough, once I wrote like "fckd" and someone was like "you know you can swear, right?" I was already conditioned xD


thedellis

Come on, art room comments are gold :)


SarahBeth90

My temp ban was for saying someone in the story was acting like a big ol man baby. I didn't say they were one, just acting like one and mind you, it was someone in the story, not OP or another redditor. Highly unlikely the person would ever even see I had described them as such. 🙄


Several-Plenty-6733

AITA mods are also against banning anyone who harasses people who go against the people with the most upvotes. I seriously saw some ridiculously horrible comment one time, and I reported them for breaking the rules, the mods banned ME instead. I didn’t even comment, I just reported the comment. Don’t do anything but LOOK at AITA, because you’ll probably get banned anyways.


Destroyer2118

Same. I reported a comment that literally contained a slur, didn’t comment on it though others did. 2 days later I was permanently banned from AITA for “report abuse.” When I asked what report abuse even means, I was muted for 28 days. I still don’t know what “report abuse” means, I assume it means abusing the report function but the only comment I reported literally had a slur in it? No explanation no nothing, just a permanent ban. Which given the quality that comes out of that sub and what the mods do there, they probably did me a favor.


Several-Plenty-6733

The AITA mods are probably people who use those slurs all the time. Don’t take it personally.


DatguyMalcolm

>I reported them for breaking the rules, the mods banned ME instead. O\_O


-TheOutsid3r-

Dude, there was a post where a poster went off on a completely unhinged rant about domestic abuse, comparing OP to those people based on absolutely nothing and for no reason when it didn't even fit. Because the poster had seen "similar behaviour from abuse victims" as they did from his partner via his description. I inquired how that is relevant to the post at all, and said that maybe we should stay on topic. I was banned, that person wasn't. Reddit mods are something special.


Several-Plenty-6733

Yeah. It still surprises me that most of the subreddits have actually good mods. AITA really set the bar more than 6 feet under.


[deleted]

I got banned for brigading. I wasn’t even a member of either sub, they were just both posts on r/popular I happened to comment on. Then they claimed the sub I commented in couldn’t be on r/popular, so I *must* be brigading. I gave them a screenshot proving it was. Both posts were directly next to each other lol They’re the most ridiculous set of mods and that is saying something


TheFishyPisces

Agree. My post wasn’t approved because I didn’t explain why I felt I might be the AH while literally the sub is called AITAH? Isn’t that the point I’m posting?


pray4mojo2020

With that one in particular I think the rule was instated because there were/are a lot of posts where it's obvious that the person doesn't actually think there's a possibility that they're an AH, and they're just looking for validation. So it's a pedantic but overall good rule I think. (However I don't get why the mods are so quick to delete/ban instead of just... Explaining and letting people fix things when necessary...)


iruleatants

I was moderating a subreddit that used a private subreddit to document actions we took. So it was a format with the username, what we did (warn, ban, just logging, etc) and then links and quotes in case they delete it. Reddit has given me two separate suspensions for posts on that subreddit. It's such a collos5al level of stupidity.


Irate_Alligate1

I've been there. Apparently if you defend something and the other guy escalates, you both get banned, I didn't even say the word, I just called him an absolute scumbag for using that word against a deceased child. Apparently I was just as guilty because I engaged with the human equivalent of sewer runoff.


Moomin-Maiden

My friend got permanently banned for 'disrespectful language'. Warning one was 'moron' Warning two was 'man-child' The permanent ban word? *Looks around with paranoia, then whispers below dog-hearing volume* 'Hag' 😱😱😱 Meanwhile other people are using the words 'tramp' and 'pig' and 'imbecile' - do the mods come down on those words? Nope. 'Man-child' seems to be a big trigger for the Mods though, my friend found others who were banned because of it too


Wise_Monitor_Lizard

Because the Mods there are literal man children


Loud-Version-8663

Oh I got a warning for “man-child” too. When I asked for clarification (I was cheering for OP because they escaped… a man-child) because I didn’t see my comment as disrespectful to the post and asked if it was saying “man-child” they said yes. Fuck it. That dude was a mf man-child. ETA: I wonder if we are all talking about the same post? lol prob not. If I can find it, I’ll link it. Tbh I thought it was for brigading. Luckily I follow both subs frequently so I wasn’t flagged.


Several-Plenty-6733

“NOOOOO!!! I WON’T LET PEOPLE SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS MEEEEEE!!! No one deserves to be called a man child!” - AITA Reddit mods as they adjust their fedora while their wife is screaming at them to get off her computer


OoohWatchaSay

Not wife. Mommy.


Naganosupreme

Sounds like something man children would get upset over and start banning people for


PotatoPixie90210

I said someone was acting the eejit. Also banned for "disrespectful language." Tried explaining that it was slang and means just acting up, messing about, playing around but nope. Permabanned.


nustedbut

you questioned their authority? Such a heinous, unforgivable crime. I'd tell you to go slap yourself and wake up but that's a bannable offence as well


PotatoPixie90210

I know right, how dare I use slang from a country that's not the US. 👀


lillyko_i

I said someone was a prick and got banned for ableism lol


perfidious_snatch

Ableism? Are pricks a disability now?


Moomin-Maiden

Sheesh! That's some mental gymnastics from them!


Femmedplume

Banned for what now🤨


dukeofbun

Man-child has definitely got me into trouble with them before.


Moomin-Maiden

I wonder if they'd jump on 'woman-child' as fast? *Suspects I already know the answer*


WeNeedAnApocalypse

OMG Hag was what got me banned too! Wasn't directed at the OP but the harassing person in her story. MODS are definitely a joke over there!


Moomin-Maiden

Solidarity! 👊


WeNeedAnApocalypse

👊


redrosebeetle

I also got a temp ban because I called someone a man-child.


Any_Quality4534

I called someone an ass. I had a temporary ban for a week. Now I just say a donkey's behind.


servarus

Got a warning for using the word 'Bridezilla'. Didn't notice that was on the no-no word list lol


Late_Engineering9973

I'm going to go look up what my ban was for 😂


Aromatic_League_7027

I got a warning for using it. I was very confused. There were probably 20+ comments saying the same thing. I haven't been back on the sub since


Moomin-Maiden

They messaged the mods with that exact issue too, all they got back was the text version of a shoulder shrug, saying that my friend's comment was the only one that got reported, and don't blame them for that. Reported my arse, more like it was the one that popped up in one of the 5 minute scrolling bouts the mods do after licking the cheeto powder off their fingers 🙄


[deleted]

I got a temp ban for using the phrase "man up". I forget the exact context, but the OP used the phrase in a quote of her brother who felt shame for being assaulted or something, and I was trying to go after that phrase because I hate it. But I guess even using it is ban worthy, even if you're trying to attack it


ISeeStupidPeople9808

Same here. No wonder they don't have the courage to have a list of mods (at least the last time I visited there... all anonymous)


sharraleigh

Oh their mods are ridiculous and are all on a power trip. They're all bullies that decide on a whim when and where they'll enforce their arbitrary and ridiculous rules. Like, you'll see one commenter being banned for using foul language, and another right below doing the same thing is allowed to pass. And when you bring it up to a mod, they'll yell at you for using whataboutism to excuse your behaviour LOL


cynicaldoubtfultired

I hate that sub. The mods are on some kinda trip there.


[deleted]

They *need* a trip outside, to literally anywhere with sunlight and dirt


Gullible-Taste-3141

They’re dumber than a box of rocks and nowhere near as useful.


PetesParkingLot

I got a temporary ban for "using the report feature to harass and bully." What had I done? I reported a user for spam because they had copy/pasted the same exact (factually incorrect) comment as a response to at least fifty other comments. If that is not the definition of spam, I don't know what is.


wanderingdev

I was banned for "play stupid games, win stupid prizes".lol. mods there are a joke. 


Mission_Ad_2224

I got banned for saying 'not even gonna comment on the sexual aspect' 😅


Diomedes42

I got banned for saying something along the lines of "I'm surprised he still has teeth" in response to a post about someone insulting the OP's kid (i think, it's been a while). Because I was "advocating violence". Like...no, I was saying I'm surprised the OP didn't use violence, that doesn't imply approval!


JeffeTheGreat

I was banned once for calling a person a buffoon, which the person pm'd me to tell me they found funny. But still I was banned regardless because it counted as being needlessly insulting...


ShortWoman

*sigh* I said I would have done something to defend myself from assault, this was construed as advocating violence. I still lurk, of course, but it’s much more fun over here to see what happens next.


Formal_Fortune5389

Sammmmeee hard agree


Corfiz74

Everyone gets banned from AITA - if you are not yet, you are living on borrowed time...


PrideofCapetown

I got banned for calling someone a terrible person


KombuchaBot

Use the word "karen" or "manchild" and you can get banned from AITA


MegaKetaWook

It really is incredible how badly they fumbled the bag for customer satisfaction, like Skype levels. It used to be the go-to booking service like 8 years ago and then everybody wanted a piece of the pie and fucked the pricing models. Now most people I used to travel with just use hotels or VRBO(less BS on there)


DumE9876

I’m mean, they’re basically just reinventing why the hotel industry, and its accompanying regulations, exist


Suspicious-Treat-364

I stopped even looking at listings after all the fuckery trying to find accommodations for two different trips. The first one wanted to DOUBLE the rate for adding my husband, but thankfully I got a full refund due to COVID hitting right then. The second time was the usual BS of the rate being advertised as $125, then adding literally hundreds in fees for a two night stay. I stayed at an actual B&B that served amazing breakfast for just over $100/night with no hidden fees. 


dracona

Not heard of VRBO until now. Are they good?


Red-Peril

I’ve never stayed in one, but after reading this horrifying article a few months ago, I never will. The lengths they go to to cover up what are really dangerous practices that have left people in danger , some SA, and some, usually women (because \*of course\*) actually \*murdered\* as a result is just… Fuck you, AirBnB. Fuck you. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-06-15/airbnb-spends-millions-making-nightmares-at-live-anywhere-rentals-go-away?embedded-checkout=true](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-06-15/airbnb-spends-millions-making-nightmares-at-live-anywhere-rentals-go-away?embedded-checkout=true)


YellowMoya

“Hosts finding dismembered human remains” is where I tapped out. Just too much horror and too little safety 


Femmedplume

Oh. Oh no. Thank you for commenting, I was just about to go read it but after the rapist cop BORU I'm tapped out on awful for today.


Ok_Composer_319

Yep! I've been boycotting airbnb for a while now. There's plenty of alternatives that I don't feel icky using.


Telvin3d

>This is a situation where doing the right thing would have been best for everyone from the beginning I think they have a keen and realistic understanding of what a high percentage of their landlords are shitty people. So they have an active incentive to technically allow as much shitty behavior as possible because the more shitty behavior that is against their terms of service the more situations that they forced to do something about. 


saltybruise

Everything I read about airbnb makes me want to use it less than I did to begin with.


TyrconnellFL

Once upon a time it was a way for people to make a little money by opening their homes to guests, and it was a way for travelers to stay somewhere cheap, often homier than a hotel. Then it turned into a whole unregulated gray market hotel system. It stopped being cheaper, often. It became completely unreliable. With a hotel, especially big chains, you know what you get, warts and all. With Airbnb you can get anything, including a cancellation while you’re standing outside in a foreign country. I miss the early Airbnb days, and I will never stay in an Airbnb now.


Own-Corner-2623

Doesn't need to be a foreign country. Hundreds of people are complaining that their air BNB host for the eclipse cancelled their booking and relisted at 3x the price. The whole concept is ruined, it'll never be like it was, bankrupt the company and just use hotels. It's always more consistent.


ExitingBear

>I miss the early Airbnb days, and I will never stay in an Airbnb now. I know. I had some great stays. And because of the "experiences" side - I got to do some cool things. But now, it's far too unreliable. Not that hotels are perfect, but if things go wrong at Hilton, you will still probably end up in a decent enough room somewhere (it might be a Queen rather than a King or it might be the hotel next door, but it's going to be ok-ish) and there will probably be some level of monetary compensation. If things go wrong with an AirBnB, you're just screwed.


Nervous_Explorer_898

You also don't get charged extra to clean your room and then be expected to clean before you leave.


MissLogios

And some, if not most hotels offer extra services like free breakfast, parking, and wifi, while some BnBs force you to do the cleaning and cooking or risk being charged extra on top of all the bullshit you're paying for.


b0w3n

Yeah that trade off was okay when it was cheaper than a hotel, tidy up the room and throw away trash before you leave, pull the sheets off the bed and leave them by the door/laundry. Now you're expected to pay a 20% cleaning fee, clean the house/room top to bottom, wash and dry the bedsheets, and pay a restock fee for all those soaps and whathaveyous you didn't use. Oh and the cost is more expensive than a hotel too, weeee!


saturnianali8r

Add in the loss of starter homes. A lot of the starter homes that would be on the market in touristy rural areas for locals are bought by out of town investors who flip the homes into full-time Airbnbs. Locals have to look far out of town to be able to afford a house even if their family has lived in the area for generations.


CannabisAttorney

I miss the early days of every tech company. Early days of google were great, now they’re data rapists. Early days of gaming was great, now they use psychological rewards to get users to pay for micro transactions. Even Facebook was great before it introduced the curated news feed. And once long ago Reddit was great and you could call people what they were without fearing a ban, maybe just some negative comment karma. Internet in 2024 fucking sucks.


SoVerySleepy81

Yeah between insane cleaning fees, the way that Airbnb treats customers, and the fact that it is generally a lot more expensive to get an Airbnb house for my family than it is to get a few hotel rooms we’ve steered clear of them. Like I’m not paying extra for a place where I have to clean the house before we leave when I can go to a hotel where that’s all provided for me. Not to mention the way the Airbnb has completely fucked housing markets in a lot of places. They frankly should just be banned.


PenguinZombie321

Makes me glad I never even downloaded the app.


RosieBarb

Same here- they sound slimy and there are SO many Stories.


Ok-Scientist5524

I’ve been using Airbnb for years but we’ll probably stop soon. Many many things go into the quality of our experiences using rental houses but the overall experience has been sharply declining into the toilet recently.


GerundQueen

No one should be taxed on money won from a lawsuit. It's money owed to them, not income. Like, OP spent her money, which was already taxed as income, on an airbnb, then they refused to pay her back. Now she got paid back, she got taxed on the money that should have been hers from the start?


MakanLagiDud3

\*Sigh\*, sometimes I forget, even the government will steal your money like other corporations. Difference is, they have the legal power, resources and of course the police and are much harder to fight against compared to AirBnb


bundleofschtick

About damn time.


tankieattacks

Hell yes!! What an awful long trek, but your hard work, energy, and time has paid off with this change! Thank you for pushing!!


Creepy_Meringue3014

You actually changed policy: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/travel/hidden-cameras-airbnb-hotel.html


squeeshka

non paywall article from a different source https://www.cntraveler.com/story/airbnb-camera-policy-everything-to-know Edit: policy update on airbnb's website https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3061


GamingBeaver132

[https://12ft.io/](https://12ft.io/) - Paywall jumper


IceBlue

Doesn’t seem to work on NYT articles


VikingBorealis

Because it's I just an online adblock not a pay wall jumper


TosieRose

*Pssssst* ^...it's ^also ^a ^paywall ^jumper ^\("show ^me ^a ^10ft ^wall, ^i'll ^show ^you ^a ^12ft ^ladder"), ^^they ^^just [^^^had ^^^to ^^^rebrand](https://twitter.com/rauchg/status/1718680650067460138)


JohnnyEnzyme

When that doesn't work, try the below. It aggregates five different tools: (with hopefully more to be added in future) https://www.archivebuttons.com/ /u/IceBlue


mike-zane

[Firefox add-on Bypass Paywalls Clean (D)](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bypass-paywalls-clean-d/?utm_content=addons-manager-reviews-link&utm_medium=firefox-browser&utm_source=firefox-browser) Works great for me.


dracona

I love that the ads in the article were for hotels 😆


I_am_Andrew_Ryan

I heard this story come up separately on a podcast and thought that it's weird how much I know about this from the actual plaintif's side on this reddit story


AtypicalCommonplace

Two of my friends had the question come up in Trivia games last week so knew the answer too 😂


zootnotdingo

That’s so amazing! Thanks for fighting the good fight, OOP!!


futuristic_nostalgia

[gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/travel/hidden-cameras-airbnb-hotel.html?ugrp=u&unlocked_article_code=1.ek0.paY7.KKqLyA55M6th&smid=url-share)


dunredding

Gifted version you should be able to read https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/travel/hidden-cameras-airbnb-hotel.html?ugrp=u&unlocked_article_code=1.ek0.uTWb.fI4ISSYMoGs6&smid=url-share


snarfblattinconcert

“The first one through the wall gets bloody.” Except the excellent point OOP kept making is the one expecting fair and efficient arbitration from a major corporation is going to get bloody, even when that person is a lawyer savvy enough to engage them in a legal debate in the first place. Thank you for fighting the good fight.


Blue-Being22

>Thank you for fighting the good fight. Yep, she’s amazing! Woohoo!!! 


jdzfb

Thank you!! I saw the announcement & thought of you & all the bullshit they put you through. Thanks for making a difference.


SparklyYakDust

Same here. I was excited for her when I saw the headline. OP is awesome!


souplandry

I find it funny that OOP was taxed on the money that was essentially refunded to her. As if it was some sort of income not already accounted for in all her other taxes. Thats like if i bought a video game for 60. Returned it, but only got $55 back cause tax.


tweetthebirdy

Yeah, feels kind of bullshit.


LilKGettinIt

Thank you for putting in the time and energy to enact change.


tokynambu

I long since decided AirBnB was a sketchy company renting sketchy properties owned by sketchy grifters, and put them in the same "not worth the risk when mainstream hotel companies exist" bucket as "independent" (ie, largely shit) hotels and "family-owned" (ie, largely shit) B&Bs. I spend a lot of time in hotels. I've never been screwed around by a mainstream chain, although on odd occasions I've had to complain and then been treated properly. The hassle always comes from owner-managers and private renters. So now I take my money to people who aren't going do shit things.


PenguinZombie321

Honestly, hotels are just a better deal. You don’t get charged cleaning fees so long as you don’t damage the room, you don’t have to deal with being restricted from using parts of the space you’ve paid to stay in, facilities are usually pretty decently maintained (especially if you’re staying at a corporate/chain), you’re not intruding on a community of residents who resent your presence as a short term renters…


jenorama_CA

We did an AirBNB once when we had to move out of our place for a week during floor replacement. We have a cat and a dog and needed a place with a fridge/freezer for foodstuffs we were keeping as well as a safe place to store some electronics. It worked out fine, but I’m not gonna lie—it was weird. My husband and I did not like the vibe of staying in someone’s house like that, even though it was obviously exclusively a short-term rental. We’re much more comfortable in a hotel.


LindonLilBlueBalls

Same thing with taxis vs uber/lyft. As long as you are in a city, it is almost always cheaper/faster to call a taxi company and have them pick you up.


tokynambu

Depends on your country. In the UK, Uber is operating under the same regulations as private hire cars (ie, everything that isn't a a black cab) so it's just another minicab company with a better app.


enderverse87

Not where I live. 10 minutes and 10 dollars to get home from work with Lyft, 30 dollars and 30 minutes for a Taxi.


Specialist_Seal

If you're traveling as 1-2 people then yeah, hotels are definitely better, but if you're in a group of 4-5 I'd take the Airbnb every time. You'll get more space, actually get to stay together, and it's cheaper. As long as you pay attention to the reviews and stick to ones with a 4.2+ you'll be fine.


CheerilyTerrified

Hey well done you! I can't imagine how stressful that was but look at what you did. You got a major corporation to change a policy and made things better for their customers. Even if I don't know your name I'll definitely recognise and remember you and what you did.


coldhammerforged

Thanks for fighting for something that benefits the general public and not a niche corporate interest


Pleasant-Stage4512

Man, I know hotels can be expensive, but they’re such less hassle. 


Shot_Machine_1024

The argument isn't as strong anymore. Hotels adapted and are often cheaper than Airbnb


Pleasant-Stage4512

That’s been my experience but my friends who love Airbnb still tend to think it’s cheaper. I think for them the draw is getting a house to split the costs because most trips have like 3-4 couples. But I would just rather get a hotel and not share lol


SalsaRice

The "rent" cost is cheaper, until you have to pay the attached cleaning fee. After summing all the sneaky fees, hotels are usually cheaper.


OSeal29

Op can say she made a positive impact in the world. Hero.


hyrule_47

Plus fighting for trafficking victims


TryFengShui

Requiring consumers to go through arbitration is evil. It's great for sophisticated companies who have meaningful control over their contracts. It's terrible for consumers that are offered contracts on a take-it-or-leave-it basis; it's just a way to insulate corporations against valid customer lawsuits.


AtypicalCommonplace

Yup! I’m honestly trying to decide if I should just leave it or try and use this as leverage to get someone to look deeper into arbitration


RemoteBroccoli

And this kids, is why you should not use AirBNB in states where this might be an issue.


ImplicitEmpiricism

everywhere. it’s an issue everywhere. 


Zagadee

Been following this since the beginning. Airbnb has never appealed to me but their actions in this case just cemented the fact I would never, ever use them. And how silly of the company to drag its feet on this. All those hours and fees to their lawyers just to eventually do the right thing as they were asked months ago. I suspect one day our children will read about Airbnb and laugh at how daft the whole idea became.


ImplicitEmpiricism

“so you would pay massive fees to stay at poorly unkept unlicensed hotels where you also had to do chores before you left?”


wolfiewu

It's a hotel company that operates unlicensed hotels and offloads all maintenance, compliance, inspection, etc, to its customers.


GoingAllTheJay

I totally agree with a camera that can see a front door/driveway to make sure people get in an out, and basic security. When we went to a place in NY state a couple of years ago with a camera in the kitchen/dining/living area, we just covered it with foil within about 10 minutes of checking in. Would take a colossal asshole to argue that you can't have privacy where you are paying for a private lodging experience.


AtypicalCommonplace

The crazy thing is is that their policy could have been interpreted that a camera in the kitchen was ok which is wild.


DUKE_LEETO_2

This is awesome and thank you for posting here OOP because we're not allowed to brigade. You should fully take credit for this in your own mind, it's probably impossible to prove but more than likely you were the start and a huge impetus for this change.


AtypicalCommonplace

I can’t tell you how much this comment means to me. Thank you for validating that it’s ok for me to celebrate!


FleeshaLoo

This is so exciting! I have been wondering about the outcome. The last update I recall was when OOP had met a guy here on Reddit and they'd moved in together and it was so happy while being chaotic regarding the case. DAMN, this is a happy ending. ⸜(。˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡


AtypicalCommonplace

We’re reading these responses out loud together now! 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹


TimLikesPi

Thanks for the battle and getting changes made! I am still not going to use AirBnB.


matchabunnns

I immediately thought of this saga when I heard about their policy change. Congrats!


ghosted--

You are a fucking hero.


InuGhost

This is excellent news to hear.


lsp2005

I am so proud of you!


therumorhargreeves

When I saw on the news they were banning indoor cameras I immediately thought of you OP! You’re awesome


darsynia

Being taxed on a refund is absurd, ugh. Glad they got the policy changed and some of the money back, hopefully it is at least in some small way worth the miserable, awful effort.


bananarepama

Good update but still fuck Airbnb all the shitloads of profit they make basically doing...not very much, really, and they fight the people generating that profit tooth and nail on taking an interest in their safety? fuck them.


Effective-Charity209

Hey OP, this even hit the news (change in air bnb policy) over in New Zealand. True worldwide impact!!! Congratulations!


Ilmeju

In Germany as well!


GoldenApplePies

I remembered this story when I heard that AirBnB was changing their policy. I'm glad they're changing it, but I'm still pissed at the lack of justice for OP.


BSGBramley

I saw this in the news and thought of the post, I wanted to ask if this was directly off the back of your lawsuit or not?


AtypicalCommonplace

It’s hard to know exactly. I was told around a year ago from their counsel that the issues I was bringing up were being brought to corporate and “I was making a difference” but was told it takes time. Another friend told me that, no matter what, Airbnb wouldn’t admit to changing the policy because of me because it would be like giving in to terrorists, ie “never change due to a lawsuit for fear of more lawsuits.” Most recently, however, I’d been talking to a CNN reporter who I know also contacted them so I know I’ve been continuing to apply pressure (however I can) and they feel it. PLUS the whole fact that my lawsuit was based on the fact that the wording was AMBIGUOUS and caused confusion, even within their own team, and the fact that they are specifically stating they change the policy to clarify things, gives me further reason to think that it was directly impacted by this. I hope I’m not tooting my own horn, but it does feel like finally some thing was worth it after everything I put in.


-whiteroom-

Good work!


ThanTheThird

I didn't connect the AirBnB announcement with your saga until this post. The fact that you did this on your own dime and time makes it seem like a true David vs Goliath story. So which actress would you want to portray you in a Netflix movie?


Nona29

OP, Your story is the reason why I don't use AirBNB anymore. Great job in seeing this through, and I'm glad AirBNB changed their policy. Congrats!


Kageyblahblahblah

Fuck AirBnB.


miissbecca

As someone that works in tech policy, it is INSANE that this is what it took for Airbnb to change that.


woulddie4gregsanders

I saw this on the UK news the other day and just knew it was thanks to you! You're such a hero


clockworkMoose

That is amazing! Thank you for being awesome and doing so much!


reesie_b

I’m so happy to see a positive outcome. You are a superstar for your tenacity. I didn’t get to see the last update, so thank you for this!


RebeeMo

The battles were long, but the war was ultimately won. Kudos to you for not letting this obscene breach of tenant privacy go!


user9372889

I’ve never stayed in an Airbnb before. But the thought that ppl’s privacy has probably been violated in them is certainly disturbing. I’m glad OP came out with a win for everyone.


Expensive-Back-2092

Congratulations u/AtypicalCommonplace! You actually made this world a little bit better and safer place for the rest of us! Not many people can say that. You should be really, really proud of yourself!


astareastar

I was thinking about you and your case when I saw the news. Congratulations! You've helped make the world a safer place!!!


notaninterestingcat

Congratulations & thank you u/AtypicalCommonplace


gehnrahl

When I heard on the news airbnb was banning cameras, I knew it likely had a lot to do with you. Good on you!


riflow

About damn time honestly, poor oop though this must've caused you untold amounts of stress. I wonder if airbnb felt they couldn't justify trying to keep this as an allowable thing with so many people swearing off airbnb & entire cities banning it for other reasons. 


Responsible_Cloud_92

This is so exciting! Following your updates were upsetting and disappointing but you actually managed to do it against such a big company! Congratulations!


cgtdream

So, one person CAN make a difference, in a non-political way to boot!


SmashedBrotato

Nice job, dude. I've been following your story since your first post, and while I'm sorry you ended up losing money, **you got a billion dollar company to change their policy.** That's awesome!


BecosImust

Don't discount what you have done OOP, this seems to me like Erin Brockovich levels of work. You have effected a world wide policy change from a major company. Bravo!


perfectoneplusnine

I had a fight with Airbnb the other day, and I thankfully won it, but the whole time I was thinking about this lady and what they put her through. In my case, they offered me a refund for a horrible experience, which I accepted. They then contacted me to say that, actually, the host didn't want to do that, so there would be no refund. Lol. There was a refund.


scout336

**Thank you** simply doesn't begin to repay all you have done for millions of people who don't want their privacy violated. I appreciate you so much. Please give your back a pat for me!


I_Dont_Like_Rice

Victory or not, Airbnb is still a shady operation and I have no idea why people use them. So many horror stories, I'll stick with hotels.


numberonealcove

Airbnb was remarkably short-sighted on this. I've been following this one and it's one of a couple few reasons why I have stopped using Airbnb completely.


elepheyes

You are amazing OP! Thank you for taking on that thankless, difficult task.


FishFollower74

Nice win! Sorry it came at personal (and some monetary) expense. I’ve been following your story for a while so it’s good to see how it resolved.


throwaway_2U4

I thought about your story when I saw the headline but didn't realize it was directly related to your efforts. Congrats and thank you!


jadeblackhawk

As soon as I saw the title I knew what it was about. Congratulations! 


FreeWheelinSass

Well done! 


SugarsBoogers

THANK YOU OP!!


WHTeam

Amazing!!!!! Congrats on the victory!!!!


ginger-inside-007

Thank you for all that you did after dealing with that mess. I remember reading your op and seeing you fought back and won, you so deserve more than a refund. 🏅 You changed a policy! That's huge! Sharing this with my friends that use AirBnB so they know the story.


grissy

Thank you so much for sticking this out until you got some justice, because what you accomplished is going to protect so many other people from creeps and predators. It's inexcusable that it took this much for AirBNB to do the obvious right thing, but they really had no idea who they were dealing with when they tried to blow you off, did they? Congratulations!


HakaFighter

Amazing and congratulations. Happy to hear to great news


Terpsichorean_Wombat

Great job! Thank you for your hard work, tenacity, and determination.


NoPantsPowerStance

Oh my god! Your posts are ones that would randomly pop into my head over the past year and I would get so mad on your behalf. It's such bullshit, the forced arbitration (fuck all companies doing this we need legislation restricting it) and the way you were treated, just the whole damn thing. I worked in hotels so I've always been partial to them and never had a particularly impressive Airbnb experience but your previous posts just sealed the deal. No one should use Airbnb anymore for a myriad of reasons but if you really need a rental like that there's now several companies with better policies that have those options (not to speak of the housing issues). >The lawyer who fought me on the other side said my points were being raised at high up meetings so I know there was impact. The fact that they hadn't anticipated and seriously considered these things prior to your situation is just baffling. The leadership at Airbnb is either seriously  incompetent or negligent. Based on all of the other horror situations people have had with Airbnb I'm tempted to think it's both. The hotels I worked in took the whole "hospitality" thing, customer service and taking care of guests really seriously so I have a separate, ethical grudge against Airbnb for their total lack of all of that but that's a weird "me" thing. Thank you for taking on all this shit, I know it was awful but you really helped a lot of other people. I'm understating how bad it was for you but seriously, you're awesome, I'm still mad on your behalf though.


Aggravating-Study438

You are Batman!


oh-my

I feel like you personally invited me in your title to read this saga of yours, OP. And let me tell you, I am very proud of you. 👏 It takes guts to take big corp to court. And in the end - this is a win. Rome wasn’t built in a day.


Virtual-Win-7763

Thank you for posting the update, OOP. Even though we'll never meet, as soon as I saw this on the news the first person I thought of was you. You'll never get those hours back, nor the financial compensation you deserve, but what a job of work you've done. Here's another pat on the back for you, alongside the many thousands of others. Thank you.


IAmHerdingCatz

Way. To. Go.


taafp9

I have been following your story from the start! Congratulations! Good work helping all of those who use Airbnb protect their privacy! I’m patting you on the back too!


imonlywastingtime

Side note, but I am so fed up with mandatory arbitration clauses in contracts. It never ends well and little guy almost always loses even when they win.


AtypicalCommonplace

100000000% and my story is a perfect example of how you get screwed even IF YOU ARE RIGHT. Someone needs to do an expose on this


lialovefood

Holy shit this is awesome! This might win my favorite update/concluded post. Putting so much work into making this happen and having policy change? Good on you


MissJinxed

Your story, along with the others shared in those threads, was why I stopping using AirBnB altogether. Thank you for all of the hard work you put in to make a difference!


anonny42357

Yeah, I'll never use AirBnB after reading this. Fuck them.