Airbnb's Rental Nightmare Ends in Arrest and One Still Unlucky Renter
allthingsd.com
allthingsd.com
As much as I sympathize with the unlucky and unfortunate circumstances of the victim, the ultimate responsibility lies on the renters. This is going to happen again as Airbnb grows bigger and more people join the site; it's inevitable, just as there exists crime in people's homes now. If you're planning to rent out your apartment for a week, you really should meet the rentee in person, take steps to secure your own possessions from possible theft in advance, and secure the proper insurance (whether that's obtained through a future Airbnb offering or privately through an insurance company). When you rent a hotel room, they typically provide a safe lock because the same risk of getting your possessions stolen exists; this is no different.
I'm not trying to be dismissive of the victim, it really sucks this happened to EJ and the Airbnb team has been very open to offering help from what I've noticed lately. Fortunately, justice was served to the perpetrator, which is the important part. What EJ needs to do now is press charges and sue Faith Clinton for emotional damage and theft. I don't know how much the press will pursue this, and who knows how much it will affect Airbnb's reputation. I have a feeling this will blow over and I think Airbnb has made it clear they're willing to help as long as EJ will accept it; it wouldn't affect my own willingness to rent personally because I know after 2 million nights you're probably bound to have a few lunatics. Interestingly, someone in the previous threads accurately predicted it was a meth tweaker who fit the profile of the ransacking.
I can easily see airbnb having major disagreements over some of the blog post. I can also see them not going public with those differences despite taking the hits that may come as a result. Of course even if they did go public, there'd be a good chunk of people attacking them for violating a user's privacy. On the other hand, if the user goes public and published the original emails as I challenge her to do, we will get a much clear view into what is going on. Until them, I remain undecided and refuse to form an opinion.
[1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2822721 "Airbnb has been offering to fix it, from the very beginning. From the beginning they offered to pay to get her a new place and new stuff, and do whatever else she wanted."
[2] http://ejroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html "I would be remiss if I didn’t pause here to emphasize that the customer service team at airbnb.com has been wonderful, giving this crime their full attention. They have called often, expressing empathy, support, and genuine concern for my welfare. They have offered to help me recover emotionally and financially, and are working with SFPD to track down these criminals."
Offering "tell us all you need" sounds cute but turns the victim into a begger.
As in "one month ago police issues a statement that a person had been detained". Since then "EJ" claims that this person has not been charged.
This article came out today, after EJs post. The article is based on a police report over a month old. So what prompted its writing? Was it EJs post? If so, why no effort on the part of the journalist to investigate if the individual in the police report was charged (or even any mention of the allegation that she has not).
Or was it just a reprint of an AirBNB PR statement...
That sounds like someone was arrested and charged to me.
That this over-one-month-old, ambiguous statement is the best that AirBNB has to offer, is pretty damning and leads me to believe EJ, not AirBNB. That AirBNB keeps sending it out lends credence to EJs belief that AirBNB doesn't give a shit and is just PR-ing the whole thing.
Either way, this "journalist" did nothing but reprint a PR blurb with zero fact checking or even awareness that there is another side to this story.
Sorry.. Color me jaded, but why the mention that the suspect is female? PR maneuvering to plant the suggestion that this wasn't all that big a deal, cause after all.. it was a girl?
Just saying. I don't get it.
[Edit: Downvotes certainly welcome, but I'm assuming downvoters are the ones who might have an answer to what was very much a real question.. I'd really like to know, please. Why include the gender of the suspect? Why include any details in a tiny blurb where the only relevant point I can see is that someone was arrested, and why is the gender more important than the person's age, height, race, or say... criminal record or charges?]
Kudos to AllThingsD for getting an actual police statement, with more details and more hints methamphetamine abuse was involved.
As far as choosing gender as the extra detail to mention? Some might find that detail comforting, as it could indicate less risk of further victim harassment, while others will find it offensive. AirBnb is in a no-win situation at this point; all possible choices will cause some subset of the commentariat lynch mob to raise objections with tone or substance.
Since when has the gender of an arrestee not been made public? Often times we make these records public as a way to protect the individual who has been taken into custody by the government.
Such a random and twisted act is not the norm, nor is it indicative of any aspect of airbnb's business. It's just as likely one would have this happen in a hotel (to their travel belongings) via a crazy housekeeping staff member.
"People underestimate risks they willingly take and overestimate risks in situations they can’t control. When people voluntarily take a risk, they tend to underestimate it. When they have no choice but to take the risk, they tend to overestimate it."
[1] http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/11/perceived_risk_2.html