Political signage outside our homes

[Lucille46]

Hi all,

My shout out to this group is to ask your opinion on whether I should add some pictures of my political signs to my listing.  Someone knocked them down the other night (not a guest) and that made me a bit concerned.  I feel strongly about leaving them up.  Here's the history...

I recently put up a Black Lives Matter & a sign for my presidential preference along the road on my property.  For years I've been flying an LGBTQ flag

and no one has ever said anything negative about it.  The one I have currently has a field of 50 stars like the American flag & the LGBTQ colored stripes.

In fact, I've only had praise from guests who feel concerned when they travel and were so happy to be openly welcomed.

One of my former guests, who I've become friendly with, wrote to me that he thought those signs might make Airbnb guests feel uncomfortable and could risk alienating half of my guests.  His suggestion was to put up a generic "VOTE" sign.  He suggested I might not be comfortable renting an Airbnb with signs that were in opposition to my views.  (I thought about this & decided that I wouldn't have a problem with the signs, just an eye roll.  I would probably be less likely to interact with the hosts except on a surface level.  My own bias.)  I think his point is worth considering.  I wouldn't want bad reviews because people disagree with my politics.  Do you think adding photos makes sense and is necessary?

Hope to hear from some of you! 

Thanks,
Lucille

[Laura2592]

I think you should do whatever makes you comfortable. It's your space and if you want to use it to make a statement about your beliefs you should be able to do that.

The only caveat for anyone displaying any political, religious or otherwise deeply held conviction is that you could alienate some people.  If that doesn't matter to you, or you would rather not host folks who disagree with your views, it won't make a difference. If you are trying to appeal to the widest possible audience it might. I have an online business and im very careful not to discuss anything about my political leanings around elections. It gets very contentious and its not worth it to me personally. Im not going to change anyone's mind by debating with a stranger online.  Your home is a totally different situation. You may not want to invite people who are antagonistic to your point of view to stay there.

[Anonymous]

@Laura2592 It's also possible that yard signage will alienate some people who do share your views. For example, a gay person who is worried about street harassment might not feel comfortable being spotted entering a home with a giant rainbow flag. 

[Lucille46]

Fortunately, there is no worry here about street harassment.  I live in a country setting near both progressive and more right leaning towns.  I'm not gay, but fly the flag in solidarity and as a sign of welcome to all.

[Lucille46]

It is my home first, Airbnb second.  That said, I welcome anyone here whatever their opinions.  These days I barely interact with guests other than briefly when they arrive.  I've added the pictures so that guests can decide for themselves if seeing these signs is a reason not to book.  As I've said, this is a welcoming place and most of the people I've met hosting have been really terrific!

[Linda108]

I think we each have different personal definitions of private versus public. In general, I am a private person.  I don't put signs in my yard or bumper stickers on my car.  That is my definition of private. For those who wish to share as a means of being supportive, I agree you should do so, even in your business.  I actually prefer to remain somewhat anonymous which is a role my years as a psychotherapist also required.  I don't care if people have different views and I enjoy engaging them in a one sided discussion, in which they share their perspective.  I usually learn something from that type of conversation.  Again....think psychotherapist.  Apparently I can't really turn it off. 😛

[Lucille46]

Thanks to everyone for their input.  I ultimately decided to add some photos of my signage to my listing.

This way guests who might feel uncomfortable can choose not to book. But I can stay true to my beliefs and feelings about the importance of speaking out and taking action right now.

As a white woman, I don't ever worry about how I'll be received as a guest.   Sadly, guests of mine have shared the ways they've been discriminated against or made to feel uncomfortable.  My choice is to go out of my way to be welcoming.  I hope the changes in the listing make that clear that EVERYONE is welcome here!

https://www.airbnb.com/h/pondviewcottage-pa

[Anna9170]

@Lucille46  
I am for hosting and politics to be separated from each other. I want to relax my brain when I go somewhere on vacation, not be a member of a political club. There are issues that are better not discussed, religion and politics, if you are doing business. Guests who book your accommodation should be guests, not opponents or associates. Well, or you basically accept only those who share your views, then you should be confident in your actions!

[Lucille46]

Thanks for your input.  I don't get into political or religious discussions with guests unless they are the drivers and I'm always very careful about what I say.  I will curtail the conversation politely if necessary.  The last thing I want is for anyone to feel provoked.

That's why I made the decision about adding the pics.  In the end, this is my home first, Airbnb second.

Plenty of people with opposing views will still book here because it's a great place to stay and my reviews show that I'm a kind person.  I'm just giving them the option to avoid anything that might make them feel uncomfortable.  Everyone is welcome here!

[Laura2592]

@Anna9170I agree. My mother-in-law is VERY interested in talking about politics. All. The. Time. Its exhausting to me. She lives in a part of the country where many people love to go on vacation. When I tell people I am going there, I invariably get "oh you are so lucky!" but  I don't feel that way. Talking about politics with someone as passionate and argumentative as she is is extremely stressful for me. Even if we agree, its never just dropped there (and honestly we agree on a lot of things.) I can't relax and now, like Pavlov's dog, associate trips to her city with a feeling of irritation and tedium.

When I was little my grandparents always taught me that you don't discuss your religion, how much money you made or who you voted for. They considered it very rude. I think people should feel comfortable showing their support for the things they care deeply about if they choose to, but understand that not everyone, even those who agree with their ideals, wants to know about what they think in certain contexts. If I were a home share host, I would probably be quite private about politics, religion and income with guests. As a remote host, I just try to present a comfortable space where people can relax. I have never once had a guest ask me if I supported any particular cause or candidate. That's just me. Others may have had different experiences.

[Lucille46]

I completely respect that and feel similarly.  I don't engage with guests in those conversations very often.  

When my guests arrived today, I felt compelled to say I hope my signs didn't make them uncomfortable.  They told me they loved the signs and how they showed inclusivity!  That's all I'm trying to say and share with the world.

[Helen350]

I'd disagree with the sentiments of all your signs @Lucille46 , yet it would not stop me booking with you, if I was in your part of the world, nor would your views stop me extending a warm welcome to you, should you drop by mine!

- If I only welcomed guests who shared my views, I doubt  I'd let anyone in! 

- I thoroughly enjoy welcoming guests from all over the world, and I LOVE to enthuse about the tourist attractions/the National Park & the mountains where I live. 

I AVOID the subject of religion & politics with guests! (Mind you, in the UK all political parties are centre parties, it does not make much difference who's in power, they all have much the same policies!) -  I welcome ALL people as people, & if we have opposing views a) it does not matter in an Airbnb context, & b) we are not going to encounter each other's views if we stick to tourism!

[Anna9170]

@Laura2592 
You said great words, considering the experience of your grandparents, they are very wise. So forgive me for being boring, I once again do not understand why to talk about what is so clear to adequate people.
And of course, there are differences, cohabitation with a guest and a host at a distance, I can only once again voice my position that hosting and politics should not be mixed.

[Anna9170]

@Lucille46  
And please don't get me wrong, but when a person talks too much about their position, it's a little stressful. There are things that do not require separate explanations, such as Nazism and fascism, and when a person puts up posters with such positions, even positive ones, I will not go there.

[Lucille46]

I respect that you feel that way.  Adding the pictures provides the option for guests to make their own decisions.  They are just a couple of signs, but if it's a trigger for some, I get it.  Things are pretty frightening in the US these days and some of us feel we can't just sit on the sidelines.

[Anna9170]

@Lucille46  You have a beautiful house without this posters, but I respect the open position!