Interesting times indeed and hello to all, specially the 'old' posters that may still remember me when I was most active on this board (2015-2018). It has been a busy 2019, and this 'forced break' is giving me the time (for starters) to give my 2-cent opinion on this extraordinary event.
I do believe this type of event will serve as a reset for many societies, to be appreciative of things we perhaps started to take for granted and to lessen the role of charlatans (i.e. the U.S. political nonsense of the last few years immediately comes to mind) and now puts emphasis on what is by far more important - how to weather a storm and unite because ~everyone~ is facing a common enemy (i.e. a dangerous virus that this time appeared all at once in many places simultaneously) which has required strong leadership and fresh ideas. As with all things, this will pass and I do believe relatively quickly because it is not really the first time it has happened, but now perhaps a social structure will arise to lessen the blow of all viruses in general whose annual deadly consequences were accepted as 'normal'. Perhaps in the future ALL ~annual killing 'flu' viruses~ will face a stronger and more intelligent human race working together.
I also agree with Airbnb's policy of making their infamous Extraordinary Circumstances more available because just traveling along in most places became dangerous in itself. HOW Airbnb went about it perhaps could have been smarter - their offer should have put more emphasis for their guest to ~postpone~ their reservations, not making canceling so ‘attractive’ and easy. After all, those visiting in most cases involves their extraordinary income, for those hosting it influenced much 'necessary' income; two different realities. Perhaps this would have helped, by having more guests stayed paid and the host had more time to spread already-prepaid-reservation-income into the future, lessening an abrupt no-income-overnight unexpected crunch.
I would like to interject that like I have said a million times before, Airbnb is a 'gift & a curse', a Godsend to hosts because of the concentrated amount of guests they do bring to hosts and ~at such a low hosts cost~, but unfortunately they also are in a position to exercise too much power over the livelihood of those that have become too dependent on them.
'Wild prediction' - within a mere 30 days this whole issue will take a more positive perpective and the consequences will not be as dramatic as many fear for many reasons; i.e. the history of passed viruses and of Corona versions in particular, the economic fundamentals and the higher intelligencia of humans in general.
P.S. The minute Airbnb send that 'You are most welcomed to Cancel' letter, I wrote to every one of my guests that 'You are most welcomed to Rebook’ and every single one fortunately did.
P.S.2. The suggestion that many of you have made on this event about Airbnb paying you at least 50% of canceled reservations has some merit, in part. I would have thought paying their hosts at least 25% would have been more realistic and fair because after all in many of your cases you ~reserved~ a time slot in your places for an 'Airbnb guest', so that should have been worth much consideration.
