How to encourage new participants

[Mary996]

How can we encourage newcomers to participate in the Community Centre? 

There are probably many seasoned Hosts who have never been here or have visited and been put off for some reason. It can be a tough environment and I do not appreciate this.

I was thinking that new Hosts might be directed here as part of a their 'inset' or orientation where they will have the opportunity to learn more and to ask questions or to make the kind of suggestions that fresh faces and fresh perspectives can bring. But I do feel that an element of self-help and of reciprocity is warranted with an expectation that everyone will take their turn. How would it be if Hosts were allocated periods when they are 'on-duty' and expected to respond to Guests and to other Hosts?

In the long run having an element of self-help makes good economic sense. It also contributes to shaping the organisation in the way we would like it to be. An appreciative and supportive place. Any thoughts??????? 

[Mary996]

Hi @Mark116 

I agree that there has been a lot of cynicism flying around.... this is why  I'm wondering if we could draw in more contributors who are fresh and enthusiastic. However I do not mean to trash the long term contributors its just there does seem to have been an issue... not just brevity.... and this can set the tone, has the effect of putting off others and the cycle becomes vicious as the persistent contributors put themselves under more stress and lash out even more at the unsuspecting!!

I would like your opinion on this one Mark. How about some kind of remunerative award for those we deem to have been most helpful?

[Pat271]

@Mary996  I just want to say that I’m glad you posted, and I appreciate your collaborative encouraging of us all to do better.

I’m from the school of thought that believes that no matter how evolved and excellent a process, platform, or even way of life has become, there is always room for growth. Great innovation can come from reflection.

What went well, that we should continue? What hasn’t gone so well, and how can we do better next time? Constantly pushing against the envelope of the status quo ultimately leads to better quality.  Doing so can be very uncomfortable, but ultimately very rewarding. 

So, Mary, thanks for the nudge. 🙂

[Mary996]

Oh Pat thank you!

@Pat271 

This is exactly how I feel. I really truly appreciate what you have said about trying to improve. I do aspire to keep working on myself as well as my Listing... although this is being neglected at the moment but somehow I still get lovely Guests coming along!! I also feel warmly towards everyone on here and accept the lessons we learn from each other.

I think I may lack tact? I welcome feedback but I am also experimenting with self assertion on a personal level. I'm willing to go under the microscope to get thoughtful comments such as yours

"Great innovation can come from reflection."

This is truly inspiring Pat. Is it your own quotation? It needs to be celebrated. I love it and am taking away with me so many lovely contributions here today. Thank you so very much xx

[Emilia42]

This is not really contributing to @Mary996 's initial post but just some thoughts:

I have been actively participating in this forum for about 3 years. Many "regulars" have come and gone in that timeframe. I feel like I know many regular contributors here but what I have to remember is ... I don't. I have never met or heard the voices of any of these people (minus Ann72.) Everyone (in general) is so quick to guess and/or assume someone's tone through text. But we can't, or at least it is very hard to do when we do not have a physical relationship with the person. There have been many studies done on this. (https://www.fastcompany.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts)

Whenever I read anything posted on this forum (or any forum) I read it in a completely neutral tone with no emotion attached. Tying this back to Airbnb, I actually do this with my guests (whom I don't know) as well. I suppose my point here is that if we didn't feel so strongly connected to our own interpretation of someone else's sentence then we wouldn't feel so attacked or judged, etc. But I do understand that this is easier said than done. 

[Mary996]

I appreciate what you are saying @Emilia42 . You are always so tactful and skillfully neutral yourself. I will have a read of your link. I can't wait to look at it in fact but must to bed. Just wanted to quickly respond.

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to post.

[Mary996]

Hi Emilia @Emilia42 

Many thanks for the link to that piece which you shared. I enjoyed it. It was helpful to be reminded of how easy it is to misinterpret others when we are communicating by text, as here.

I felt for the young employee who thought her boss was being dismissive. She was probably agonising for ages...!!

I also really appreciate your point about detachment being such a useful tool in relations. Wise words from across the ages and still applying today - perhaps more so.

I will take on-board your advice to remember the vehicle of non-attachment. It is a profound one and a great teaching.  That you were kind enough to stop during your day to pass this on to me was very moving. Thank you very much indeed. I certainly do need to let go of my own interpretation of someone else's sentences and this is a very helpful and thoughtful reminder. Thank you Emilia.

[Alexandra316]

I actually do agree that sometimes the tone with new participants can occasionally be a little harsh, particularly with guest posts. I do understand that they're often issues where they see unfairness (they didn't get refunded, mostly, which is usually a failure to read the listing) that are actually their own doing. Maybe a new member badge would help? They have added this on Facebook groups and it could be worth a try.

When I was in my first week of hosting, I came in here with a concern because I had a guest who had an obviously made up name. I was shocked because I thought ID verified actually meant something: I thought the name on the account was the same as the ID. I had been through the ID process myself and all my account info was present and correct and I assumed everyone else had done the same.

Yeah, it was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

So I made my little post, and the very first response was: Airbnb hosting obviously isn't for you!

Thankfully I added that response to the mental recycle folder and moved on, because Airbnb has helped me meet many great people and have many experiences I never would have been able to have if I wasn't a host and a guest. 

I appreciate the lack of censorship here and I also think the mods are pretty great. I also think the forum itself is a really helpful place and I have enjoyed being a member here enormously. So many great contributors have come and gone and there are many still here, of course. I enjoy the diversity, the helpfulness, and hopefully helping others. I don't want a tone police. I have made posts that are "positive"; I have made posts that are "negative" (ugh for that binary), and really, all I want is for Airbnb to be the best it can be. There are so many potentials for improvement. I don't think pointing out room for improvement is negative. 

[Ann72]

I love this honest and thoughtful response to @Mary996's post, @Alexandra316.  I agree about the mods!

[Alexandra316]

Thanks so much @Ann72 ! I'm really glad I met you here. Hope to see you at the next social!

[Ann72]

I am too @Alexandra316 - and so do I!  

[Stephanie]

👀  *checks calendar*

@Ann72 @Alexandra316 

[Mary996]

Hello Alexandra,  @Alexandra316 

Thank you so much for commenting, for being so thoughtful and for sharing your experience and perspectives. It was really a joy to hear from you. 

With respect to the harsh tones towards Guests I love the suggestion of a  badge to indicate a request  for a 'please go easy on me' approach!  (Can I have one all the time....!!!!!)? 

Thanks for sharing your story of first coming here. I am very sorry indeed that someone spoke to you like that but so glad that you were not put off and that you are here now contributing actively and adding value. I appreciate you.

Thanks for sharing again your original concern about false ID with its relevance still.  I hope there weren't any consequences for you and that you could decline the Guest. What do you think about the idea being floated that Airbnb holds credit card numbers until after a stay has been completed, like a hotel?

Although we can generally speak freely we have been through a period of censorship so its necessary to keep silent about some painful facts. I was just pleased that others did object. Silence can be an agressive collaborator.

May I ask a little more about your concern towards a 'tone police'? Where this turn of phrase has been used was where there seemed to be a relunctance to take responsibilty for the kind of aggressive speech used towards Guests to which you referenced concern. I am also respectfully asking other Host members to kindly not speak to me in that way either (anymore), and, whilst I regret the necessity to make such assertions I have had to. Does this in any way offend you? 

I warmly share your wish for Airbnb to be the best that it can be. I would like to see more diversity and actually I am concerned that a clique has been operating here. For these reasons I made this post.

I think its understandable that people club together for whatever reason and I would really like everyone to get their needs met but it is quite hard to see the multiple likes for clique members between themselves without shared acknowledgement of 'outsiders' such as myself and others. Please don't feel you have to notice me  I'd rather not have guilt tripped likes but I have wondered if you were ignoring my contributions for example to your recent thread and more widely and I have been concerned that I might have offended you somehow?

[Ute42]

.

@Emilia42

Upthread You said:

• Everyone (in general) is so quick to guess and/or assume someone's tone through text.

I think You are right. The perception of what we post on here is different from person to person. Some are more sensitive than others, some are easily annoyed and for some english isn't their first language wich can cause misunderstandings and I know what I'm talking about.

In order to avoid any disappointment on the readers side, You should always start an answer to a post by using this following intropattern:

• I am so sorry this happened to You

• I had the same thing happening to me 3 months ago and I feel for You

• I took a look at Your listing and I love it

• You have great reviews and I think You're an outstanding host

If You use this formular You make the reader of Your message feel welcomed, appreciated, You show compassion and You have turned the original poster into a positive mood to start with. What You write afterwards isn't that important, the intro makes it or breaks it.

I simetimes forget about this introductional formular and post strictly factual answers:

Fellowhost:

• Guest booked to 2 but checks in with 4. What do I do?

Ute:

• Let it slide

• charge for the extra guests and get a bad review

• kick them out and get a bad review

What other options are there? There anren't any. But many people consider such an answer to be unfriendly and not welcoming. Despite the fact that there are no emotions involved at all, despite the fact that the answer is correct, absolutely factual and a really short read wich is conveniant.

This magic introductional formular has developped on the CC over the course of the past years and the master in this departement is @Robin4  in Australia, I think he even invented it. Whenever You read a post from Robin, you feel better than You felt before and I think that's his objektive.

I think that's what many people want who come here, they want emotional support.

Cc: @Mary996 @Colleen253 @Pat271 @Sarah977 @Mark116 @Linda108 @Alexandra316 @Ann72

[Emilia42]

@Ute42 Yes! Spot on. Occasionally, I have tried to use some of your motivational openers in an attempt to try to appear more "compassionate" because people on here don't know my tone or who I really am. If they really knew me, they would know that it doesn't come naturally and it feels awkward and empty when I read it back to myself. The old "I hear what you're saying .... " makes me cringe.

[Ute42]

.

@Emilia42  

Same with me. Actually, I don't use this intropattern at all. I am as I am, I talk the way I talk and I write the way I write. I don't disguise myself to please others. If someone doesn't like my style of writing, that's fine with me. If someone attacks me I don't complain to the mods but fire back. If You don't like gunfire, don't attack me.

But I'm the same way the other way round. I am not easily put off by what other people post. People are different. I don't agonise over every word or comma or fullstop someone has put some place.

I like the way the CC is right now. Not much censorship going on and if it happenes there often is a reason for it. I don't see much need for changes on here.