How would you reacted if ... ? Would you be afraid of a negative review?

[J-Renato0]

We know that Airbnb does not allow to pick guests! You can not discriminate, and it is a positive attitude.
How would you react as a host if your guest arrived and you noticed one of the following peculiarities:

Not necessary to say that, this topic is about humour, however it has to do with actual issues that some hosts has faced.

1- The guest arrives wearing a Save the Earth-Climate Change t-shirt!
2- The guest arrives wearing a red M.A.G.A. cap.
3- The guest arrives wearing t-shirt with the picture of an Antifa logo!
3- The guest arrives wearing a t-shirt with a combined picture of a rainbow and Priscila the Queen of Desert film picture!
4- A guest arrives wearing a t-shirt with a picture of Bob Marley smoking weed!
5- Lets suppose you accept pets and the guest told you he/she would be arriving with his pet. When  arriving he/she is wearing a t-shirt with an animal defense movement logo and carrying proudly a huge piton snake.

Recently, I saw a topic about a guest who wrote a negative review becouse he did not like a dvd-movie that was available in the listing.

From my point of view, the best thing to do to avoid unecessary issues and not to trigger a reaction on some guests (that has diferent views from the host) is to provide a neutral enviroment to the guest.

Meaning, It is not necessary to share your political orientarion or others personal preferences with the guests by forcing them to see some types of statues on the shelf, controvertial pictures hanging on the wall, very controvertial books and so on.

My reaction would goes like this. I would not care for the guest´s appearance or preferences.

As long as they accomplish with the house rules and be a good guests, I would avoid making comments.
As for pets, I like dogs and birds however in my listings I do not allow any type of pets. Smoking is not allowed as well because of the smell.

So, what would be your reaction?

[Jason114]

@J-Renato0 great topic! I host in Silicon Valley and this place attracts amazing people from all over the world. About a decade ago, I came here myself to work in the tech industry. Now, many people who stay in my places come here to also work in the tech industry. Therefore, we already have a solid foundation of commonality which guides our interaction. I surely don't meet everyone as I'm pretty busy working on my own projects. But when I do, most of the time I sincerely enjoy their presence. It takes a lot of ambition to make it out here, so we're all curious about how the other made it. As a result, I've made many friends through the Airbnb platform, some of which I eventually visit in their home country - for this I'm incredibly thankful. 

I run into a wide variety of views. But most people that come to my places are professional, work in the tech industry and are ambitious, and we respect each other - this is the true guiding principal between us. I am cautious of those who present themselves as a sort of 'activist' who push their views - but it's not all that common. To be fair, I'm sure there's a big difference in guest quality in Silicon Valley vs a remote vacation destination - we simply attract a ton of amazing people here. They come from many countries with completely different upbringings and political situations. I've had the joy of holding amazing conversations, developing connections and learning from them all. 

[Laura2592]

We have had very staunch Trump supporters and people who worked on the Biden campaign stay with us in the last several months. The only way I know this is because the guests mentioned this. One was offended because the TV was turned to the "wrong" news channel when they clicked on the remote, the other because of signs displayed in people's yards on their way to our space. I would never have realized this had the guests not alerted me to their peccadillos. We don't meet our guests in person the vast majority of the time. 

We have had guests of many colors, genders, religions, orientations and belief systems. None of it bothers me. I don't get into politics or religion with my guests.  Some have worn t shirts with various slogans, others have gone out in the yard in their underwear.  More likely, the guests judge us to be a certain way. Some have assumed that we have a certain political stance because of the type of books we have (mostly classic novels you might read in high school or college) or the records in our collection (classical and old jazz.) We host short stays so if there is a guest mismatch for any reason its over soon. 

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  How bizarre that anyone would associate classic novels and classical music and old jazz with any political stance.

I'm trying to wrap my head around it. Like classic novels and classical music= elite intellectuals=liberals? C&W music collection and books on hunting and fishing=Republican? How funny.

[Fred13]

Funny @Sarah977 so true. The one thing I always do ask is - "So X what do you do?".  If I get back "I am the director of the sensitivity of the awareness of the ....." or some similar 'career' title, I know best not to pursue that road for too long, before I take another approach, one in which promises that we would have a lot more in common. 

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Sarah977 , Someone once told me "Assumption is the mother of all screw ups" but those that act as judge, jury and executioner most somehow have become demographic wizards in the 21st century.   "They" can magically tell who I am, what my characters, morals and ethics are just by looking at me, they project a severe hatred for incongruent labels created by someone elses fathers yet don't think twice about putting them on others they perceive as not them like tattoos.  

Funny and dumb quick story from back in October where I work, A famous very Liberal Arts U in a Very Rural Setting of Upstate NY, you might say is a tiny bastion of liberalism in a giant sea of Conservatives, (250+, most of which are the ones that do the literal dirty work in our uniforms) for a substantially imported and wealthy student, faculty and administrative staff.   

While chatting with a very liberal secretary I went to school with as a kid (who I verbally spar with occasionally) out on the quad on a beautiful afternoon, the president of the university stopped to chat with us briefly.  He asked his customary "How are you doing" to which I will always reply short and sweet "Excellent Sir and you?", my coworker on the other hand said she was doing well but covid, working, her kids and other things were very concerning her.   He replied to both of us, "Well you will be happy to know , Joe Biden is moving up in the polls, Isn't that exciting?"  My replay back was another short and simple, "I'm looking forward to it being over Sir", My coworker rambled and babbled chirpingly for a couple minutes like a kid with a new toy, the Pres said "keep hoping and have a great day", and walked away clueless....   He assumed everyone in his university must feel as he does, he's not from these parts and he doesn't have a clue who or what type of people make up most of the Hourly working staff (multi generations, Sons and daughters of farmers, trades, cleaners, mill workers and such).   Thats OK, he will be gone in 2 years and me and my coworkers and their kids will still be there... 

[Melodie-And-John0]

"We host short stays so if there is a guest mismatch for any reason its over soon. ",  @Laura2592 , thats the truth.   I find the best way not to get a negative opinion of someone who passes through our life like a breeze is not to get to know them personally all that much.   That doesn't mean I don't like people, I do,  just means I find I can care more for guests equally well when they remain guests and don't become more than customers.  We have a few returners that have breached our virtual hosting fence but its not our goal.   Stay well, JR    

[Fred13]

I don't care how they arrive or what they are wearing, they are paying guests and our short-term relationship is not an intellectual pursuit, but a financial one. On many occasions they make a comment that clearly lets me know where they stand, but I always act like I didn't get it.

The one conversation I do have with most of my guests is always about - what did the experience (of staying on an island) all by yourselves did for you. That always proves interesting and that is what I want them to write about IF they leave a review, which I never encourage one way or another.

[Melodie-And-John0]

Exactly  @Fred13 , its all about the money and our rules, if guests pay to stay and follow our simple Rules, we will get along just fine,  just Happy Host Johnny and Great Guests - if they fails to do either or both, they better be ready to meet JR the Angry Inn Keeper. 

I like your "experiences" question, staying on a private island would be a first for most people including myself.     WE have lots of guests from Suburbia and the Big City that think that Bearpath Lodging is in the wilderness and comment on the vastness of the area, Im sure you remember that from your Cornell days, step just outside of Ithaca and its a whole different world both geographically and culturally (Ithaca Is kinda an Island itself)!   Stay well Fred, JR

[Fred13]

My intent is really to stray away from the common or conventional type of 'review' oftentimes covering minutiae in the grand scheme of things, by suggesting a different consideration IF they intent to leave a review. This helps my guests to think in new ways. 

I would think @Melodie-And-John0 your place also lends itself to this approach.

[Scott-and-Mary-Ellen0]

What the heck is an "Antifa logo"? The Union Jack? The U.S., French, Spanish flag?  Rhetorical question.