Oh, I kind of feel we're at cross purposes a little on this thread, ie people are coming at it from different standpoints (understandably)...
Can I just make this disctinction:
You can look at someone's photo and just simply SEE it.
You can look at someone's photo, see it and make a judgement upon the person (and then a judgement on whether or not to accept their booking)
I'm absolutely not in favour of the second (with the exception of eg people looking like white supremacists!)
I'm also not going to argue against a policy which is geared towards cutting out discrimination, and, if we believe Airbnb, is having the desired effect ... just saying I preferred to see the pic pre-booking, but am coping fine with seeing it afterwards, took a bit of getting used to, that's all.
@Gordon0
Thanks for that. You obviously “know whereof you speak” - sorry to hear you were discriminated against. I can't really say I've had personal experience of discrimination in this sector... or does being invisibilised as an old woman count?!
@Lisa1831
I probably AM more upset that I don't automatically get Govt ID anymore... there've been so many changes, that I don't even know if I have the energy to get too upset anymore...
Well, guests do get a fair amount of info on the listing, including photos, and, I would have thought, a reasonable idea of where they're booked to stay, without getting a specific address.
Would I book you based on your photo? I wouldn't accept/decline you, or any guest, purely based on a photo – I need a lot more info on anyone who's coming to stay in my home!
PS I really like your photo, by the way, and after reading your profile and reviews, I'd accept you like a shot. But, going by what you said elsewhere, I'm not sure my cleanliness standards would meet yours, so I'd be a bit nervous 😉