no profile picture

[Flor-and-Scott0]

I do not like nor feel comfortable not being able to see a profile picture as we use to be able to see. Not sure who's braindead idea on Airbnb that was. I read that a host accepted a request and then the profile picture came up and it was of a man giving the middle finger. That's the picture that represents them? That is not the type of people anyone would like to be using their home.  Putting a face to a name makes it personable. I declined 2 reservations so far since the picture was of very young kids wanting to rent with 15 of their responsible friends. They looked like 12-year-olds. I know I was not responsible at that age. Airbnb, you need to understand that these are our homes that we take a chance of renting out to complete strangers. 

[Ramona2]

Hello @Flor-and-Scott0 

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to check a guest's profile photo.

You can also require guests to have a profile photo, but that photo won't be displayed until the reservation is confirmed.

If a guest's profile photo doesn't include the guest's face and, for example, contains only a cartoon, an avatar, or a picture of something other than a person, you cancel penalty-free by contacting Airbnb.

https://www.airbnb.ie/help/article/2157/why-cant-i-check-a-guests-profile-photo

Have a great summer!

Ramona 

[Flor-and-Scott0]

there should be no reason why we are not able to see a profile picture first. It was fine in the beginning when we could.  Not sure why they changed it and no one seems to give me a good educated reason why. 

[Emilia42]

@Flor-and-Scott0 

https://thinkprogress.org/airbnb-changes-photo-policy-combat-racial-discrimination-4f71c375553a/

[Flor-and-Scott0]

I have hosted every type of race, gender and religion. My guest leave me rave reviews and several have kept in contact with personal accomplishments and I have even gone to one wedding of a guest. My Airbnb profile and rent history show all types of guest that I have welcomed into my home. But at the end of the day, it's my house and it's very expensive and I want to see the face behind the name as we all once did. Shame on whoever put a racist label on this situation. 

[Sarah977]

@Flor-and-Scott0  I completely agree with you, as do a plethora of other hosts and there have been many lengthy threads here on the forum about it.

I'm quite sure there are some racist hosts and some racist guests out there, but I'd be willing to bet they are a small minority of the millions of Airbnb users. To impose this on all hosts is a terrible policy and personally I think it's a crock- it's just more of Airbnb systematically removing valuable tools that a host uses to make a decision on accepting a guest in their push to have us accept every guest, no matter how inappropriate. 

I would never decline a guest based on the color of their skin, their nationality, their sexual orientation, but I would decline a guest who thought it was cute to have a profile photo flipping the bird or posed with their gun. I want to see a friendly face if someone is going to expect to be welcomed into my home.

[Gordon0]

It's highly commendable of the brilliant hosts on here saying they'd never discriminate (unconsciously or otherwise), but the fact is, plenty do.  

As for "Shame on whoever put a racist label on this situation", I'm not sure the people who were systematically declined because of their colour would agree.