@Donald28 @Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 @Nick @Sarah977 @Suzanne302 @Helen350
I really don't think we should be judging guests by their age, their size, their perceived health.
I had a guest, Marianne.......When she booked she told me she was regarded as Australia's leading junior swimming coach.
My reaction was....wow! I explained in the message stream where all the training facilities were in the area so she could keep in shape. She said she was coming here for the marriage of one of her swimming pupils....he said he could not possibly get married without Marianne attending!
The day arrived, it was the middle of summer and an access van pulled up out the front and this enormous woman was helped out of the van by the driver. She was the largest woman I have ever seen in the flesh! We see bigger in medical programs on TV but this woman could not walk unaided. She had a crutch around one arm which supported one side and the driver took her other arm as she waddled up the driveway....... and I stood there in shock! This was not the booking I accepted!
We got her in on the bed, she was sweating profusely and the taxi driver left! Great, what the hell do I do now, my listing is not equipped for a person of this size. I got straight onto Airbnb support and explained the situation. They were really good about it and asked if I wanted to cancel the reservation. I said it was a bit late for that, she was here but I wanted it on file that this was not the booking I was lead to believe I was accepting should a problem occur!
I rushed up the back and increased my Sharecover public liability on the spot!
I left Marianne to it that afternoon and night and she seemed to be getting on okay. The next afternoon ( Friday) was hot, around 34c (96f) and she came out of the cottage as I was sitting under the veranda at the rear of the house. She asked if she could sit with me and talk, and I asked if she would like a cup of tea which she accepted. Ade came out and the three of us talked and she talked about all her swimming successes, and my reaction under my breath was....'For Christ sake shut up Marianne, you would empty a swimming pool, not fill one'! Both Ade and I sort of felt we were being insulted!
After a while she started to cry and she told us how her genetic condition had taken over her life and she had not been able to continue in her chosen career, her family had largely deserted her and she ended up all alone in a country town in New South Wales!
From that point on she became great company, we laughed and joked and had a lovely afternoon.
The next morning (Saturday) the day of the wedding, and the bridegroom and best man arrived to pick up Marianne. He was indeed one of Australia's best swimmers and has Olympic Gold to his name. They both looked so comical 6ft4 of him with his arm around 5ft 2 Marianne and he looked me in the eye and said....."I could never have done it without this woman"!!!!
I learned an instant lesson that day, you never judge a book by it's cover! This was the review Marianne gave and my response......
You can't simply lump guests into categories, old, fat, lazy, belligerent, overweight, we are all people and we all deserve respect.
Cheers......Rob
I thought @Sharon1014 the same thing. With basic apps, images and names can be easily covered to protect privacy.
