hn_throwaway_99, I don't think it's mere griping to point out that companies like AirBnB trampled the rights of others in the communities it serves, because they literally ran an an illegal hotel business. It is roughly analogous to my setting up tents on the sidewalk in front of your house and renting them to my "customers", or charging people to come to noisy parties right outside your front door. Maybe the AirBnB are incredible business people, but they crushed neighborhoods and competing businesses in an illegal and, to me, hideously unethical manner.
You don't own the sidewalk. If a foodcart pulled up and your office cafe started to lose money many would suggest they offer better products or prices.
Those noisey parties happen at my neighbours house all of the time. It's the price of living in a city.
That's why the GP used the example of tents and parties, and not selling food. You actually do own the sidewalk to some extent - there is a set of regulations in each city that tries to balance citizens' needs for beauty and comfort with the needs of healthy economic activity.
AirBnB - and Uber - just went and ignored these laws wholesale, essentially showing everyone a huge middle finger.
> Those noisey parties happen at my neighbours house all of the time. It's the price of living in a city.
So you talk to your neighbours and you come to an understanding. Since you have a long running relation with them (you live next door to each other) you can improve living conditions for both parties by communicating. If you have different party go-ers every week next door you can't do that.
Housing area's should primarily be liveable. They are not there to provide real estate for someone to speculate with or to rent out to party go'ers. Though I guess this might be a too socialist view for you in which case we'll probably never agree with each other.
A socialist or communist society kinda works a little differently at least in eastern europe. Depending on how close or connected you are to the party leadership you get an apartment you throw as many parties if anyone disagrees they get thrown in jail. If someone more important complains you get thrown in jail.
Your view sounds more republican. All of the home owners create a gated community with rules. Those who break the rules are kicked out.
That just seems like such a weak argument. People are really furious with Airbnb for violating zoning and hospitality regulations? Really? Did they also jaywalk on the way to their YC demo?
I think people are mad that the Airbnb founders are rich (fair, but there are a lot of rich people) and that they have arguably raised rents, though I'm not 100% convinced of that.
EDIT - There is some good data out there suggesting a correlation between airbnb activity and rent increasing. Still researching.
You seem to think I know why people are furious. I don’t know what is in other peoples’ minds. I’m just telling you how I look at things. I‘m already rich, but even when I wasn’t I was never motivated by envy or hatred of those who had more than I did.
As far zoning and hospitality regulations: it is scarcely exaggeration to say that a municipality can come close to ruining your life, and certainly your personal fortune, through whimsical application of them. Perhaps you live in a place where these things don’t matter, or, more likely, perhaps you’ve never been in business for yourself. I live in Seattle, where they will cheerfully shut down your business for weeks because you have an electrical outlet 6 inches too close to the wall.
