5 ms·

So, this is a totally superficial comment, but here we go. Brian, as part of all of this crisis stuff, I think it's time to have a new profile picture taken.

by wheels 15y ago

So, this is a totally superficial comment, but here we go. Brian, as part of all of this crisis stuff, I think it's time to have a new profile picture taken. One where you don't look so, how should I say... 20. From rough calculation, I'm only a couple years older, but one thing that's stood out for me visually in all of this is that ... well, let's just say that it's one of those times where looking like the young silicon valley hotshot works against you. Having a PR shot to pull out of the drawer that looks older, more serious and decidedly less hip would do well when people are worried. (As for the actual content of the story: well done.) Edit: Rational or otherwise, people read a lot from a face. Heck, it's obvious that Airbnb gets that since it's part of their trust system. Since trust is a big part of what makes Airbnb tick, I think it'd be worth the time to craft a profile shot that inspires such. This may even be an inflection point in Airbnb's history where it's transitioning from the couchsurfing-but-with-money branding to I'm-trusting-these-guys-to-keep-my-home-safe. Edit 2: So as a bit of redux, I'm genuinely surprised that this was the most upvoted comment, since it's a minor issue relative to the good that's going down (and specifically, insurance is something that I was personally rooting for since that's what'd kept me from listing a room there prior to this whole shebang.). As for the photo, I think it's actually kind of an interestingly shot, but I don't think it's the one you want plastered all over the interwebs in a crisis scenario.

gobongo 15y ago
IMO the problem isn't that he looks 20, but rather that he looks pretty douchey in that photo. Looking young isn't so bad in this context, but looking like you just stepped off of the set of one of those MTV 'reality' shows is. I'm fairly certain this is going to get me down-voted through the floor, but please at least view the picture in question prior to down-voting me for saying this.
- PonyGumbo 15y ago
  "Smug" might be a better word. Fairly sinister lighting, too. The photo was definitely the first thing I noticed.
  - Alex3917 15y ago
    The lighting actually makes it look a lot like a Jill Greenberg photo: http://www.google.com/search?q=jill+greenberg+photo&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=973&bih=511 http://www.google.com/search?q=jill+greenberg+photo&um=1... I wouldn't be surprised too since she's also a RISD alumn.
    - MartinCron 15y ago
      I immediately thought of Joey L's logging style, which is similar to Greenberg's. Basically, the really strong lighting on the sides and relatively dark front of face looks like his work for the Twilight movie posters.
- friendstock 15y ago
  It was my impression too that the photo could be appropriate. EDIT: I've edited my comment to make it more constructive. Brian, I think you are doing a great job with AirBNB and handling this situation. Please take these comments as constructive criticism regarding the photo (in this particular situation).
  - brianchesky 15y ago
    :(
    - ccollins 15y ago
      Don't let them get you down, Brian.
    - gobongo 15y ago
      I hesitated to even bring it up because I didn't know how to say it without it sounding like a personal attack, but FWIW, I didn't mean it as one. We all have photos taken of us that convey personalities that aren't really our own. I don't think you're a douche, but the photo gives that impression a bit.
    - deleted 15y ago
      [deleted]
    - boredguy8 15y ago
      Classiest reply in this whole discussion.
    - friendstock 15y ago
      My sincere apologies!!! John
    - temphn 15y ago
      Yo man: f these haters. Even the well meaning ones with their rubbernecking advice, even the fellow YC alums who don't understand that when a man has just been through hell and back that the last thing he needs is more people piling on with "constructive criticism" in an open forum. A lot of people tried to kill you just now, with a few like Melinda Byerley openly admitting that this was just an opportunity to express their envy and hatred. http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/31/another-airbnb-victim-tells-his-story-there-were-meth-pipes-everywhere/?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150268193548512_19794824_10150268212763512 http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/31/another-airbnb-victim-tells... For PR reasons you need to smile, even as JimmyL critiques the sincerity of your orthodontics. Smile on the outside and ask them in a chipper tone how you can be of service, but in the end, seriously, f* em. There's an insane amount of implementation work to do to get this 24/7 support and insurance program operational. F* em all and just plow. Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And your real customers and fans will thank you for it.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- nimblegorilla 15y ago
  I don't think he looks like a douche, but I thought that picture was a stock photo of someone who was supposed to represent the criminal who started the whole mess.
  - lwhi 15y ago
    I rarely LOL on HN, but I did just then.
alohahacker 15y ago
this is so true. i was thinking the exact thing especially in all his pics on techcrunch. perception is everything and all those pics give the reader a different image for sure. more cocky, im the man kind of image. its just that the pics dont seem right for the situation. on a side note...i think hes a good looking dude (no homo of course lol)
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- erikpukinskis 15y ago
  Please don't say "no homo". It's really offensive.
  - alohahacker 15y ago
    really? it was meant in a non offensive way but wouldnt want to offend the sensitive..my bad
    - rmc 15y ago
      "no homo" means "What I have just said might imply I'm a homosexual, since homosexuals are so terrible awful people, I must point out that I'm a normal healthy hetrosexual" It doesn't matter if you're gay. You don't need to reassure us of that.
      - alohahacker 15y ago
        one love
rsbrown 15y ago
I was very surprised to read your comment. Mainly because I also received a very negative first impression from his profile photo, but I thought it was just me. The post itself was great. Since Airbnb is mostly waging a battle of perception in all of this, then the image presented by the CEO's profile picture is actually a relevant issue in this discussion. Good call.
Confusion 15y ago
Interesting, when I first saw a photo of Brian, I think on TechCrunch, my first thought was: "he looks so slick. That will probably have a negative influence on the way people interpret his response to this situation". I guess it beams somehing like "my life is awesome and I don't have a care in the world"

by wheels 15y ago

gobongo 15y ago

IMO the problem isn't that he looks 20, but rather that he looks pretty douchey in that photo. Looking young isn't so bad in this context, but looking like you just stepped off of the set of one of those MTV 'reality' shows is. I'm fairly certain this is going to get me down-voted through the floor, but please at least view the picture in question prior to down-voting me for saying this.

PonyGumbo 15y ago
"Smug" might be a better word. Fairly sinister lighting, too. The photo was definitely the first thing I noticed.
- Alex3917 15y ago
  The lighting actually makes it look a lot like a Jill Greenberg photo: http://www.google.com/search?q=jill+greenberg+photo&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=973&bih=511 http://www.google.com/search?q=jill+greenberg+photo&um=1... I wouldn't be surprised too since she's also a RISD alumn.
  - MartinCron 15y ago
    I immediately thought of Joey L's logging style, which is similar to Greenberg's. Basically, the really strong lighting on the sides and relatively dark front of face looks like his work for the Twilight movie posters.
friendstock 15y ago
It was my impression too that the photo could be appropriate. EDIT: I've edited my comment to make it more constructive. Brian, I think you are doing a great job with AirBNB and handling this situation. Please take these comments as constructive criticism regarding the photo (in this particular situation).
- brianchesky 15y ago
  :(
  - ccollins 15y ago
    Don't let them get you down, Brian.
  - gobongo 15y ago
    I hesitated to even bring it up because I didn't know how to say it without it sounding like a personal attack, but FWIW, I didn't mean it as one. We all have photos taken of us that convey personalities that aren't really our own. I don't think you're a douche, but the photo gives that impression a bit.
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
  - boredguy8 15y ago
    Classiest reply in this whole discussion.
  - friendstock 15y ago
    My sincere apologies!!! John
  - temphn 15y ago
    Yo man: f these haters. Even the well meaning ones with their rubbernecking advice, even the fellow YC alums who don't understand that when a man has just been through hell and back that the last thing he needs is more people piling on with "constructive criticism" in an open forum. A lot of people tried to kill you just now, with a few like Melinda Byerley openly admitting that this was just an opportunity to express their envy and hatred. http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/31/another-airbnb-victim-tells-his-story-there-were-meth-pipes-everywhere/?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150268193548512_19794824_10150268212763512 http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/31/another-airbnb-victim-tells... For PR reasons you need to smile, even as JimmyL critiques the sincerity of your orthodontics. Smile on the outside and ask them in a chipper tone how you can be of service, but in the end, seriously, f* em. There's an insane amount of implementation work to do to get this 24/7 support and insurance program operational. F* em all and just plow. Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And your real customers and fans will thank you for it.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
nimblegorilla 15y ago
I don't think he looks like a douche, but I thought that picture was a stock photo of someone who was supposed to represent the criminal who started the whole mess.
- lwhi 15y ago
  I rarely LOL on HN, but I did just then.

alohahacker 15y ago

this is so true. i was thinking the exact thing especially in all his pics on techcrunch. perception is everything and all those pics give the reader a different image for sure. more cocky, im the man kind of image. its just that the pics dont seem right for the situation. on a side note...i think hes a good looking dude (no homo of course lol)

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
erikpukinskis 15y ago
Please don't say "no homo". It's really offensive.
- alohahacker 15y ago
  really? it was meant in a non offensive way but wouldnt want to offend the sensitive..my bad
  - rmc 15y ago
    "no homo" means "What I have just said might imply I'm a homosexual, since homosexuals are so terrible awful people, I must point out that I'm a normal healthy hetrosexual" It doesn't matter if you're gay. You don't need to reassure us of that.
    - alohahacker 15y ago
      one love

rsbrown 15y ago

I was very surprised to read your comment. Mainly because I also received a very negative first impression from his profile photo, but I thought it was just me. The post itself was great. Since Airbnb is mostly waging a battle of perception in all of this, then the image presented by the CEO's profile picture is actually a relevant issue in this discussion. Good call.

Confusion 15y ago

Interesting, when I first saw a photo of Brian, I think on TechCrunch, my first thought was: "he looks so slick. That will probably have a negative influence on the way people interpret his response to this situation". I guess it beams somehing like "my life is awesome and I don't have a care in the world"