6 ms·

This is the utterly foreseeable consequence of the HN-funded Airbnb, which effectively lets rich tourists drive up the cost of living of city residents.

by 7e 2y ago

mytailorisrich 2y ago
This does not justify attacking peaceful people who are minding their own business and having dinner. In fact, in my jurisdiction this would be common assault. Also, "rich tourists"... On the contrary. The number of tourists across Europe has exploded because very cheap flights and available and cheap accommodation means that, for instance, spending a couple of days in Barcelona has become extremely cheap and affordable to all, and all can be arranged from one's smartphone, indeed. When tourism was only for "rich people" there was no problem at all and Tom Ripley was very welcome everywhere ;) Example: Ryanair has flights from London to Perpignan (in France, across the border from Barcelona) in July starting at £35 one way... Barcelona seems more in demand so it's a whole £65...
- itsoktocry 2y ago
  >This does not justify attacking peaceful people Sure, but you could say this about every form of protest. >On the contrary. Poor people are not spending two days in Barcelona on a whim.
  - theragra 2y ago
    They certainly do, because tickets cost almost nothing, hostels are affordable. Richer people go to cruises or rent cars for a few weeks. Source: me and my friends when we were younger.
  - throwawa14223 2y ago
    All protest that involves people who wish not to be involved is fundamentally immoral.
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  > In fact, in my jurisdiction this would be common assault. In most jurisdictions, it'd be both a) assault and b) something the cops wouldn't give a shit about unless it damages a laptop or something.
  - mytailorisrich 2y ago
    You call the police reporting that you're being assaulted. They will show up. The assault will stop. Now, I agree they might just tell people off with no arrest but that really demands on mood, behaviour of people, location, and indeed damages to property.
    - ceejayoz 2y ago
      I had something that looked somewhat explosive put in my mailbox. I live in a well off suburb. Cops took two hours to arrive. For a squirt gunning? They aren’t gonna do shit.
      - mytailorisrich 2y ago
        Well, I am sorry that policing in your area is poor... But perhaps an actual crime in progress would elicit a different response. I have called the police twice in recent years, once for a road traffic accident in my street and once for road rage and they showed up in under 5 minutes (UK). It's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that a report of an assault in progress should get a quick response (maybe don't mention the water guns too much ;) )
smdyc1 2y ago
I'd shift the blame somewhat on the owners of the Airbnb properties and Airbnb itself rather than the tourists. They're the ones getting rich at the expense of the locals.
- Scoundreller 2y ago
  Meanwhile every Euro “destination” town/city will have residential units all over sitting mostly empty owned by some rich person/family. But that’s not as visible. And nothing new.
itsoktocry 2y ago
And it manifests itself as anti-immigration, too, as evidenced by elections in nearly every country. Mortgage financing and infrastructure, at least here in Canada, was designed to help get people into home ownership. Over the past 10 years that's turned into cheap, easy leverage to become a landlord.
- Scoundreller 2y ago
  > was designed to help get people into home ownership. I wouldn’t call it “designed to” if it was more accessible to those with large amounts of capital already at their disposal.
autokad 2y ago
I remember residents there and other places of Europe were upset about tourists far before airbnb was a major thing, like this article not limited to 2017 (although airbnb is mentioned, this goes back a long time): https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/europeans-angry-at-having-to-share-their-cities-with-millions-of-tourists-1.620338 https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/europeans-angry...
luzojeda 2y ago
I find weird why this is being downvoted comparing to some Airbnb related comments on a same situation 3 years ago but in Amsterdam: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28903530 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28903530
- hindsightbias 2y ago
  People are less and less considering themselves as part of the problem.
  - luzojeda 2y ago
    an increasing rules for thee but not for me

This is the utterly foreseeable consequence of the HN-funded Airbnb, which effectively lets rich tourists drive up the cost of living of city residents.

by 7e 2y ago

This is the utterly foreseeable consequence of the HN-funded Airbnb, which effectively lets rich tourists drive up the cost of living of city residents.

mytailorisrich 2y ago

This does not justify attacking peaceful people who are minding their own business and having dinner. In fact, in my jurisdiction this would be common assault. Also, "rich tourists"... On the contrary. The number of tourists across Europe has exploded because very cheap flights and available and cheap accommodation means that, for instance, spending a couple of days in Barcelona has become extremely cheap and affordable to all, and all can be arranged from one's smartphone, indeed. When tourism was only for "rich people" there was no problem at all and Tom Ripley was very welcome everywhere ;) Example: Ryanair has flights from London to Perpignan (in France, across the border from Barcelona) in July starting at £35 one way... Barcelona seems more in demand so it's a whole £65...

itsoktocry 2y ago
>This does not justify attacking peaceful people Sure, but you could say this about every form of protest. >On the contrary. Poor people are not spending two days in Barcelona on a whim.
- theragra 2y ago
  They certainly do, because tickets cost almost nothing, hostels are affordable. Richer people go to cruises or rent cars for a few weeks. Source: me and my friends when we were younger.
- throwawa14223 2y ago
  All protest that involves people who wish not to be involved is fundamentally immoral.
ceejayoz 2y ago
> In fact, in my jurisdiction this would be common assault. In most jurisdictions, it'd be both a) assault and b) something the cops wouldn't give a shit about unless it damages a laptop or something.
- mytailorisrich 2y ago
  You call the police reporting that you're being assaulted. They will show up. The assault will stop. Now, I agree they might just tell people off with no arrest but that really demands on mood, behaviour of people, location, and indeed damages to property.
  - ceejayoz 2y ago
    I had something that looked somewhat explosive put in my mailbox. I live in a well off suburb. Cops took two hours to arrive. For a squirt gunning? They aren’t gonna do shit.
    - mytailorisrich 2y ago
      Well, I am sorry that policing in your area is poor... But perhaps an actual crime in progress would elicit a different response. I have called the police twice in recent years, once for a road traffic accident in my street and once for road rage and they showed up in under 5 minutes (UK). It's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that a report of an assault in progress should get a quick response (maybe don't mention the water guns too much ;) )

smdyc1 2y ago

I'd shift the blame somewhat on the owners of the Airbnb properties and Airbnb itself rather than the tourists. They're the ones getting rich at the expense of the locals.

Scoundreller 2y ago
Meanwhile every Euro “destination” town/city will have residential units all over sitting mostly empty owned by some rich person/family. But that’s not as visible. And nothing new.

itsoktocry 2y ago

And it manifests itself as anti-immigration, too, as evidenced by elections in nearly every country. Mortgage financing and infrastructure, at least here in Canada, was designed to help get people into home ownership. Over the past 10 years that's turned into cheap, easy leverage to become a landlord.

Scoundreller 2y ago
> was designed to help get people into home ownership. I wouldn’t call it “designed to” if it was more accessible to those with large amounts of capital already at their disposal.

autokad 2y ago

I remember residents there and other places of Europe were upset about tourists far before airbnb was a major thing, like this article not limited to 2017 (although airbnb is mentioned, this goes back a long time): https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/europeans-angry-at-having-to-share-their-cities-with-millions-of-tourists-1.620338 https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/europeans-angry...

luzojeda 2y ago

I find weird why this is being downvoted comparing to some Airbnb related comments on a same situation 3 years ago but in Amsterdam: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28903530 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28903530

hindsightbias 2y ago
People are less and less considering themselves as part of the problem.
- luzojeda 2y ago
  an increasing rules for thee but not for me