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>I know that a lot of people on this site think that if you add the words 'on the internet' you should be exempt from all regulation and taxation, but that's ju

>I know that a lot of people on this site think that if you add the words 'on the internet' you should be exempt from all regulation and taxation, but that's just not how the world works. >I hope that the people who've been profiting from the lack of enforcement are forced to play on a level playing field. If only there were a level playing field. I think the rebellion from the regulatory structure is a reaction to the unfairness of it. Hotel reg's, Taxi reg's, these systems unfairly favor established players and established business models.

Xylakant 13y ago
Hotel regulations at least partially benefit me as a customer. Hotels are subject to health checks for example. B&B places are exempt from some of the regulations, but not from all. So why don't AirBnB-hosts just go and apply for a B&B license - or maybe AirBnB handles the legalities for them. There's no conceivable reason that AirBnB-places should receive a preferred treatment in that matter - so I must admit I don't see and rebellion from the regulatory structure. They're just enforcing the rules that every other player is bound to as well. I also fail to see that adherence to health and fire code unfairly favors established players - quite to the contrary, those not adhering to the standards take an unfair advantage. One of the price differences between AirBnB and other establishments is that often AirBnB-Host don't factor in taxes just because they consider themselves exempt. Why should tax avoidance be tolerated? What's unfair about cracking down on those that cheat?
- apineda 13y ago
  There was a discussion on this earlier as well but regarding food checks that happen annually if that. Just because it's regulated doesn't mean there is an efficient means in place to assure compliance day in and day out. You're tax dollars are being burned assuring compliance would be an additional burden you don't further want. I think if there is a guarantee of some specified level of sanitary quality (for lack of better word) before you signup for a hotel you are free to sue them if you discover they broke that contract. I know this sounds absurd but you're also free to bring in your own sheets and pillows. My point is that regulation and oversight in this centralized manner should be the last resort.
- mseebach 13y ago
  All regulations at least partially benefits the customer, obviously. But you also have to consider the ways they also harm the customer, typically by favouring entrenched actors and limiting competition.
- fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
  >Hotel regulations at least partially benefit me as a customer. Hotels are subject to health checks for example. Nobody would argue against sanitation in principle, but I have never seen a health inspector at a hotel. OTOH, I have seen some nasty hotel rooms. > I also fail to see that adherence to health and fire code unfairly favors established players - quite to the contrary, those not adhering to the standards take an unfair advantage. Indeed, they do: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four-firefighters-die-in-5-alarm-hotel-fire-in-4566085.php http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four... I didn't say that AirBnB should be exempt from all regulation. I opined that the existing regulations are unfair, and that may be a reason that some entities want to disrupt that space. I would hope that some compromise can be reached that is effective at protecting people (unlike the current system), and isn't prohibitively expensive or onerous, or doesn't limit competition from non-traditional entities.
  - dbags 13y ago
    > that is effective at protecting people (unlike the current system), and isn't prohibitively expensive or onerous, or doesn't limit competition from non-traditional entities. Christ, go fuck yourself you dishonest cunt. Commercial fire codes reduce death by fire in hotels. Higher security doors reduce invasions. Rotated keys reduce theft. Marketing regs reduce bait and switch. Food safety regs reduce food poisoning, and undisclosed contamination with allergens from room service. The list of effective laws is enormous. It's just ignored by ignorant, naive, and/or intellectually dishonest sacks like yourself. Please don't pretend that you're arguing honestly or that you care, even slightly, about finding a middle ground when you're spewing such obviously false bullshit claiming that the regs have zero efficacy at protecting people. I hope you get tricked into staying where I've stayed at AirBNB, because they were object lessons in just how awful and dishonest people are when there's zero regulation. Broken toilets, rooms advertised as having private bathrooms that didn't. AirBNB is a case study in the importance of regulation. Anybody who can't see that is willfully blind.

Xylakant 13y ago

Hotel regulations at least partially benefit me as a customer. Hotels are subject to health checks for example. B&B places are exempt from some of the regulations, but not from all. So why don't AirBnB-hosts just go and apply for a B&B license - or maybe AirBnB handles the legalities for them. There's no conceivable reason that AirBnB-places should receive a preferred treatment in that matter - so I must admit I don't see and rebellion from the regulatory structure. They're just enforcing the rules that every other player is bound to as well. I also fail to see that adherence to health and fire code unfairly favors established players - quite to the contrary, those not adhering to the standards take an unfair advantage. One of the price differences between AirBnB and other establishments is that often AirBnB-Host don't factor in taxes just because they consider themselves exempt. Why should tax avoidance be tolerated? What's unfair about cracking down on those that cheat?

apineda 13y ago
There was a discussion on this earlier as well but regarding food checks that happen annually if that. Just because it's regulated doesn't mean there is an efficient means in place to assure compliance day in and day out. You're tax dollars are being burned assuring compliance would be an additional burden you don't further want. I think if there is a guarantee of some specified level of sanitary quality (for lack of better word) before you signup for a hotel you are free to sue them if you discover they broke that contract. I know this sounds absurd but you're also free to bring in your own sheets and pillows. My point is that regulation and oversight in this centralized manner should be the last resort.
mseebach 13y ago
All regulations at least partially benefits the customer, obviously. But you also have to consider the ways they also harm the customer, typically by favouring entrenched actors and limiting competition.
fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
>Hotel regulations at least partially benefit me as a customer. Hotels are subject to health checks for example. Nobody would argue against sanitation in principle, but I have never seen a health inspector at a hotel. OTOH, I have seen some nasty hotel rooms. > I also fail to see that adherence to health and fire code unfairly favors established players - quite to the contrary, those not adhering to the standards take an unfair advantage. Indeed, they do: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four-firefighters-die-in-5-alarm-hotel-fire-in-4566085.php http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four... I didn't say that AirBnB should be exempt from all regulation. I opined that the existing regulations are unfair, and that may be a reason that some entities want to disrupt that space. I would hope that some compromise can be reached that is effective at protecting people (unlike the current system), and isn't prohibitively expensive or onerous, or doesn't limit competition from non-traditional entities.
- dbags 13y ago
  > that is effective at protecting people (unlike the current system), and isn't prohibitively expensive or onerous, or doesn't limit competition from non-traditional entities. Christ, go fuck yourself you dishonest cunt. Commercial fire codes reduce death by fire in hotels. Higher security doors reduce invasions. Rotated keys reduce theft. Marketing regs reduce bait and switch. Food safety regs reduce food poisoning, and undisclosed contamination with allergens from room service. The list of effective laws is enormous. It's just ignored by ignorant, naive, and/or intellectually dishonest sacks like yourself. Please don't pretend that you're arguing honestly or that you care, even slightly, about finding a middle ground when you're spewing such obviously false bullshit claiming that the regs have zero efficacy at protecting people. I hope you get tricked into staying where I've stayed at AirBNB, because they were object lessons in just how awful and dishonest people are when there's zero regulation. Broken toilets, rooms advertised as having private bathrooms that didn't. AirBNB is a case study in the importance of regulation. Anybody who can't see that is willfully blind.