4 ms·

What's the difference between AirBNB and being good enough friends with people to stay at their place for a night or two - or even a week? The exchange of money

by Nadya 11y ago

What's the difference between AirBNB and being good enough friends with people to stay at their place for a night or two - or even a week? The exchange of money? I occasionally give my own family money if I inconvenience them for several days. It is illegal for me to pull to the side of a free-way and pick up a stranger who's car broke down/ran out of gas to give them a ride to the nearest gas station/place they were trying to get to. I find it absolutely absurd that it is illegal to help someone. Moreso on the merits of "helping strangers is bad, but it's legal if they are friends or family". I have a very loose definition of "friend". So where do I draw the line between legal ridesharing (giving a friend a ride to the airport for $20) and illegal ridesharing (giving a stranger a ride to the airport for $20)? Legitimate curiosity - so if someone would like to clarify why one is OK but the other is bad, I'd love to hear it.

justathrow2k 11y ago
You must have a very loose definition of help, too, if you consider renting your property for profit as act of help as opposed to a self serving act with the aim being lining ones pockets.
- Nadya 11y ago
  My definition agrees with the dictionary definition, which I don't consider very loose. You can still help someone without being altruistic. Intent is the difference between murder and manslaughter, so I recognize I tread a fine line here, unlike the aforementioned, I do not see a reason to differentiate between the following two actions: a) I let someone stay the night in my house and they offered me $60 as a thank you in return for the hospitality, I initially decline but they continue to insist so I take the $60. b) I charged for someone to stay the night in my house and they agreed to pay $60 to stay at my house instead of an alternative place (and/or sleeping in their car/on the street) I guess as a couchsurfer I have a different moral perspective about the act of sleeping in someone's house, offering money, accepting money, and bargaining. E: A reply to this comment was deleted, comparing that A helps all people and B helps people "willing to pay". My response to that is below: You're still helping someone in either scenario. The pool of people you are willing or able to help is smaller in B than A, but you are still helping someone. Again - helping someone else does not need to be a selfless, altruistic act. "Instead of spending $80 at a hotel, you can spend $60 at my place and you can join me for dinner." By saving you $20, I have helped you. You saved $60 and had a place to sleep. Your alternatives were: 1. Sleep in car for free 2. Find someone willing to help you for cheaper and/or free 3. Sleep at a more expensive place By giving you a superior option to 1 and 3 and you failing to find 2, I am still helping you. Would I be more altruistic if I let you stay for free? Sure. But to say I'm not helping you when I'm saving you $20 is stretching the definition of "help" to include altruistic behavior.
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by Nadya 11y ago

justathrow2k 11y ago

You must have a very loose definition of help, too, if you consider renting your property for profit as act of help as opposed to a self serving act with the aim being lining ones pockets.

Nadya 11y ago
My definition agrees with the dictionary definition, which I don't consider very loose. You can still help someone without being altruistic. Intent is the difference between murder and manslaughter, so I recognize I tread a fine line here, unlike the aforementioned, I do not see a reason to differentiate between the following two actions: a) I let someone stay the night in my house and they offered me $60 as a thank you in return for the hospitality, I initially decline but they continue to insist so I take the $60. b) I charged for someone to stay the night in my house and they agreed to pay $60 to stay at my house instead of an alternative place (and/or sleeping in their car/on the street) I guess as a couchsurfer I have a different moral perspective about the act of sleeping in someone's house, offering money, accepting money, and bargaining. E: A reply to this comment was deleted, comparing that A helps all people and B helps people "willing to pay". My response to that is below: You're still helping someone in either scenario. The pool of people you are willing or able to help is smaller in B than A, but you are still helping someone. Again - helping someone else does not need to be a selfless, altruistic act. "Instead of spending $80 at a hotel, you can spend $60 at my place and you can join me for dinner." By saving you $20, I have helped you. You saved $60 and had a place to sleep. Your alternatives were: 1. Sleep in car for free 2. Find someone willing to help you for cheaper and/or free 3. Sleep at a more expensive place By giving you a superior option to 1 and 3 and you failing to find 2, I am still helping you. Would I be more altruistic if I let you stay for free? Sure. But to say I'm not helping you when I'm saving you $20 is stretching the definition of "help" to include altruistic behavior.
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