Here follow The content of the discussion about the new groups at
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-183060(
I have not had time to edit out all the "reply/like" etc in here....)
John shared Oct 17 2015
SHUT UP NOW!!!According to the information in this link, Airbnb are shutting down all of the groups, as we know them.
airbnb.com/groups/content/content-182685"The new platform will launch in November. Starting November 23, 2015,
Group members will not be able to post new content within Groups."
This is your chance to wave goodbye to each other.
Here's my goodbye - "see y'all!"
It's been a sincere sensation, but airbnb don't want us talking to each other any more :-(
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Margaret
Margaret2 days ago
www.airbnb.ie/help/article/1153/changes-to-groups-faqThey are stopping the existing platform and putting up a new one where hosts will be able to post.... They dont seem to be migrating the existing content across.
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Joseph
Joseph2 days ago
Margaret , what they are doing is not really an improvement , they are taking away Hosts ability to have peer lead groups . Like John , they no longer want there to be open and free communication between hosts and to be able to control the flow of information and what is said ! Its not really transparent , or free speech any more !
Andrew
Andrewa day ago
The Groups as they currently are have not been entirely free of censorship. On the NHF, we've caught a couple of instances where posts have disappeared that neither Deborah nor I nor the poster removed. One recent one in particular we have a copy of - it expressed some strong criticism of Airbnb but did not violate the guidelines in any way. I'm also worried that communication will be less free and open in the new system, and that it will become more difficult for hosts to organize independently. A big part of the idea behind the offsite forum is to make sure that we can keep a place for uncensored, unmonitored dialogue between hosts in the event that it is lost.
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana day ago
^^^I've always worried about that. We're definitely losing something here. It's a shame.
Andrew
Andrew2 days ago
The new Groups platform is going to be a different format and Airbnb will be removing the role of peer organizers. It remains to be seen how the new format will impact dialogue and whether they assume more control of the content.
At any rate, Deborah has created a new forum outside of the Airbnb site where we can continue talking to each other however we please. Join here:
www.airbnb.com/groups/41/events/1391Reply Like 1 like
Joseph
Joseph2 days ago
Greetings,
We’re excited to announce that over the next month, we’ll be upgrading Groups to a new community platform. As an active member of Groups, we wanted to personally let you know about the upcoming changes.
What’s Coming:
Search for content across the platform
Identify and recognize our top contributors
Ability to have relevant discussions on popular topics
What’s Changing:
The current structure of city or interest-based Groups will transition into a market specific forum that is organized by topics and labels
Meetups will not be available for the first version of the platform, but is a high priority on our roadmap
Starting November 23, 2015, Groups will become read-only, meaning members will be unable to post new content within Groups. The posts that are currently visible will remain visible until February 25, 2016. Afterwards, that information will not be recoverable, so if you want to save any of the tips and insights that have been shared in your group, please copy that information and save it for your reference.
Read more about the new platform in our Changes to Groups FAQs.
We’re very excited to share the new platform with you! You will have an opportunity to test out the platform before we launch, so be sure you stay tuned. Thanks for playing such a vital role in the community!
Best,
Chelsea
--
Chelsea Thompson
Community Engagement
San Francisco
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John
Johna day ago
'We're excited' ..... I'm not. I think they just want to shut down the freedom for us to talk and share in an open forum. I can this censorship for paranoid control zoids.
Reply Like 1 reply•4 likes
Rosanne
Rosannea day ago
I don't like this change at all. Where's the sense of community?
Margaret
Margareta day ago
Here is the FAQ the hosts will still be able to post but they are reorganising groups by subject and providing search functionality. Whether that will be better or worse I dont know but you will be free to start a topic on that. I cant see any suggestion that they dont want peers to communicate freely
Changes to Groups FAQ
Why is Groups changing?
Groups has been an important way for hosts to find help, share information, and connect with like-minded people. Over the years, hosts have asked for important changes to support their participation in the online community—in particular, it’s difficult to find and connect with relevant content. Groups is also missing some critical core features, like search options and spam filters.
We’re excited to announce that we’re finally moving to a best-in-class platform that can fully support hosts. The new community will still be a place for Airbnb hosts to come together around specific topics, but we’re adding features to help you get the information you need. Most importantly, we’re moving to a platform that allows us to evolve the community more often with more functionality.
What’s new?
New features will include:
Search
All content on the new community platform will be searchable, making it easier to find valuable conversations and topics across boards.
Recognition
In the new platform we can easily identify top community members and their contribution based on number of posts.
Relevance
The new community will be able to intelligently and proactively show relevant, popular and active discussions.
Spam Filters
With more sophisticated reporting and automatic moderation tools, the new community can be free of spam and solicitations.
Engagement
Airbnb will be able keep hosts up-to-date with launches, new blog posts, and webinars through an announcements board.
Structured content
To make content easier to browse and find, the community will be organized around topic categories that are popular in Groups.
Mentioning Users
On the new platform, you will be able to tag users in your messaging by using the "@" sign and typing their name.
When is this change?
The new platform will launch in November. Starting November 23, 2015, Group members will not be able to post new content within Groups. Current available posts will remain visible until February 25, 2016. After February 25, 2016, that information will not be recoverable.
What about the content in Groups?
The content in Groups will not be migrated to the new platform, but if you have content you would like to save there will be dedicated category boards to repost your best content on the new community center.
Will there be Group Organizers on the new platform?
The new platform will shift from member-organized groups to category boards, so instead of Group Organizers, there will be active contributors. All hosts are encouraged to post, welcome new members, contribute to conversations and join in building a support network of members. We will recognize members based on their level of participation in the new platform.
How can we get our current group members excited on the new platform? Can I post an explanation to let my Group members know about this change?
You can share the information in this FAQ with your group members.
What languages will the new platform support?
For the launch in November, the community platform will support English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. These languages comprise the majority of our community members who currently use Groups. We plan on supporting more languages on a rolling basis. Korean and Japanese will roll out in early 2016. All member members can still participate in the community platform in English.
Will I still be able to connect with hosts in my area? What about globally?
The new platform will make it easier for you to connect with hosts in your area and worldwide. We will launch location-based forum areas for several major cities in November. You will also be able to navigate to other city areas to chat with other hosts in those areas. We plan to roll out more cities based on activity and engagement.
How will the new community platform be managed?
The community will be largely self-moderating, but we will have moderation tools and guidelines in place to create and grow a vibrant and healthy community.
What will be happening with Meetups?
The ability to organize meetups will not be available for the November launch. We know meetups are a valuable way for our community members to connect offline, so we’re exploring ways to build this feature on the new platform.
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Joseph
Josepha day ago
Thank You Margaret,
but with all the added pluses , there is not Peer lead groups , it totally eliminated
so there is a direct control by Airbnb about what is said and who has said it .
Groups do need some changes, but to do away with Peer to Peer lead group sharing is a bit too much . Just who will be moderating and deciding what you say is relevant or important ?? Why is it neccessary to remove peer to peer groups ?
A lot of unanswered questions that they are not being forth coming about .
Reply Like 4 replies•1 like
Joseph
Josepha day ago
Also , they are already making changes due to the backlash already generated in the groups about the decision to end peer to peer . I think they now know that they have not thought this out enough and During the Paris Open , there is expected to be plenty of Boos during its introduction !!
Andrew
Andrewa day ago
Another big change that I notice is that the new platform is also designed to encourage non-hosts to participate. Since each user's activity is visible, Facebook-style, that means that your guests and prospective guests will be able to quickly see everything you've posted in Groups. So that could mean that if you're having a conflict or issue with a guest and seeking the help of the community, the guest will be able to easily see everything you write, and even jump into the discussion themselves. Considering how many posts in this group are about problematic guests, this could turn out to be a disaster.
C C
C Ca day ago
Oh, Andrew, letting all in is crazy & will be devastating to the spirit of groups!!
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana day ago
Whoa! Group activity easily accessed by guests? Oh HAIL no! See you later, alligator. I'll be taking myself to the new outside groups permanently.
John
Johna day ago
This is very poorly thought out decision, and another slap in face for hosts delivered by Airbnb without any regard for the consequences. An organization that has been built on the concept of sharing is now showing signs of paranoia and are turning themselves into control freaks. What can be done to stop this pathetic new ethos of censorship? What are Airbnb so terrified of?
Reply Like 5 likes
Keith
Keitha day ago
it's a waste of time trying to communicate with John. he views every single communication in the worst possible view.
if he doesn't want to move to the new groups then good riddance..
"k thanks bye"
Reply Like 2 replies
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana day ago
You can keep the new groups if they're all openly visible, Facebook style. Have fun being policed! John's got a point, here. C'mon, you've got to admit: aside from searchability these aren't really improvements. These are restrictions.
John
John16 hours ago
Calm down and cheer up Keith! Forums never intended as a platform to make silly attacks on other members. Have a free smile :-) to brighten you on your way today.
Margaret
Margareta day ago
Andrew where does it say non hosts can participate in the faq. Its all clearly addressed at hosts.
Reply Like 4 replies
Andrew
Andrew17 hours ago
Margaret, I've been beta testing the new platform.
Andrew
Andrew17 hours ago
It's divided into a Hosting section and a Traveling section and has additional general subcategories. There is supposed to be a section called "hosts circle" for hosts with an active listing, but I'm still trying to find out what steps they will take to block non-hosts from accessing the content.
Margaret
Margaret12 hours ago
thanks for clarifying Andrew. They asked me to test and then I heard no more. At the moment though can non hosts not join the groups ?
Andrew
Andrew5 hours ago
At the moment I don't think any non-hosts have been invited to the beta test. But when the full version launches, it appears that everyone with an Airbnb account will be members by default. It's not divided into "groups" with membership structures, but rather into categories of topics.
Rosanne
Rosannea day ago
I hope that these questions and concerns are addressed ASAP.
Reply Like 3 replies
Joseph
Josepha day ago
Its important that everyone that cares writes to Diana Wong at Airbnb and let her know you are unhappy with the negative changes being made !
Margaret
Margaret12 hours ago
I got an email today from Alice Vaughan in Dublin who said she is the community manager for the UK and Ireland . I mentioned some of these concerns to her and hope she will be back.
Aisling & Liam
Aisling & Liam8 hours ago
We also wrote back expressing our concerns
Rosanne
Rosannea day ago
Will do. Thanks for the info, Joseph.
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Santa Fe International Hostel
Santa Fe International Hostela day ago
The best of all outcomes Tripadvisor will award the points and administer online casino games to stroke compulsive posters with gold stars to be placed on the forehead as a reward for continued inanities ... Whilst "Big Brother" moderates ... Preston
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Deborah
Deboraha day ago
I am finding myself in a very amusing and ironic position. I have spent well over 150 hours working with a small team of other hosts and forum regulars, to set up the new forum
www.globalhostingforum.com to help preserve the existing host communities, as well as a place to build in independent global host community, in league with Home Sharers, Inc. And at the same time as I have been doing this, I have been asked by AIrbnb to be part of their "Community LaunchPad Hosts" to help them set up their new host community groups! It is quite funny but I have a good sense of humor. So I am busy at work setting up and helping plan two communities!
I think the new AIrbnb groups will be liked in several ways, disliked in several others. I can't say much about what I am hearing about the new Airbnb groups since I am bound to confidentiality in the interim, but you'll all see what is there quite soon enough.
I am really not sure what will happen with the new groups. I would hope for Airbnb's sake and for our collective interest in Airbnb doing well and serving hosts well, that the new groups have success, though they may not be for everyone. I think groups on the Airbnb site will always be much easier to find, than any offsite group like our GlobalHosting Forum, or the Facebook or Google groups that some host communities have created or are creating.
Two things have annoyed hosts participating in the groups -- the spam on some groups (it'll be dealt with much better since the groups will have AIrbnb staff removing all those ads and property listings) , as well as the many extremely repetitive questions that get asked -- often it's the same question, over and over and over and over, every two or three days, by one brand new host after another. THis can be very fatiguing. TO some extent, I think the old groups being a little hard to find on the site (not immediately obvious to newcomers) led to those groups being protected from the vastly greater number of repetitive questions that would come in if EVERY new host had been able to find the groups. SInce the new groups WILL be easier to find, I wonder if they will become heavily burdened and suffocated by the sheer number of repetitive questions or "non-questions" -- eg a host posting, for instance, "Hi, my name Melissa. all so nice here. Happy 2b here."
Well, we will see what happens! I have a couple threads started on the Globalhosting forum where we can talk about the new groups before or after they roll out, and I also will be opening a thread on the new Airbnb groups for the discusson of the same topic on there. You can participate in either place or both!
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Deborah
Deboraha day ago
For instance you can drop in on the thread:
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/1/discussion-forum-changes-airbnb-groups Deborah
Deboraha day ago
Among other things, I hope the GlobalHosting Forum will be a good alternative for those who have things to say that they dont want to say or feel comfortable saying on the new Airbnb groups.
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John
John17 hours ago
Choice would be good, as in choose which version you want to use? Airbnb could simply poll their users, with all agreeing to abide by the results. Ultimately it's their site and they can do what they want with it, but then if that's their ethos, don't generate an agenda indicating that what the users want and prefer counts for anything, if it really doesn't. Does it or doesn't it matter what the users think? Globalhosting sounds like a great alternative to a highly censored, paranoid forum.
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Susan
Susan11 hours ago
I've often thought Airbnb should take greater advantage of the group community....there's a wealth of information here that would cost them a fortune to obtain any other way and gives real time, honest feedback of what is actually concerning hosts, not what Airbnb thinks is concerning hosts.
The repetitive questions that have been asked and answered many times (or are easily answered in the FAQs) are partly caused by the broken search function. Spam and ads are remedied by contentious moderation (I'm talking about you, Anecdotes).
How censored and inhibiting the new forums will be remains to be seen. I hope they're as freewheeling and open (and helpful) as the current peer run forums. If it's just another avenue for the Airbnb party line, no thank you.
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Susan
Susan11 hours ago
**conscientious. Although we have had a few contentious ones too!
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Deborah
Deborahin a few seconds
I just found out on the new Beta Platform (now that ANdrew has mentioned it and others have too I might as well..) that the new Airbnb groups' content will be searchable with Google. These current groups are not searchable that way, which availed us all more privacy here.
Possible benefits of greater accessibilty of groups : those who want to be hosts but have no hosting skills, can find information on how to be hosts and access places to learn more easily
Downsides to groups' greater accessibilty -- guests can see what hosts write -- potentially even your own guest you are talking about, can find the post where you discuss the problem you have with them -- and not only that but guests can also post replies back, since they will be able to use most host groups. I am advocating with admin that this not be allowed, since I think it would degrade the content on the host groups if people with absolutely no experience as hosts are allowed to post anything on these host groups (eg in replies to posts).
Also, access via Google to the groups means that anti-Airbnb people could go to the groups to find posts to try to use against hosts, either individually or collectively, and also to use in political fights against short term rental hosting in their area.
I'm concerned hosts would feel more straitjacketed and inhibited from expressing themselves openly and freely on the new Airbnb groups, given the amount of exposure that one would have there.
Also whereas in current groups, if you say something you regret, the post is eventually buried anyway and unlikely to be found. On the new groups, everything you post is findable via search function (and Google) and is linked to you. Also whereas at the present you can delete any original post you created (eg when you start a thread) on the new groups you wont' be able to do that by default, though I am told that you can always contact groups admin and ask them to delete a post for you. But they may not want to delete the whole thread as they are concerned about other people's content being lost.
Wendy11 hours ago
I hope airbnb takes your concerns seriously. They are all very valid. Wendy
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Brian8 hours ago
Wow. Googleable host forums is just about the most insanely bad idea I've ever heard and I'm shocked airBNB is cool with that. I predict a mass exodus. In fact, I recommend it.
Margaret
Margaret19 hours ago
you can use google search functionality to search within a website without it being indexed by the general google search. General google search availability is obviously a silly idea.
I totally agree with you Deborah re things people with no experience of hosts say. You see that on the host forums now. Someone says something like how annoying a guest in your home who never leaves is and someone new to hosting jumps on it and tells an experienced host they shouldnt be in hosting and that they dont understand hospitality. Rubbish if you have been through it you understand
Re your comments on search and posts being buried. It might take a bit longer but this will happen with a search functionality as well as newer posts will come up sooner in the search so unless its an unusual topic posts will end up buried on page 21 of the search which noone will look at.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like
Wendy
Wendy11 hours ago
In the beginning of the hosting groups we had a very good search mechanism. Over time it took too long to seach then it just stopped. Seaching prevented having to respond to the same questions over and over. I did resquest back then to have "topics " listed at the top to also make searching for answers easier. Didn't happen. Then the groups became to repetitive as Deborah has pointed out.
Margaret
Margaret19 hours ago
sorry I should have said I dont know what kind of search they are using but it is possible to use google search functionality only within a website even if it is closed. A lot of websites do this.
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Alan & John
Alan & John19 hours ago
It is difficult to understand the manner in the way airbnb treats their major business assets... the network of hosts. I am wondering if people who are making some of these changes are just university graduates let loose in the corporate world or have they actually hosted airbnb guests in their own homes.
Airbnb doesn't have factories producing their products, doesn't invest to improve the next version of their product (we are the ones investing in our properties to ensure the guest has a 5* airbnb experience). Networking with fellow hosts in a 'confidential' environment, is one of the great strengths of airbnb.
Wake up airbnb... treasure your major business assets!
Reply Like 3 replies•7 likes
Andrew
Andrew16 hours ago
I can confirm that, indeed, quite a lot of staffers in Airbnb at this level are recent university graduates. I don't see this as a problem as such - they have some fantastic and smart people with lots of ambition and great ideas. However, there is a big generation gap when it comes to social media. People in their early 20s are "native" users of social media and have a very different concept of what's public vs private in the way we communicate. They very often fail to understand the subtle variants in how older folks (i.e. anyone over 30, ha ha) present themselves according to context. And until they've been badly cyberbullied or stalked, they aren't quick to see the flaws in Facebook-style exposure and the advantages of greater privacy.
Jeannette
Jeannette13 hours ago
A giant Amen to Alan, John and Andrew. Having worked for six years with a giant California company essential "run" by millennials, I see identical sorts of blind spots with AirBNB and the same seat of the pants kind of approach. I.e., obvious problems are rarely anticipated, 180-degree changes of policy, little appreciation of human capital, privacy rights, and on it goes.
Wendy
Wendy11 hours ago
Amen to Jeanette's remarks!
Rachel
Rachel17 hours ago
Too right Alan and John, WE are their assets and yet we are treated as if we don't exist, we're not consulted about changes, and we're criticised if we get 4 stars for God's sake. To let guests have access to a hosts' forum is plain stupid. When I go shopping at Marks and Spencer I don't expect to have any input into their policy decisions, I just want the goods. I most certainly do not want guests reading that I am asking advice about perhaps increasing my prices for next summer etc.
Reply Like 3 likes
John
John17 hours ago
I simply won't use the new forum, given its description. It sounds like a combination of dumbing down and censorship.
Reply Like 1 like
John
John13 hours ago
"quite a lot of staffers in Airbnb at this level are recent university graduates. I don't see this as a problem as such - they have some fantastic and smart people with lots of ambition and great ideas"
The difference between those with "great ideas and ambition" and the actual users of site has not been recognised by Airbnb. This is what I would call the "wisdom and experience gap". The way to overcome this gap when you are really smart is to listen to those who have wisdom and experience that you don't possess. There is no evidence that Airbnb are doing that. My time of sharing will soon be over, and this is because Airbnb don't want voices like mine. In future, they will have no awareness of what's going on, or more importantly what's going wrong, as they will have silenced the groups where these healthy and vital exchanges took place. "Reaching out", "awesome" and other newspeak style puerile drivel will prevail. I have nothing more to say.
Reply Like 1 reply•4 likes
Andrew
Andrew13 hours ago
I am "reaching out" to Airbnb myself to get more hosts' voices in this matter heard. I don't think they intend to silence hosts' voices, but I also don't think they are prepared for how many people will feel silenced by some aspect of the new system. So whatever it is about it that makes you feel like you can't speak openly, they need to hear. I currently have a discussion set up here:
www.airbnb.com/groups/41/contents/183652 And here:
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/912/host-discussions-public-private Joseph
Joseph12 hours ago
As I said in MY OP, You have to contact Airbnb
Diana Wong , and let her know what your feelings are about the negative changes you see that will happen .
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Wendy
Wendy11 hours ago
Just want to bid farewell to all you wonderful Hosting 911 members. It's been a great pleasure. Wishing you all the best. Wendy
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Nic and Rach
Nic and Rach10 hours ago
Honestly, these type of changes doesn't disappoint me it happens all the time..home, work, society, public, private and specially the government and no matter what... when these changes occur whether you embrace or oppose it there will be no stopping.... and whether you are there to share your thoughts. interact or you can just simply ignore.. still...you have no way to control it... Yes, you and I have options... and decisions to make.. only you know.. and for you to decide. What really matter most to you about host groups ? Please join us at
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/912/host-discussions-public-private organised and moderated by Deborah and Andrew.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Alan & John
Alan & John9 hours ago
Already there Nic and Rach. Congratulations to those who have developed globalhosting, a great job and very much appreciated.