SF Chronicle article on thefts from hotels -- who does it?

San Francisco Chronicle Article on theft from hotels

Deborah shared on New Hosts Forum 8 months ago

www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-147897



I was surprised to see the title of this San Francisco Chronicle article, "Which Nationality steals most from hotels?" --- What do you folks think about this question, or the results shown? These results are based on a survey of actual hotel guests.

THe San Francisco Chronicle article:
bit.ly/1JlZHbE

The original Travelskills article
bit.ly/1BE6N8q

Given that this study was done by asking folks from different countries to state if they had taken anything, the results would seem to depend heavily on honesty. For instance, Americans are shown as 10th most likely to steal from hotels, but if Americans aren't being quite honest, then perhaps this number is higher...and maybe the country with the highest number of those who steal from hotels, is actually just the country with the highest number of honest people?
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Maj Britt

Maj Britt8 months ago
all I can say is after my short time of hosting, but guests from a plethora of countries no one has stolen anything, the only guest that forgot a towel in a thermal bath,told me and paid for it, they were from Switzerland, so I would say nationality has nothing to do with it.....
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Deborah
Deborah8 months ago
I also would think it's a pretty tenuous connection, to try to link nationality with proclivity for theft -- and could be something that is insulting or supports prejudices.

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Alexina

Alexina8 months ago
I host many guests who are making their long-awaited Classic Western Road Trip (Los Angeles, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite, San Francisco.). A surprising number of them would raid anything that was stored in the under-sink cabinet of their en suite bathroom. How could anyone use 8 double rolls of toilet paper in a two or three-night stay, I wondered, until it occurred to me that they were stocking up for their camping trips in the national parks! While I want to create a feeling of abundance, I now put no more than 2 additional rolls under the sink, and make a habit of asking them halfway through their stay if they need more of anything. And while I would like to say that nationality has nothing to do with it, this only happens with guests from a certain Western European country who are known for their (stereotypical) bluntness, and their love of traveling in campers... ;-)

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Juliet and Ed

Juliet and Ed8 months ago
Oh dear. Is it us Brits? Yes, I expect it's us. I know I'm blunt, it gets me into trouble all the time here in the south - but I never steal toilet paper.

Lisa

Lisa8 months ago
Lol, I'd have to say it's the Dutch that have that stereotype. In spades!!!

Jeannette

Jeannette8 months ago
Dutch are "Northern" not "Western" European, yes?

Rebecca

Rebecca8 months ago
@jeannette. Nope. There's no 'rule' as such but I think the vast majority view Netherlands as Western Europe. N Europe = Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland etc.

Deborah
Deborah8 months ago
I am curious who are those blunt Western Europeans --

While we are on the subject of stereotypes -- I experienced a disappointment this week. My people (my parents are both immigrants) are from a part of Europe that is not exactly viewed in high esteem -- Eastern Europeans seem to have been given the "clods" hat, as intolerant vodka-guzzling boors, racist and homophobic, who give rude, sullen service as waiters in restaurants, are miserly and penny-pinching, and too focused on the negative. See here:

bit.ly/1djpHpx

So I was so hoping to find something a bit more inspiring related to my ancestry when this week I welcomed a guest from the Eastern European nation of my own Papa's birth. Prior to his arrival, he had shared with me some tantalizing tidbits about the history of my surname, so I was thrilled at what a gold mine he might be to connect me to my Eastern European past. But, I was so disappointed that in spite of some promising witticisms in our exchanges, at least what I perceived as witticisms, in fact these were probably misinterpreted as a result of his inability to speak a coherent English sentence. When he arrived, he was totally sullen and depressed, avoided me in the eye, and appeared to wander around the premises gazing at my home in contempt. The first things he said about my house were that I had locked him out, that there were hairs in the shower, and food in the sink. I was unimpressed, and feel sad wondering when I might at long last find the missing link in my anecestry, that individual who has somehow escaped the rude "clod" conditioning, and connects me with an inspiring, delightful Eastern European cultural or mythological reality.

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Deborah
Deborah8 months ago
bit.ly/1djpHpx

Deborah
Deborah8 months ago
"...his inability to speak a coherent English sentence, in spite of the fact that he's lived in the USA for the last ten years...."

Rebecca
Rebecca8 months ago
Sorry to hear of your disappointment Deborah. You don't say which E European country your parents are from but I'm sure you're aware that the culture is not the same in all of them! And many countries really do not like being classed as 'East European' because of the Soviet Union. I have a lot of ties with Russia and although they do have the reputation of being dour and miserable, in reality nothing is further from the truth when you get to know them. But like everywhere, there's a mixture ! I wish I could send you some of my guests from that part of the world - they would have been more than happy to talk with you.

Fleur, Dan and kids

Fleur, Dan and kids8 months ago
Don't stress Deb! Most of us down here have convicts as relatives I'm sure you will meet a good relative one day. In regards to the theft issue our friends are jewellers for a major 'theme park' company in the U.S. They have to build theft charges into their merchandise and there is a certain nationality which is notorious. When I visited the theme park this nationality was so obnoxious! They were really aggressive and behaved so badly which was a huge shock as I've been to their country twice and they don't behave like that at home. It's like they left all their manners at home. I told a few of them that their behaviour was inappropriate.

Rachel

Rachel8 months ago
Oh dear, I suppose it is the British. Hands up, I once stole a teaspoon from a café.

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Ernest

Ernest8 months ago
I don't know about stereotypes, but last Friday I purchased 12 brand new extra fluffy towels and washcloths. Now that a week has elapsed, I am down to 10 washcloths. We've also experienced theft of alcohol, face wash, toilet paper, paper towels, food and linens in the 22 months we've been hosts (i'm sure I'm forgetting something and may have had other things stolen I never discovered. Theft is theft, it happens in every country and I find it inappropriate to categorize by culture, ethnicity or race.

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Rebecca
Rebecca8 months ago
'Like' x million. The instinct to stereotype is almost impossible to ignore and sometimes it can be funny and enlightening, depending on the circumstances. But, unless everyone under discussion is involved, it can be a very short route to prejudice and discrimination. That sounds a bit pompous, I know. But it's true

Deborah


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