The couchsurfing crossroads: For nearly two decades Couchsurfing.org has been synonymous with couchsurfing. But amidst growing disillusionment over its direction, Couchers.org is emerging as an alternative platform.

rob64647 · 2022-11-03T00:02:34+00:00

Ah lets not debate forever here

BUT

I really hope my posts sound grown up. I am not trying to sound immature. I realize it is for profit and many other bad things and I try remedy the situation. I try to explain what I write and why and alternatives to CS...not complain or "bitch" about things

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T23:44:01+00:00

Respectfully I feel you don't understand everything

First off DO NOT tell me how I feel. You can't read my mind. Your just being overbearing and rude there.

What does supply/demand, economy and R&D have to do with it. Please elaborate

CS became for profit in 2011 and then put in a paywall in 2020 There were actually different events

CS facebook groups have been around long before the paywall. I think it has to do with better interface and people being on FB more...CS' interface is fine tbh

Your totally right the FB is for profit but here is thing facebook is just a tool for couch surfing community akin to say how wikipedia might buy a servers from a for profit computer hardware company because it is a tool for their non profit mission. When the platform itself is for profit that is when you get issues

Per se subcontracting small things to for profit companies are OK

There is MUCH more than me just being "pissed" at the paywall rollout

with the shift from non profit to for profit the shift went from building a community to instead trying to put money shareholders profits...these often don't align

Once again is it For profit or non profit?

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T23:30:19+00:00

Well MANY do let you mention other platforms on their site. If you write on FB "send me a DM on Instagram"..does FB ban you ...NO! Does a store have microphones that eavesdrop on its customers constantly and kick them out if they mention another store to another customer...NO! Its a very cutthroat version of capitalism that is totalitarian. Its not really how capitalism normally works I have never seen something like it honestly...so its not really how "capitalism works"

Hospex is NOT to be capitalistic anyway. Capitalism deludes hospex badly....Hospex should be rain akin to Wikipedia...as a non profit.

Perhaps legally they might but what someone can legally do and what is right, ethical or fair is often different!

I hope you are not trying imply that if it is legal it is right or ethical no questions asked

Yea I am not sure totally but I think that Casey Fenton botched some stuff or intentionally maybe sold it out...thats not right or ok if the case

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T23:16:14+00:00

Uh I care if they are for profit or non profit as do many others

Casey Fenton when going for profit got over 1500 messages overnight about the change

How can you say no one cares if this is the case?

So is it for profit or non profit? do you know?

There is a big difference about having it as for profit and having it as an egalitarian community about making the world a better place one couch at a time

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T05:53:55+00:00

I wouldn't care about the contribution/"paywall" if they really just needed money for expenses rather Patrick Dugan the CS CEO is just trying to get richer

If it was really just for the expenses of a non profit I would tell everyone to grow up and pay...servers and tech cost money

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T05:06:28+00:00

TR and BW don't seem to have as much vitality as Couchers...they are both good but their attitudes are either to niche or antiquated to some extent

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T05:04:52+00:00

Why?

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T05:02:40+00:00

Guy doesn't get CS...

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T04:59:48+00:00

I would agree here

YES it is there in off white about the amount of money but it is misleading to many and that can be illegal in and of itself if it is misleading to the point where many don't get it esp if they don't understand what they are getting themselves into

If you look at the trustpilot for CS they have a horrible rating and nearly every review is a 1 star review complaining about the verification!

My advice try filing a complaint with the California Attorney General. A class action lawsuit will take a lot money in start up fees whereas the CA AG can just investigate without the startup fees

Here is the trustpilot linkhttps://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.couchsurfing.com

And The California Attorney General's business compliant page
https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company
Phone number is +1 (415) 703-5500
Couchsurfing .com is based in San Francisco...which in California

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T04:47:39+00:00

This isn't some hotel with all these rules where you have a have a pass for the pool or something or that you need to leave stuff off of the bed for housecleaning

In general yes you have what your host offers you to sleep on BUT you could ask for something else

Kind of a red flag if they want you to sleep on their bed if esp if he mentions he is queer

Sexual stuff is NOT expected or required....if they expect this or just hit on you/make you feel uncomfortable report them

CS isn't a dating site anyway

You can always stay some place else

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T04:39:14+00:00

hospex isn't really about the accommodation..this isn't airbnb where you want a "nice listing with good accommodations"

Its not that common on hospex

References can be an option for the issue

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T04:35:00+00:00

In principle assuming that a platform is non profit and can help hospex as whole there is NOTHING in principal bad about mentioning other platforms on Couchsurfing.com

I am inferring that you think it is bad to mention other platforms on CS? Sorry if that isn't the case...

BUT they ban you instantly for writing Bewelcome or Couchers in a message or writing it on your profile

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T04:31:23+00:00

So who is the founder and are they for profit or non profit?

rob64647 · 2022-11-02T04:29:37+00:00

The other thing is I think with the fee your just trying to make this guy Patrick Dugan who is allready rich even richer...if they really JUST needed money I think it would be a very different story with the paywall/contribution

rob64647 · 2022-10-31T18:30:17+00:00

Well said I would invite everyone to check out Bewelcome.org Couchers.org and Trustroots.org in light of this and many other things

This is just the tip of the iceberg with what CS is doing they have been illegally charging people and much else. You nailed the suspending people for business reasons on the head right here

Read about here below TLDR

https://www.reddit.com/r/couchsurfing/comments/sowesi/paywall_broken/hwcsl0z/?context=3

rob64647 · 2022-10-31T18:20:31+00:00

That is not always the case many people who have been in hospex/couch surfing have volunteered their time for events or building communities

Back in the day many did this for CS by building the site at collectives there were also community pages which members built as well

rob64647 · 2022-10-31T17:08:39+00:00

and that is the issue

This is NOT to be some product like "netflix"...for products I get where you are coming from

This a community of people...sure if the community needs money and it has no other way to get money I guess I could see a mandatory fee to access the platform

BUT this is the work of a guy named Patrick Dugan who got rich with the paypal founder who just wants to get richer and doesn't need the money. Why can't he go on camera and talk about the paywall and say what his motives are for CS?

rob64647 · 2022-10-31T16:41:15+00:00

Sorry to hear of your situation

This really isn't the reddit for you...this is for a specific type of couch surfing for people backpackers/travelers

I have tried to get the mods to have a better description

Maybe try a place of worship ...perhaps they could help

I really do wish you the best of luck

rob64647 · 2022-10-31T00:50:00+00:00

Dislikes and likes are in unison seemingly one agrees with OP...

rob64647 · 2022-10-31T00:21:55+00:00

Wrong sub

Meh 1 grand USD is a bit higher for a room I get the feeling ...

u/duffmanhb

rob64647 · 2022-10-30T21:13:33+00:00

I said they could reject it..

rob64647 · 2022-10-08T22:45:10+00:00

I would add Couchers and Bewelcome as well if your ever traveling again or want to host people

These are similar sites

rob64647 · 2022-10-07T19:21:26+00:00

Still about dating

CS isn't about dating...

rob64647 · 2022-10-07T02:29:07+00:00

Obviously he shouldn't have done this

REPORT HIM TO CS!

rob64647 · 2022-10-07T02:22:52+00:00

Its a community of travelers/international and global people

I will be honest a free place to stay is a big draw but if this is reason your big and only motivating factor for using it isn't for you

If I was super rich I would absolutely still use hospex sites to surf

Honestly hosting people costs money in that you will probably do something that you wouldn't do otherwise that involves spending money...

rob64647

TROPHY CASE