Thinking about renting a room out through AirBnB? Read this:

[MineralMan]

http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/26/airbnb-guest-tried-to-rape-7-year-old-in-minnetonka-charges-say/

Airbnb guest allegedly assaulted young girl in Minnetonka home where he was staying

A 28-year-old Michigan man has been charged with criminal sexual conduct after authorities say he tried to assault a 7-year-old girl in the Minnetonka house where he was staying as an Airbnb guest.

Derrick Aaron Kinchen, who was in town for a wedding, has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim younger than 13, according to the Hennepin County attorney’s office, which announced the charges Tuesday afternoon. The alleged incident happened early Sunday morning.

Kinchen, 28, of Lansing, Mich. has been charged with criminal sexual conduct after authorities say he tried to assault a 7-year-old girl in the Minnetonka house where he was staying as an Airbnb guest. Kinchen, who was in town for a wedding, has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim younger than 13, according to the Hennepin County attorney’s office, which announced the charges Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. The alleged incident happened early Sunday morning.

About 15 minutes after Kinchen arrived home, the father walked into the parents’ bedroom. The lights were on, and Kinchen was lying in the bed, naked, next to his daughter, her nightgown pulled up. The father yelled at Kinchen, who grabbed his suit coat and wallet and fled.

This led the news this morning here in the Twin Cities. More at the link...

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Just. . . . .Yikes!

Glad dad walked in when he did. Hope that he caught that guy before anything even worse occurred.

[MineralMan]

2. Yikes, indeed!

That whole thing always sounded risky to me. I just wouldn't do it.

[cwydro]

3. I've never had any interest in doing that.

For so many reasons.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Appalling writing.

[MineralMan]

6. Yes, but an appalling story, regardless of that.

[uppityperson]

76. I hope you list your numerous hobbies on your airbnb profile as it makes you more human

[MineralMan]

78. Odd. You chose to reply to this thread as your first post on DU,

and then used that opportunity to misread what I said entirely? I find that strange, somehow.

Your screen name seems to be appropriate, though.

[greatauntoftriplets]

80. Where ya going?

[MineralMan]

88. Apparently to some other website, it seems.

Thanks, MIRT!

[greatauntoftriplets]

89. Oh, she'll be back.

[MineralMan]

90. I hope she found some nice books to read while

she was there.

[greatauntoftriplets]

91. Same here.

[treestar]

94. Haha plenty of books there!

[Coventina]

5. I've never been remotely interested in Air BnB as either guest or host.

For so many reasons....

[MineralMan]

7. I haven't either.

I'd rather stay in a cheap motel and would never rent a room to anyone I didn't know. I suppose it's a way to make a buck off a spare room, but what a risk.

[Coventina]

8. You said it. Even the worst hotel / motel is a registered business answerable to many

authorities.

And, yeah, strangers in my home?

Not a chance.

[cwydro]

49. I posted almost identically to you downthread.

A risk I'd never take.

[jberryhill]

9. "but what a risk"

All risk is relative.

You can say "what a risk", but what do you estimate that risk to be?

For example, would you say that the "risk of physical injury from renting out a room on AirBnB" is greater or less than the risk of physical injury from climbing a flight of stairs?

Why, or why not?

You have an anecdote. Lots of folks have anecdotes about lots of things.

Certainly there is "a risk", but what is it? Absent an answer to that question, then how can one gauge the risk relative to anything else?

[Orrex]

12. What about the risk of falling down the stairs in an Airbnb?

[cwydro]

56. Lol!

Well played!

[MineralMan]

15. Hmm...

I would not rent a room to a stranger under any circumstances. As for going up and down stairs, I do that about 20 times a day, since my office is in my basement. Is there a risk in doing that? To be sure, but that risk is lessened by my care in doing so.

If I rent a room to strangers, I have little control over what the stranger does while in my home.

I cannot give you the odds, however. I merely posted a story with a link. However, I can tell you that the probability is roughly zero of such an incident happening if no room is rented to a stranger.

[Major Nikon]

37. If you always stay at home while wearing a helmet...

Your odds of getting a TBI drop dramatically from 1:2,000,000 to 1:25,000,045.

Why would anyone not want to dramatically decrease their odds of such disastrous consequences?

[Voltaire2]

44. You get used to the helmet.

I feel much safer now.

[MineralMan]

54. Wow! I'm going to dig out my old Bell bubble-shield motorcycle helmet

right now, before I go back up the stairs.

[politicaljunkie41910]

109. Well I for one appreciate your posting that article. I would not have known about it otherwise.

While I would never personally rent a room in a stranger's house, nor would I invite paying strangers into mine, I know several young women my daughter's age (36) who have used AirBnB and have no problems with it. That generation assumes many risks my generation would not have. (FTR, I'm 59). That doesn't make them bad people, just huge risk takers. I will pass this information on to them, because they also don't read the newspapers much, nor do they read DU.

I realize that others here might be willing to assume risks I wouldn't and that's their prerogative. I just happen to be of the belief that I never want to purposely put a child of mine at risk. I'm sure that father is questioning that decision to rent a room to a stranger. It would appear to me that if he had to put his 7 year old daughter in his bed where he and his wife sleep, than he had no 'spare' room. And if someone else interprets that move in a different way (i.e. that he did have a 'spare' room but perhaps he moved his daughter to be closer to her parents in the house), than it sounds like his child's safety was a concern of his, and he took a gamble and lost.

[jberryhill]

113. "That generation assumes many risks my generation would not have."

Also in my 50's.

Things "my generation" did:

1. Smoked at a much higher rate.

2. Went out unsupervised as kids to play without our parents knowing specifically where we were.

3. Rode bikes without helmets.

4. Hitchhiked.

5. Chafed at seat belts, let alone airbags.

I could go on at length of the common risks which have been greatly reduced.

On #2 in particular, I've heard people say "Oh, there weren't as many child molesters." That's simply not true. It wasn't reported as much, and people didn't/couldn't talk about it.

That's why the Catholic Church could get away with a whole lot more child molestation going on for decades than will ever occur in AirBNB.

There is also an effect caused by the internet, that things which would only have been known to a small circle of people are distributed far and wide.

If a schoolteacher or administrator in Podunk made some stupid decision or did some stupid thing, it would be known to the parties in Podunk. Now, any dumb decision made by a teacher or administrator is fodder for the regular stream of internet outrage and public comment.

[cwydro]

117. My first bike had no brakes.

We lived at the top of a hill.

I'd fly down the road and stop when I hit the grass at the end. (Dead end road). Usually a tumble ensued.
Of course, there were no helmets then.

Every time I asked mom about this as an adult, she collapsed into giggles.

Sigh, the good old days.

[brush]

17. God, what are you going on about? The risk is strangers in their home and people not wanting...

to take it.

[jberryhill]

19. Strangers who have all of their personal contact details and a credit card registered with AirBnB

[brush]

26. And sexual proclivities too? Of course not.

[jberryhill]

31. No, but they know they are traceable

[brush]

38. What a comfort. Afterwards.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

68. My sister worked at a popular hotel chain in Orlando years ago.

There were Jamaican gangs targeting the hotels and my sister was a witness one of their crimes. She ended up having to go in to hiding and quit the job when a detective warned them the gang was asking around about her.

People who think they are safer staying at a hotel have another think coming.

Hotels are where the thieves do their best business.

We just came back from a road trip. We stayed in a hotel off the highway. When I grabbed the suitcase my partner said "don't bother we are just going to catch some sleep and get back on the road"

No fuckin' way. Hotel parking lots and rest stops are the worst.

I had to remind my partner his sister got pick pocketed last year in a Vegas hotel before she even checked in. She stopped at the slots and got $1000 dollars lifted before she was able to put it in a safe.

[jberryhill]

96. "She stopped at the slots and got $1000 dollars lifted"

Yeah, I told my wife the same thing when it happened to me.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

100. I was actually very surprised how seriously the Vegas PD took this.

They caught the woman. The District Attorney was going to pay air fare for my sister in law to come back to testify. I don't know what she could have testified to since I don't think she knew what hit her until surveillance tapes were checked. She ended up not having to go back.

[MineralMan]

55. That doesn't always stop sex offenders, you know.

[jberryhill]

102. Of course it doesn't, but why make the distinction with "strangers"

Having your children's uncle stay over at your house is statistically a much greater risk.

Most children are molested by someone known to the family.

Would you seriously have your child's teenage cousin (your brother's kid, say) sleep over at your house with your seven year old around?

[MineralMan]

107. I don't know the people you're talking about.

I do know everyone in my family. I have no children, so the issue never came up. But neither of the people who would have been that child's uncle or teenaged cousin have any such proclivities. I know them well. So, yes, I'd have them sleep at my house, since I know them and their character. We're a close family.

[jberryhill]

108. And that is precisely why most child molesters are known to the victim and family

Because they "know their character"....

http://www.childsafeeducation.com/statistics.html

Over 90% of sexual offenders are someone the child knows and trusts – a parent or other relative, teacher, camp counselor, babysitter, or family friend.

[Orrex]

10. The victim was the homeowner's daughter, yes? Rather than Kinchen's own daughter?

Not excusing any part of it--just making I sure that I have the facts straight, and the article isn't entirely clear.

I would never feel comfortable offering my home as an Airbnb space, but, even so, I can't imagine letting some rando in the house where my young children live.


What a fucked up story!

[MineralMan]

13. Yes. It was the homeowner's 7 year old daughter.

[Orrex]

14. Yikes!

Yikes in any case, but yikes!

[MineralMan]

16. Yes. Yikes!

Airbnb, though, has now banned that person from using their service, so that solves the problem.

[Orrex]

39. Whew!

Move along. Move along.

[Nay]

71. Good god. Who rents out rooms to strangers when there are young kids at

home?? That's mind boggling.

[jberryhill]

97. Ding, ding, ding....

Stop all calls. We have a winner.

[Xolodno]

11. Rented a cottage once through Air BnB...

It was clean and comfortable. And given it was out in the country, nice and quiet.

Of course, I would never rent "a room". Just would feel too awkward for the wife and I.

[brooklynite]

18. Wheras a hotel guest never commits sexual assault?

[MineralMan]

20. Uh, not the point, really.

Typically you lock your room to prevent such things. I know I do.

[jberryhill]

22. To prevent a stranger from getting naked in bed with you?

Or to prevent walking in on you and someone whom you've abducted?

[MineralMan]

23. To prevent anyone at all from entering the room

while I am there, for any reason. I also use the additional locking device to keep the housekeeping staff out while I'm in the room. I'm never an abductor of anyone.

I'm not sure what the motivation for your argument is, but I'm done.

[Orrex]

93. What is this? A witch hunt?

I'll thank you to mind your own business and not worry about whom I choose to abduct, pal.

[jberryhill]

118. I leave my hotel door open

Because, well, you never know.

[jberryhill]

21. Hotels, like taxis, are perfectly safe

[MineralMan]

24. That's your reaction to this story?

Really? I'm perplexed by it, frankly.

[Vinca]

25. I would never rent a room out in my house to a total stranger. Obviously too risky.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. This one story isn't enough for a blanket condemnation of AirBnB.

However, I'm with you, MineralMan. I would not be willing to rent out a room in my place to a stranger. Nor would I be willing to stay in a room in a house of people I've never met.

I might possibly be willing to rent the entire apartment or cottage through AirBnB, but not so sure.

Recently I had a brief chat with someone (a friend of a friend) who was on a cross country driving trip and declared quite firmly that she'd much rather go through AirBnB than any conventional motel/hotel. She was focussed entirely on the lower cost. I can't help but think of things like, Who's overseeing anything?

[rzemanfl]

35. We hid from Irma in comfort in an AirBnB home.

It beat the hell out of staying on the floor in a school gym or hallway full of strangers.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

48. Good point.

Thank you.

[MineralMan]

40. Well, I didn't intend for it to be that.

It's just a story about one incident, but an incident that convinces me, once again, that I would never consider renting a room in my house on that basis. Personally, I like staying in hotels, and prefer that to staying even with friends. It gives me more freedom and doesn't impose on anyone's hospitality. The expense is a factor, of course, but doesn't stop me from checking into a hotel.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

51. While I can see the value in AirBnb for many people

I am like you in that I like staying in hotels. I can even prefer it to staying with relatives.

And I apologize, because I did recognize that you weren't offering a blanket condemnation of that service, merely offering up on particular reported incident.

[MineralMan]

53. No apology needed.

I figured you understood what I was saying.

Some others in the thread do not seem to have understood that I was merely describing one rather horrible incident. That alone would keep me from being an airbnb host, if I ever considered doing that in the first place.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

57. I happen to have a very high sense of personal privacy.

I'm not all that crazy about letting people stay with me, even though I have a perfectly acceptable guest room. It's also my computer room and I lock the filing cabinet and remove the folders that have my bills and so on once someone is visiting. I wouldn't mind having a fully dedicated guest room, but even then I wouldn't be renting it out to strangers.

You might want to consider starting another thread, perhaps referencing this one, asking if anyone here has rented out spare rooms through AirBnB.

[MineralMan]

61. Our house has three bedrooms, but there's no room in the inn

here. We sleep in one. Another is my wife's office and has no bed, except for the dog bed. The third bedroom is in the basement, but there's no legal egress from the basement, so it's not used as a bedroom. We don't have overnight guests. We have two dogs and two cats, and there's pet hair pretty much everywhere. We also smoke. So, we always suggest a nice motel nearby when someone comes to town. We'll host them for meals at a nearby restaurant and are happy to show them the Twin Cities. They're welcome to visit, if they don't mind pet hair and smoke odors, but we don't invite people to spend the night.

[cwydro]

67. I agree with you.

Completely.

[byronius]

28. Yesterday I was pondering the risk going the other way.

'Disappearing guests', and secret cameras. It happens in motels, too, but --

A couple I met in Jackson was renting an Airbnb room and I flinched. I find all that stuff risky -- Uber, Lyft -- maybe I just don't trust people at all.

Paranoia is bad until it saves your life, I think.

[Tikki]

29. Back to the 'hitchhiker' scenario. Warned that picking up a hitchhiker was dangerous.....

You don't know who you are picking up...even if you take their photo
and ask for ID.

Then there is, don't hitchhike because you don't know who is picking you up,
even if you take their picture and get their license plate number.

Best put the odds on your side by staying in a regulated, licensed and vetted
accommodation.

Anything can happen, but someone is apt to be looking out for you under laws and regulations and the hope of a return stay.

Tikki

[Weekend Warrior]

30. One has a complete stranger in their house.

And said stranger is given somewhat private access to the daughter of the home owner, by the homeowner.

This story is horrifying on all counts.

[WinkyDink]

32. No, I'm not. The idea for anyone, IMO, is insane.

[treestar]

33. That could happen anywhere though

In fact aren't family members statistically more likely to be a danger? Someone you know? I don't know that this proves that it is statistically more likely to happen in this scenario.

[MineralMan]

41. It's just one incident, but for that particular homeowner,

and his daughter, it was a horrible thing. A thing that would not have occurred had he not rented out that room through airbnb.

[treestar]

72. True. Though like the illegal alien killing someone

There would still be homicides US citizens commit, and illegal aliens could even be less likely to commit homicide, but to the person for whom an illegal alien murdered their loved one, illegal immigration is the cause. If the killer were in their country, the loved one would still be alive.

When terrible things happen, there is always some variable that can be blamed, but in the end, it is the mind of the perpetrator that brought about the terrible thing.

[MineralMan]

73. Yes, that's true. However, had the homeowner

not listed the residence as an airbnb location, it would not have occurred. That's my point. Why would anyone have complete strangers staying in their home, referred only by some website?

I would not do such a thing, especially if my family were in the home at the time the guest stayed. Now, I might rent my entire house out for the Superbowl or something, but I'd take the occasion to be somewhere else entirely at that time.

[treestar]

74. I don't think I would be comfortable with that either

I had kind of thought you did it for when you and your family were out of the house. Yeah, you don't know who you are letting stay in your house. They could turn out to become a good friend, neutral or they could murder you or molest your child. So it is a big chance to take. Not worth it.

[MineralMan]

77. I probably won't rent out my home for Superbowl, either.

Too much chance of coming back to find a trashed house, I'd think. Besides, I'd have to remove all the computers in the house, etc. to prevent misuse or other shenanigans.

As tempting as the extra cash might be, the risk just seems too high.

[lindysalsagal]

34. Not ok to bring strangers in with little kids around.

It's one thing if the hosts are adults. Or, if the children go to grandma when the house is rented. I recently rented a whole house for a family event. It was awsome. The hosts weren't there. But I'm a responsible guest.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

36. While this is sickening...and my daughter lives in Minnetonka....

My husband and I have had very good experiences with Airbandb when in England and Wales 2 years ago, New Mexico this past February, and will continue to use the service in the future.

We are embarking on a trip to Australia and New Zealand in less than 2 weeks. We have a room booked via Airbandb in San Jose, California for 3 nights, close to where I once lived. We will use the service in Australia as well.

This incident was indeed unfortunate, but I doubt rampant.

[MineralMan]

43. Using airbnb as a guest is somewhat different, I'd think.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

45. Airbandb hosts have been wonderful as well.....

Or else we would have not been recommended by friends to look into this as an alternative to staying in Hotels. The door swings both ways.

[MineralMan]

52. It does. There are also complaints from guests aplenty.

A google search reveals those, too.

Of course, people also have many complaints about hotels. I've had a few of my own, but all were resolved and a refund given after contacting the corporate owner of the offending hotel. None of those things were criminal, though, by any means.

My OP is about risks involved in renting rooms in your own home to strangers. I've always thought that was a foolish thing to do, and would never even consider it.

[chowder66]

42. That poor little girl. My heart goes out to her and I'm glad they caught the guy. nt

[MineralMan]

46. While rare, there are crimes associated with airbnb guests:

https://www.google.com/search?q=crimes+associated+with+airbnb

The search at the link above reveals some of them.

[zipplewrath]

47. Well, B&B in general

You're giving someone access to your house when you run a B&B. I've stayed in my share of B&B's and I've seen some places "locked down" tight, such that you had access to very little of the house without keys. I've also been in some that left for the evening giving us relatively "free reign" of the house. In one case, the owner left for the weekend. I've never really understood the B&B concept for small houses where the separation betwix the "home" and the guest space is ill defined.

By the way, the description is very confusing and it is a bit surprising how quickly apparently the assailant ended up with the victim, in the owners bedroom, without much notice "early Sunday morning". I'm hungry for the Paul Harvey version.

[mythology]

50. And the statistical likelihood of this is what?

Republicans talk a lot about in person voter fraud. It is a thing that happens, but in such a low frequency as to be non-existent.

Statistics show 95% of children who suffer sexual abuse know and trust their abuser. Hardly the case with a random Airbnb person.

There are plenty of reasons to dislike Airbnb. What amounts to an anecdote isn't really on the list.

[MineralMan]

58. It's probably very, very low, but

people with young children in the home might feel differently about hosting airbnb guests, I'd think.

No guests; no risk from those nonexistent guests. Why take risks that are not necessary?

[Major Nikon]

65. Walking out your front door means taking risks that aren't necessary

The same goes for pretty much any other activity you want to name.

Effectively managing risk means having at least a rough idea of what the risks actually are and if managing them is even prudent. Otherwise you wind up spending all of your time trying to manage irrational fear rather than focusing on things that are a genuine risk.

[jberryhill]

101. +1

I've had strangers in my home to fix the plumbing, inspect the heater, install appliances, and do all kinds of things. I'm aware that anyone of them, as with anyone else, has a statistical likelihood of committing a crime in my home, and also aware (and know that they are aware) that their full identity and contact information is known to the company which employs them and sends them to my home.

Would I have left my child alone in the room with any of these strangers in the house? No. But that seems more along the lines of "common sense" than anything else.

But, as noted elsewhere in the thread, people are happy to have stayover guests like aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, friends etc., who are definitely not "strangers" but who ARE orders of magnitude more likely to molest their children than any stranger. That's a fact.

But we aren't going to see the thread alerting us all to the very real danger of having members of your own family stay over in your house with your children, which is the scenario for most child molestations.

[Major Nikon]

110. It's like citing Whitney Houston as an example of why you shouldn't bathe

Yes, people do drown in their bathtub. No, this doesn't mean you shouldn't take a bath, although it might be a good idea to mitigate the risk by not taking enough coke, xanax, and muscle relaxers to kill a horse.

[SomethingNew]

59. Having been an AirBnB host and guest,

I think there are some very basic precautions that weren't followed here.

1) Never rent out a room if in a house with kids.
2) If you are going to host/rent a room in an occupied residence, be very careful about the people you stay with.

Personally, I'd never rent out a room in an occupied residence. Either the entire apartment/a self-contained unit or nothing. It is just weird to stay in a house with total strangers and it is asking for trouble. I find hostels weird for similar reasons but as a 6'3" young man, I am fortunate enough to not have to worry about it too much. I stayed in an airbnb last week in Spain and I'll be in one next week in Budapest so I'm obviously glad the service exists. People just need to not be stupid or lax with safety, especially when it comes to children or the elderly.

[MineralMan]

63. Those are all sensible precautions, I think.

[lunatica]

60. I reimburse UC traveling faculty and students and they use Airbnb all the time

I've reimbursed hundreds and never heard of a single problem. This is just one story out of millions.

Faculty can take their families with them and rent an Airbnb and still pay less than what a hotel room costs just for one. Students who travel together, which they often do can split the cost of an Airbnb house and it's cheaper than some hostels.

[flibbitygiblets]

66. Thank you! millions of positive air bnb reviews

And this one incidence is enough for so many to write it off completely? Really? That's Like saying " there was a terrorist attack in Paris, so I'll never go there ". Unfortunately I've actually heard this sentiment as well.

I've used Air bnb to stay in really nice places, in cities I'd never be able to afford, or where hotels are scarce, such as SF's North Beach neighborhood. If there are dozens of good reviews, then go for it. No, I would not take my kids, nor stay in a home that had them, mostly because they're a pain in the ass.

But to those who just write off the entire idea, you're missing out on so much that life has to offer. Most hosts gave us amazing recommendations on food, shopping, clubs...plus so cool to meet interesting local people.

[atreides1]

62. If I use Airbnb

I get the entire space!

I'm on vacation, I don't want to spend my quiet time with people I don't know! Especially after spending the day with 5 granddaughters...

[MineralMan]

64. Makes sense to me.

[crazycatlady]

69. My company encouraged Air BNB last year

ANd my experience with it was not so great. I found that for the same price as a hotel (with a private bath and free breakfast) you got a twin sized bed and a shared bathroom.

[Voltaire2]

70. Taking in boarders is not exactly a new thing.

And yes obviously there are risks.

[Codeine]

79. Thinking about driving to work today? Read this:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/09/21/fatal-head-on-crash-big-rig-northridge/

[MineralMan]

83. Yes. I accept the risk of driving, since I'm somewhat in control.

It's also necessary to drive at times.

Renting out a room to strangers, however, is not necessary, and I'm not willing to assume the risks involved. It's an easy decision for me.

[Codeine]

84. It was an unnecessarily sensationalist header

and you know it, MM.

[MineralMan]

85. Not really. It was a shocking story, in my own area.

I had never even considered such a risk before that. I always looked at airbnb as an innocuous way to make a few bucks. The incident occurred. It was in my local news. I posted it. It's not fake news. It happened.

Sensationalism was not my goal, I assure you.

[Codeine]

81. Thinking about making dinner for the kids? Read this:

http://6abc.com/home/consumer-alert-ovens-exploding-in-homes-across-country-/1060683/

[cwydro]

95. I'm not afraid of risk.

I was a caver for years and also a scuba diver. Never a cave diver, but I dove caverns. Cave diving was too risky.
.
I've canoed in the Everglades on Nine Mile Pond surrounded by dozens of alligators. I chose to ride out at least six hurricanes when I lived in the Keys. I've done a lot of risky things.

I chose to take those risks. And yes life is risky every darn day.

Renting out my house to a stranger is a risk I choose not to take.

[jberryhill]

111. I'm not a stranger, once you get to know me

The couch is fine. Mind if I have a look in the fridge?

[cwydro]

112. Lol.

I have a very mean goose here. Come on over!

You'll run away screaming lol.

I carry a pool noodle around the property - only thing he's scared of.

[Sunriser13]

114. Okie-Dokie, then

The visual on that made me laugh out loud. Coffee spewed everywhere.

My cats, not to mention my roommate, are looking at me like I'm crazier than even they thought they knew. (The real facts about the real level are our little secret, OK? )

Give 'em Hell!

P.S.
To whom shall I remit my invoice for the replacement keyboard and monitor, please?

[cwydro]

115. Sir Morgan is the gander.

Bill him. He bills me daily Geese have a very painful bite.

Today I switched to carrying a tennis racquet. I had to restring the clothesline, which left me vulnerable. He's a sneaky mofo.

So far so good.

[Sunriser13]

116. They sure do!

But now I'm hearing ...

Swoosh!

Sproing!

Honk! Honk! Honk... until the sound fades into the distance...

[cwydro]

119. Lol.

He's a teenager, so I'm using the racquet only defensively, not offensively. It's just hormones lol.

Hoping he'll mellow.

[NRaleighLiberal]

86. We've used airbnb dozens of times for years with nothing but very good to great results

And we've had some real horror stories at hotels and motels.

Anything is possible with anything....

[MineralMan]

87. My post is not about using airbnb as a guest.

I'm sure that many people enjoy their stays. My post is about being an airbnb host while you and your family occupy the home when guests stay. A little research, though, shows that not all airbnb guests report "very good to great results." It's a mixed bag, I guess.

[NRaleighLiberal]

92. I suspect there is little in today's world that is anything but a mixed bag!

[nini]

98. Why the hell was the girl around the guy/stranger with no parental supervision?

That doesn't excuse what the guy did but the parents should not have left a kid around someone they do not know like that either.

They're right up there with the idiots who leave loaded guns around.

Poor kid

[MineralMan]

99. I don't know the details of what happened, so I'm not

prepared to attack the parents and homeowners in this situation, really.

[nini]

104. I don't think you need more details than what was in that article

The guy was with the girl unattended. Case closed

[MineralMan]

106. The girl was in the parent's bedroom. The guest

was supposed to be in the guest bedroom. The father found the guest in the parent's bedroom, naked, with his daughter. Time lapse was 15 minutes, according to the article.

What happened during that time is not described in the article. Certainly the parent did not intend for that guest to go into their bedroom where the daughter was sleeping, I'm sure.

So, I don't know the details that would explain exactly what happened. I'm guessing that the newspaper doesn't either. I imagine the police do, though, and that they'll be revealed during any trial that takes place.

[jberryhill]

103. Or a cousin/uncle/in-law for that matter

[nini]

105. True

It's so sad so many kids are at risk.