Thanks to the New York Attorney General’s investigation into Airbnb for violating residential laws and the mockery swirling around the company’s new vulva-inspired logo, Airbnb hasn’t gotten much love around these parts as of late. But the company isn’t all bad, if a sweet, sex-positive letter from an Airbnb customer service rep to a host is any indication.
New Now Next reports that Daniel Nardicio, a New York City-based party promoter, recently posted a listing for his Fire Island cabana (pictured below) on Airbnb’s website. Fire Island is a popular gay hotspot, and Nardicio thought he could attract some more interest from his target demo by posting a photo of two buff, sexy go-go boys using his home’s outdoor shower (no genitalia, but still NSFW):
Vagina logo notwithstanding, Airbnb has some pretty strict restrictions for posting sexually explicit photos in listings. The site’s guidelines explicitly prohibit “profane, vulgar, obscene, defamatory, threatening, or discriminatory” content.
While go-go boys taking an outdoor shower together doesn’t exactly fall into any of these categories, it’s easy to see why the photo didn’t pass muster with Airbnb rep Kristi, who wrote Nardicio the following apologetic—and incredibly sweet—email explaining why they couldn’t run the photo:
Dear Daniel-
I hope this message finds you well! My name is Kristi and I’m a specialist with the Trust and Safety Team here at Airbnb.
Okay, now that we’ve gotten that official introduction out of the way, your (admittedly, mesmerizing for my tastes) photo for this listing has garnered more attention than may be warranted for the listing itself.
I’m a writer of m/m erotica and was very, um, pleased to see your photo, but I think it may be just outside of our current realm in terms of general non-risqué photos for listings.
Again, not saying that I personally didn’t think it was captivating, but if you didn’t mind putting up a photo less visually – compelling – while still keeping the verbiage, some of us will sigh with disappointment, but it will also fit more soundly in our Terms of Service.
If you didn’t mind dropping me a line when you insert a different photo, I’d be grateful. Also, if you happen to know any friends with ringleted red hair, please let me know; my most recent writing submission could use a book cover.
In all seriousness (and the book cover part was serious!), I’m so glad you’re hosting with us, just want to ensure that the preliminary photos are showing more of the listing.
My warm regards,
Kristi L.
You see this, Facebook and Instagram? This is how you tell one of your users that they can’t post inappropriate content on your site, instead of just indiscriminately flagging images and removing them without explanation. This is how it’s done.
Nardicio seemed to agree: He posted the letter on his Facebook, calling Kristi a “class act.” The only way this story would’ve turned out better is if Kristi had stayed at Nardicio’s cabana and gotten those go-go boys to act out some of her erotica together.
H/T New Now Next | Photo via Airbnb
