Don't Shoot the Messenger
I read an interesting article today. There's this thing called Craigs List, a website that posts apartment listings, stuff for sale, blah blah, all organized by city. So I live in Dallas so if I want to buy a used couch I go to Craigs List - Dallas and peruse the listings to see if anyone has a couch. Well, Craigs List is being sued. I find this interesting for many reasons. One, they are being sued for discriminatory housing policies. But Craigs List isn't writing the ads. Granted they are hosting them, which I guess holds them liable, but Joe Smoe with the empty room in his house to rent is the one that writes the requirements. I think Craigs List just checks them for cuss words or solicitation, I don't think Craigs List edits anything heavily. I'm not so sure they should.
If an apartment complex, like the one I lived in, said "No Christians," as the suit in question does, that would be a problem. But if I, having a home that I want to rent the basement in, said "No Christians" would that be bad? It's my house. I'm choosing to rent it out, but can't I choose whom I rent the space to? If I'm the home owner isn't that my right? I'm asking the person to share a bathroom with me, don't I have a say in weather or not he's clean? Can I no longer put "Cleanliness required?" Would that be insulting to the messy people of the world? Or discriminatory?
I don't know. It seems someone wants to regulate everything.
But even my apartment complex discriminates! They discriminate against poor people. If you don't make enough money, you can't live there. If you work at McDonald's, you can't live in my apartment complex. At least, not without a roommate who's a Manager or something. And even then I don't think you'd cut the mustard. So is that discriminatory? And what about all those places that don't allow pets? Are those discriminatory against pet owners? And what about ads that say no children? Is that discriminatory against parents?
I don't know. Like minded people end up hanging out with like minded people. And naturally, I am more comfortable with a person in a similar situation as me, with similar tastes and occupation, or any occupation I guess, doesn't really matter what it is. I'm just wondering if a home owner with a room to rent out has a choice in who they rent that room to. And apparently, according to the lawyers in Chicago, the answer is no. I'm not sure that's a bad thing, but it just makes one pause. Well, and really wonder if those lawyers know how helpful Craigs List is for those of us that don't have high incomes. I never would have found an apartment in Boston that I could afford without it. And Lewis wouldn't have found an apartment he could afford in less than a day without it either. And I sold my old mattress on Craigs List. I couldn't have done that without it. I think they should research and figure out who much good its doing. For every add that says "Christian Males Only," there's probably one or two that says "Argentinean Catholics Only."
It just made me stop and think. I wonder if they'd be upset is I discriminated against Serial Killers in my ad ...
If an apartment complex, like the one I lived in, said "No Christians," as the suit in question does, that would be a problem. But if I, having a home that I want to rent the basement in, said "No Christians" would that be bad? It's my house. I'm choosing to rent it out, but can't I choose whom I rent the space to? If I'm the home owner isn't that my right? I'm asking the person to share a bathroom with me, don't I have a say in weather or not he's clean? Can I no longer put "Cleanliness required?" Would that be insulting to the messy people of the world? Or discriminatory?
I don't know. It seems someone wants to regulate everything.
But even my apartment complex discriminates! They discriminate against poor people. If you don't make enough money, you can't live there. If you work at McDonald's, you can't live in my apartment complex. At least, not without a roommate who's a Manager or something. And even then I don't think you'd cut the mustard. So is that discriminatory? And what about all those places that don't allow pets? Are those discriminatory against pet owners? And what about ads that say no children? Is that discriminatory against parents?
I don't know. Like minded people end up hanging out with like minded people. And naturally, I am more comfortable with a person in a similar situation as me, with similar tastes and occupation, or any occupation I guess, doesn't really matter what it is. I'm just wondering if a home owner with a room to rent out has a choice in who they rent that room to. And apparently, according to the lawyers in Chicago, the answer is no. I'm not sure that's a bad thing, but it just makes one pause. Well, and really wonder if those lawyers know how helpful Craigs List is for those of us that don't have high incomes. I never would have found an apartment in Boston that I could afford without it. And Lewis wouldn't have found an apartment he could afford in less than a day without it either. And I sold my old mattress on Craigs List. I couldn't have done that without it. I think they should research and figure out who much good its doing. For every add that says "Christian Males Only," there's probably one or two that says "Argentinean Catholics Only."
It just made me stop and think. I wonder if they'd be upset is I discriminated against Serial Killers in my ad ...
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