About leaving, if needed:
You seem overly fixated on getting a bad review. Some folks are, but a number of us keep perspective. And there have been multiple threads on the forum where members have mentioned getting a bad review and being able to continue getting sits. But it sounds like you’ll continue to believe what you want to, and again, no one should’ve joined THS if they don’t want to be locked into a schedule as a sitter, as you mentioned.
Did you somehow think that you could come and go as you pleased and that pets don’t need feeding, watering, walking, medicine or such on a schedule? They’re living beings. It doesn’t matter if you have your own pet or are sitting, they need that kind of care. And their humans wanted them to have company, playtime and affection. Otherwise, why would a sitter be needed?
Given everything you mentioned, you don’t sound like a fit for THS and vice versa. That’s fine. No product or service can fit everyone. And those of us who value it will keep using it whether you like it or not. Again, it’s voluntary — no one forces anyone to join or to accept any sits. You mentioned it’s an expense. That seems obvious — so is a hotel or many other things that are discretionary purchases. But it’s cheap compared with hotels. To me, if someone thinks it’s a lot, they shouldn’t join, because they’d probably have trouble with related costs, including transit, airfares, backup plans, etc.
If you’re saying people should know what they’re signing up for, absolutely. Like I read the website info — there’s a crapload — before joining. And I read listings and chat with hosts about questions. I avoid red flag hosts and sits. That’s not luck, as you think. Those are actions.
Some people aren’t good at reading red flags or ignore them, as many sits gone wrong reveal. Some people suck at setting and upholding boundaries. Again, they could take actions to avoid such — not count on luck.
Of course, a host (or sitter) could lie or withhold key info, which full circle, brings us back to what I already mentioned and how I’d give 24 hours and leave. That would be bad luck — to run into a liar, bully or such despite doing reasonable due diligence. But again, actions can help deal with that. I’d take action by leaving, as I mentioned. So would various other sitters.
Some sitters won’t stand up for themselves, which is a shame for them, as well as others, because it can give jerks the sense that they can get away with stuff. But that’s reality in life, not just sitting.
