Yes, that is my point. Both sides should declare.
And if the platform rules are exterior cameras are allowed, and sitters declare they don’t want them, well - they shouldn’t be on the platform if they can’t confirm with terms.
Perfect, not arguing that at all if that’s your speed. Just saying exterior cameras are allowed, so if you apply and then decide no because an owner won’t turn them off - well that is reportable. So just stay away from those (like mine that disclose allowed exterior cams).
I think THS isn’t interested in fairness — they run a business and wouldn’t be interested in driving away sitters, whether they agree to cameras or not.
It’s the same reason why THS allows unfairness or imbalance in various other areas. So if you’re saying that this is a dealbreaker or priority for you, makes sense to lobby THS. But I doubt they’ll care.
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Perhaps that’s true. Perhaps not. So if your confident THS doesn’t care that sitters on the platform won’t accept terms that state exterior cameras are allowed, then continue as is.
If I were a sitter I would do it on the down low. Because if you are reported and THS decides they want to make an example of you…who knows. It is the terms and it’s fair for both sides to comply.
It wouldn’t affect me, since external cameras aren’t a problem for me. But I highly doubt THS will care. They don’t even act in many cases of what’s actual egregious behavior.
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Great, that’s fine. I think if many HO report many Sitters saying they won’t accept external cameras…hmmm they may issue a position. I guess we won’t know as long as Sitters are not willing to be up front.
I would love to see THS start by cracking down on egregious behavior. I think if they did, more people would be willing to abide if they saw benefits.
Lots of stuff doesn’t even require THS. Like if more sitters and hosts were honest in reviews, that would help a lot.
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On this we agree!
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I think you are equating “allowed” with “compulsory” here. HOs are allowed to list innumerable pets, which doesn’t mean it is compulsory for sitters to accept those sits. Should sitters who set limits on the number or type of pets be expelled from the platform too?
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@Felinelover The reason it’s important for HOs to disclose in the listing is so sitters can just scroll by and not apply if something is a deal breaker. The HO is not going to read my profile until after I apply. So if I’ve written in my profile that something is not acceptable to me, sure the HO can then just decline me, but I’ve already spent my time writing an application and applying. You may not think my time is valuable but I do.
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I don’t quite understand what you mean here. Why would HOs report sitters for not accepting cameras? Sitters don’t have to accept anything. THS is just a place for HOs and sitters to connect. There is no requirement that sitters accept cameras or anything else. Sitters choose our sits. And cameras are not as ubiquitous as you seem to think. I’ve done 40 sits and maybe a quarter of them had external cameras.
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And likely many paid sitters (why you make a disctinction between paid and THS/unpaid in this discussion is beyond me) don’t want to be spied upon, either. It is about privacy, respect and basic human consideration. If you have reason to not trust someone, please don’t have them care for your pets rather than spying and micromanaging.
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But it isn’t reportable. We can ask for you to turn them off and you can agree or not. You can’t report a sitter for asking you to turn off cameras, you can simply refuse. Doubly so if it’s at application stage and not after confirmation of a sit. THS won’t do anything or be interested in this exchange of opinions on cameras. It’s up to the two parties to find a match or not. #justamatchingservice
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You’re claiming that sitters who are not comfortable with exterior cameras should not be on the platform?
I think it’s fair for sitters to be informed how many external cameras are present, where they are monitoring and how they are being utilised during the sit.
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Why do you feel that sitters are compelled to accept sits with exterior cameras?
We['ve done sits with exterior cameras, when we knew which areas they were monitoring. We’re doing a repeat-sit right now, where the electric gates are monitored by cameras. That doesn’t bother us at all because they’re not privacy-intrusive. However, we applied for one sit where cameras were not disclosed until after application (and after we’d been invited to sit) and when we discovered there were 5 exterior cameras, monitoring all of the property grounds, we declined.
Surely this will highlight that it’s not just the existence of exterior cameras which is a potential issue for sitters, and that discussion regarding location and intent is very useful.
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Sorry, but this is ridiculous.
I am now at a repeat sit. I noticed the outdoor camera, I don’t think it was there last year.
I am not going to sabotage it, tape it over or something. Is that what you meant by “not comply”?
I am also very sure that these HO are not monitoring my comings and goings, or visitors. My guess is that it is only set up to do something when someone actually presses the doorbell.
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I won’t. I’d see it as a case-by-case. I’d prefer not to be on camera while I’m sitting on the back deck or whatever, but if the cameras were pointed at the yard rather than the deck, I wouldn’t care. I wouldn’t mind a front door camera, but if I saw even a hint in a past review that the HO was using the camera to check up on the sitter’s movements, that would be it for me, I’d move on.
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I think you’re misinterpreting what the “rules” are. HOs are allowed to have external cameras. That does not mean sitters are required to accept external cameras.
HOs are allowed to have 3 110# dogs, too. Or no dedicated guest room. I am not required to accept those sits. I’m also not required to “disclose” in my profile that these are not sits I typically am interested in.
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No, because there are no terms on the type or number of pets.
There is a term that HO are allowed to use external cams.
Is it your position that sitters in general should be required to accept external cameras, or is it only a problem when sitters apply to your listing and then later want to negotiate the cameras?
If the former, other people have explained why this wouldn’t work. Just because something is allowed on the platform, doesn’t mean all sitters have to accept it. It works in reverse also - homeowners don’t have to accept everything a sitter wants.
If it’s the latter situation, you could reduce the chances of this happening if you very clearly state in your listing that the cameras are non-negotiable.
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