What distinguishes a good Airbnb host from a mediocre one likely means something different to every traveler. Some vacationers expect their host to provide an all-encompassing experience rather than just clean towels; that could mean that the homeowner, say, slings pastries and offers quirky activities to those temporarily sharing their space. Yet that friendly impulse may also be considered inappropriate to some guests'a fundamental misalignment that extends far beyond bespoke rental spots. This misunderstanding of appropriate boundaries, more and more a common occurrence in modern life, animated an otherwise silly Saturday Night Live sketch from last night's episode. A nightmare Airbnb 'superhost,' Bob (played by the episode's host, Jack Black), wouldn't leave the younger travelers renting his home alone, and in so doing toyed with the muddiness of social expectations in the digital age. Bob's view of himself as someone who pals around with his houseguests did not seem to resonate...
learn more
