Comments on: CouchSurfing: How Do I Ensure My Safety? http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/ In this Episode, Graham Goes to China Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:39:40 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Graham http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-7293 Graham Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:30:12 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-7293 Yeah I removed my rules a while back. I'm back living at home for the moment so definitely no possibility of hosting surfers. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of them. It was mostly just to deal with the volume of surfing requests I got. The general idea was that if you request to surf my couch, show respect to me and other surfers by making sure you actually show up when you say you will. If I agree to host you then I'm probably saying no to one or more other people. And in the event that you don't show up then not only do you lose out but the other surfers I said no to lose out as well. And that's not right. Welcome to CouchSurfing Shawn! I hope you have only good experiences with it. Eventually you will learn what works for you and what doesn't, and you can come up with your own rules of conduct. Good luck! Yeah I removed my rules a while back. I’m back living at home for the moment so definitely no possibility of hosting surfers. Unfortunately I don’t have a copy of them. It was mostly just to deal with the volume of surfing requests I got.

The general idea was that if you request to surf my couch, show respect to me and other surfers by making sure you actually show up when you say you will. If I agree to host you then I’m probably saying no to one or more other people. And in the event that you don’t show up then not only do you lose out but the other surfers I said no to lose out as well. And that’s not right.

Welcome to CouchSurfing Shawn! I hope you have only good experiences with it. Eventually you will learn what works for you and what doesn’t, and you can come up with your own rules of conduct. Good luck!

]]> By: Shawn http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-7275 Shawn Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:41:00 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-7275 Thanks for the good essay. I recently joined and I'm hosting my first surfer from Portland tomorrow. I didn't see your rules on your profile--likely because you're not available for hosting right now. If you have a second to post them here in the comments, I'd like to read them. Much appreciated, and again thanks for the good content above. Thanks for the good essay. I recently joined and I’m hosting my first surfer from Portland tomorrow. I didn’t see your rules on your profile–likely because you’re not available for hosting right now. If you have a second to post them here in the comments, I’d like to read them. Much appreciated, and again thanks for the good content above.

]]> By: Graham http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-3282 Graham Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:46:21 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-3282 @donald: I agree, the host having a lot of information before the surfer arrives is important. If a potential surfer does not have a complete profile (as in, leaves some things out) you should probably think twice about hosting them. @Emily: sweet, thanks! @donald: I agree, the host having a lot of information before the surfer arrives is important. If a potential surfer does not have a complete profile (as in, leaves some things out) you should probably think twice about hosting them.

@Emily: sweet, thanks!

]]> By: Emily http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-3279 Emily Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:50:30 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-3279 I will definitely send you a message! Same goes for you if you are in Shanghai. @Stevo: Try it. A few months ago, we went to Harbin for a weekend before a business meeting and stayed in a hotel. Later I realized how dumb it was not to look for CSers - a few sounded like awesome hosts and it would have been SO much better to have someone who lived there to hang out with a bit! I will definitely send you a message! Same goes for you if you are in Shanghai.

@Stevo: Try it. A few months ago, we went to Harbin for a weekend before a business meeting and stayed in a hotel. Later I realized how dumb it was not to look for CSers – a few sounded like awesome hosts and it would have been SO much better to have someone who lived there to hang out with a bit!

]]> By: donald http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-3273 donald Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:15:55 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-3273 Seems like a key "security" feature of this process is that fact that the host has a lot of information prior to the guest arriving. While the information can be false, the picture is the key. If the person shows up and does not match the picture, you don't let him in. I suggest to everyone that after accepting a guest, they EMail all the information to a third party, and then make in clear to all guest that that is part of your standard operating procedure. This may deter somewhat people with unfriendly intentions. Seems like a key “security” feature of this process is that fact that the host has a lot of information prior to the guest arriving. While the information can be false, the picture is the key. If the person shows up and does not match the picture, you don’t let him in. I suggest to everyone that after accepting a guest, they EMail all the information to a third party, and then make in clear to all guest that that is part of your standard operating procedure. This may deter somewhat people with unfriendly intentions.

]]> By: Graham http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-3268 Graham Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:48:31 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-3268 @Emily: Right, forgot about that. Fixed it, thanks. I don't have those rules because I'm onerous or a jerk, they really are based on common sense and courtesy. As much for me as for other travelers. If I say yes to one surfer, that usually means I'm saying no to 3 or 4 others. If that one cancels, the other surfers miss out as well. I forgot to write about photos, but yes, they are a must. I would never host or surf with a person who does not have a photo of themselves posted. When you come to Xi'an, be sure to send me a message or an email. I'd be happy to host you are at least meet up to show you around for a bit. Thanks for reading! @Stevo: If you ever make it up to Xi'an, you're always welcome on my couch. I think signing up in the first place is the biggest step. You've done that, now all you have to is get out there and travel some more. @Emily: Right, forgot about that. Fixed it, thanks. I don’t have those rules because I’m onerous or a jerk, they really are based on common sense and courtesy. As much for me as for other travelers. If I say yes to one surfer, that usually means I’m saying no to 3 or 4 others. If that one cancels, the other surfers miss out as well. I forgot to write about photos, but yes, they are a must. I would never host or surf with a person who does not have a photo of themselves posted.

When you come to Xi’an, be sure to send me a message or an email. I’d be happy to host you are at least meet up to show you around for a bit. Thanks for reading!

@Stevo: If you ever make it up to Xi’an, you’re always welcome on my couch. I think signing up in the first place is the biggest step. You’ve done that, now all you have to is get out there and travel some more.

]]> By: Stevo http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-3263 Stevo Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:45:04 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-3263 Great stuff, Graham. I've signed up, but never actually "surfed." I should give it a try. Great stuff, Graham. I’ve signed up, but never actually “surfed.” I should give it a try.

]]> By: Emily http://grahamwoodring.com/2009/06/03/couchsurfing-how-do-i-ensure-my-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-3255 Emily Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:05:57 +0000 http://grahamwoodring.com/?p=488#comment-3255 Graham, The link for "you can read my profile here" didn't come through. I found you though. :-) (http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/gwoodring/ for anyone else who wants to see it.) I wondered how strict your "rules" were at first, but when I read them, they seem like common sense rules! Not showing up when you requested to surf with someone is very rude. One couple we are hosting are arriving on a very late flight so asked if it was OK before they booked the flight! I thought that was very considerate. I agree that you can learn a lot about people through how they present themselves on their profile. Photos say a lot too! I also like it when people take the time to write a long email with a bit about themselves, why they would like to stay at our place in particular, and what they think we have in common. We haven't been to Xi'an yet, but it's on our list to do before we leave China. I subscribe to your RSS feed and enjoy your blog! Emily (http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/minors/) Graham,

The link for “you can read my profile here” didn’t come through. I found you though. :-) (http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/gwoodring/ for anyone else who wants to see it.)

I wondered how strict your “rules” were at first, but when I read them, they seem like common sense rules! Not showing up when you requested to surf with someone is very rude. One couple we are hosting are arriving on a very late flight so asked if it was OK before they booked the flight! I thought that was very considerate.

I agree that you can learn a lot about people through how they present themselves on their profile. Photos say a lot too! I also like it when people take the time to write a long email with a bit about themselves, why they would like to stay at our place in particular, and what they think we have in common.

We haven’t been to Xi’an yet, but it’s on our list to do before we leave China. I subscribe to your RSS feed and enjoy your blog! Emily (http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/minors/)

]]>