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by geebee 3647 days ago
I agree that there is some legitimate ambiguity in the term sharing. For instance, if my pal and I decide to order the extra large sandwich and pay for it jointly, it's part of the vernacular to say we are "sharing" it.

However, I couldn't disagree with you more that this is a good way to describe a pure quid pro quo money for services transaction. If this is sharing, then all commerce is sharing.

Unlike you, I almost can't think of a better example of something that isn't sharing than airbnb. It's a rental. If I let you play my violin for $5, I haven't shared my violin. If we purchase one jointly and use it, then sure, but that's not even remotely what is happening with airbnb. The line may be a little fuzzy at the margins, but airbnb is a mile away from this fuzzy zone, squarely and unambiguously in the realm of commerce.

Disagreements about airbnb do get contentious, and I don't enjoy adding to this. But I'm honestly bewildered that you can't think of a better term than "sharing" to describe "I let you stay in my house if and only if you pay me $100". Seriously? It's "hard to think of a better term"?