On a completely different topic and possible area of interest, there has a tangible backlash against couchsurfing both as a concept and as a brand in the online travel community. The scandals Pip alludes to in her post are of course the most ostensible examples of bad press, making it all the way to more traditional media reportage, but there is no shortage of more stock criticism in some online fora. For instance, one blog, All that is wrong with the world, contains a lengthy discussion entitled ‘A criticism of Couchsurfing and review of alternatives’ in which the author makes known his disdain for, among other things, continual reference by couchsurfers to “couchsurfing spirit”. This, the author explains, is ”in practice in a close-minded, naïve and unrealistically optimistic outlook on life” espoused by “Super-Hippies”, the kind of crowd couchsurfing allegedly attracts.
It appears, then, that not everyone online who is interested in travel or even specifically interested in this kind of social travel experience is necessarily attracted to the sense of community which at least some elements the couchsurfing community enjoy.
After reading this particular blog (sic) I am starting to see this site becoming not just an analysis of couchsurfing as an online phenomenon but also an examination of the ‘community’ it creates and encourages, as well the rules and norms therein. This includes alleged stigma attached to negatively reviewing a couchsurfing host, although I am yet to research that particular area. Is someone else on that?
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