The discourse in the USA concerning landlords, I would certainly describe as rather Neolithic
Summary
A rider with a posh British accent unleashes a wildly unpopular take: America's discourse on landlords is "rather Neolithic," and renters should be more grateful. He insists landlords provide an essential service, offering protection and safety like a miniature kingdom. In the UK, he claims, people even tip their landlords. Kareem pushes back, pointing out the obvious. The rent is too high. The stranger doubles down, arguing that tenants choose to rent instead of living in parks or on subway platforms, so they should appreciate what they're getting. It's a spectacularly tone-deaf argument. Kareem flatly disagrees.
Full Transcript
So what's your take? Karim salam alaikum. First of all, I studied a bit of Arabic in primary school, but I wanted to say thank you very much for putting me on your program. There's quite a bit of people that come on and off here and they have their chance to speak their mind and I think that it's quite lovely really the service you're providing.
You're quite welcome.
Thank you very much.
Now what is your take? The prevailing discourse in the United States concerning landlords I would certainly describe as rather neolithic.
So you are saying that what are you saying? There seems to be quite a bit of negative discourse concerning what landlords do, the services they provide, and I think that it's quite unfair really.
What? The rent is too high. The rent is too high.
You might have a choice of whether you'd like to live in a park or on the subway platform, but you choose to let a flat for example. The landlord is providing you a service of protection, safety, that is.
And so you think that in America the discourse around landlords is negative?
Quite unfairly really. In the UK, how are people supportive and uh you know, they tip their landlord.
We don't really have the same tipping culture here as you do in the States where you throw around money willy-nilly. People don't really seem to think about it as much here. It's part of the general economic status quo.
You're saying landlords are good.
Landlords provide a quintessentially essential service to the commoner. It's a place for people to live. They provide protection. Think of it like a miniature kingdom. 100% disagree.