<p>Re post #20: Well, I have long suspected that PiperXP and I can interact only due to an accidental cross-over between parallel universes. (In PiperXP’s, Mr. Spock has a beard.)
Maybe I wouldn’t go so far as to say “unfit to host,” I guess, but perhaps “ill-suited.” I think it’s reasonable to expect a minimal level of hospitality from a host, and not simply a place to put a sleeping bag.
I should add, though, to be fair to the person doing the hosting–perhaps something happened–like an exam date being shifted, or a problem with family or a significant other–that made hosting much less convenient at the particular time than it seemed when the host originally signed up.</p>
<p>^ I’ve seen CPW kids feel unwelcome because their hosts were not directing what CPW activities they should go to, or feel uncomfortable because their host had blue hair and a nipple piercing. I want to make sure it’s not one of those situations first ;)</p>
<p>Re post #22: Fair point, and I agree. For obvious reasons, the remark about blue hair put me in mind of the Andorians (though they have white hair).</p>
<p>Some things that might seem uncomfortable fall into the category of perspective-extending–and that’s good, not bad. </p>
<p>Just a thought, though: MIT might think about whether students from different geographical regions of the US have different expectations about what is welcoming. For example, a student from my sister-in-law’s home region might see something as unwelcoming, when if the student enrolled at MIT, they’d come to realize that it was fine, and possibly even friendly-but-from-a-different-region–but a prefrosh might not be able to adjust expectations so quickly. </p>
<p>QMP had a not-so-good experience at one of the non-MIT visiting days for prospective students. The swipe card that was issued worked for the room door, but not–for some reason–for the building entry-way. The host’s cell phone was off, and after one of the events ended, at 1 or 2 am it, took a while to locate someone who could provide building entry. (I omit to mention the semi-deranged older stranger on the street who wanted to “chat” on QMP’s way from the prefrosh-event to the dorm building.) Then, about 6 am QMP was awakened by host and friend arguing loudly whether one of them could bite the other. Perhaps they belonged to the United Federation of Planets, but came from one of the worlds with charmingly different customs. QMP went there anyway. This might put dtrent D’s experience in a different perspective.</p>
<p>From dtrent’s other post, I see a problem.</p>