This negative perception of landlords is not just another case of extremely online hive mind.

As a standup comic in the real world, Ive seen that hating landlords is a pretty safemaybe evenhackpunchline.

Could there be a more glaring sign of someones public standing than turning into a hack punchline?

Do landlords really deserve to be public enemy number one?

Its one thing to hate the system, the gamedo we need to hate the specific players, too?

Short answer

Yes.

Long answer

Hell yes.

Theres a zoomed-out view of landlords as inherently immoral.

Now, weve landed in the current cultural moment where dragging landlords online is a popular activity.

Rhetorical questions like, Because housing is a human right and I shouldnt be in business?

do not sway me toward the side of landlords.

In fact, it does more to justify renters instinctive vitriol.

Plus, have you ever perused alandlord message board?

Just take a look atthe replies to this articleabout landlords struggling during Bidens eviction ban last year.

The replies lack sympathy, and I get it.

Landlords arent laid off when rent becomes more affordable.

Their predatory behaviors make housing inaccessible for those who need it most.

Still, you might contend that notalllandlords are evil individuals.

But there have to be good ones, too.

You might argue that every profession is going to have a few bad apples.

Perhaps a generation who watchedthose claims get refutedover and over during the 2020 protests against police brutality.

No doubt this framework helped large swaths of people start to question all other systems taking advantage of them.

I wish I had alternative solutions to landlords today.

I highly recommend renting Matthew DesmondsEvicted: Poverty and Profit in the American Cityfrom your local library.

In other words, many feel that landlords shouldnt be credited with providing an essential service.

Theyre abusing the system for profit.

At least, thats the direction public perception keeps heading.

At the end of the day, maybe one generations radical beliefs is the nexts common sense.