A friend of a Turkish friend of mine will be arriving in London from Turkey next Monday.  He is a professional man, married, in his early forties, who will be working abroad in the near future.  Before this he wants to spend 6-8 weeks in the UK (London area) learning/improving his English (he does speak a very little English) and he would like to stay with an English-speaking family if possible.  He has some friends in London but unfortunately they can’t offer him accommodation at this time.
 

It’s a long shot but is there anyone who would be willing to rent a room to this gentleman?  I can’t vouch for him personally but he is a very old friend of my friend, whose judgement I trust completely.  As well as helping him it could be a good opportunity to practise your Turkish and maybe learn some more!

I know it’s very short notice but nothing ventured, nothing gained – so if there is any English speaker out there who can help, who lives in London or within commutable distance, could you please pm me asap and I can then let you have some more details.

I´d recommend he also look into Couch Surfing. There is a huge CS community in London.

http://www.couchsurfing.com

 Yep. But I guess - being an active CS´er outside London - no-one will host him for 6 weeks. He´ll have to move every week at least once, maybe much more often.

No it happens. It´s definitely not the "routine" CS way, but here in Sydney stays of that length are far from uncommon (I used to be the ambassador for Sydney until work demands cut back my CSing). It all depends on the parties involved.

 Couch Surfing looks very interesting, but also there seems to be an element of danger.  I looked at their website and it is quite intriquing.

 Don´t talk about things you don´t know about! Stick to your links instead of making stupid remarks about a worldwide hospitality group you have never experienced!

 ...So asking questions regarding a worldwide hospitality group (of which it seems you are an example) is not allowed by you, right? Your answer overflows with the essence of hospitality.  I asked a simple question regarding how it works....here is exactly what I asked:

"Couch Surfing looks very interesting, but also there seems to be an element of danger.  I looked at their website and it is quite intriquing."

That element of danger entails having people one does not know in their home, or going to stay in the abode of persons one does not kow.  My dear grandmother told me to never get into a car with strangers, I believe many parents and grandparents told their children the same thing....so I´m asking a reasonable question....of which it seems in your overflowing hospitality, you are unable, or unwilling, to answer.

Additionaly, the question was not addressed to you, but to the person who proposed the option and posted the link.

If you don´t know how to phrase a question than you should go back to school! You didn´t ask, you stated it might be dangerous! And be sure, my hospitality is enormous but it will never include you.

 Well, how would you know? I stated "but also there seems to be an element of danger"

My goodness, I could have logged on registered and how would you know? Horrors! You could be hosting me.....or or....I could be hosting you.....

 See? That makes you so stupid. You aren´t even capable of thinking how people might choose a host or surfer, what safety tools there are. And no, I won´t tell YOU!

Moderators, since when it´s been allowed to write such insolent comments about people?

 How kind of you to make me aware of my shortcomings....that must be just another facet of your generous, selfless, hospitality....but you know....I was smart enough to have not asked you.....in case you didn´t notice.  I guess I´ll just have to fumble along.....

Alameda´s comment was perfectly innocent and there is really no reason to turn the thread into a slanging match.   I think that quite a lot of people would think couch-surfing could be ´risky´ at the very least unless they have been personally involved. 

Anyway, as it was my thread and the person concerned is now in the UK and the last few posts had nothing to do with helping him , there´s no need for the thread to continue so I´m locking it.