questions about discrimination

[Royce Talbo]

I have been noticing there are a lot of posts asking about can I discriminate against this or that.  I always thought of tenant screening as a job interview and I am the employer.  I would phone screen them, if they meet the minimum qualifications I would then set up a showing.  At the showing I would get them to fill out an app if I liked them or if they asked.  Upon leaving I would inform them that I have several other showings and that if I don't get back to them by certain day it means I went with someone else.  This way I dont have to deal with the problems of can I discriminate on this or that.  If I feel that they dont fit the property, I just say we went with someone else.  No need for explanation just like a Job interview.  

Am I wrong on this? Am I missing something?  I'm pretty sure I dont need to disclose why I didnt pick them.  Besides majority of renters are looking at multiple properties.  I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't go after you just to see why they didnt get the place and try to file legal action, they would just move on to the next place.

So if my way of doing things correct why are there so much questions on can I discriminate against this or that when tenant screening?  I can see if they asking about lease questions but screening I don't really understand.  Is it because tenants are few and far between? Here is Hawaii maybe we are just spoiled but for my last showing I had about 15 people call me on a Friday when I listed it and showed it to 9 people on Sat and Sun, checked background Sun Night and Mon morning, got them to sign Mon afternoon.  I know this is not typical for the mainland but if you expand your time line from 1 weekend to 1 month when you get the notice from your tenants that they are vacating, I would think you get the same amount of inquiries.