![](http://<a href="http://www.magpie-girl.com/small-is-beautiful-bloggers-manifesto"><img src="http://www.magpie-girl.com/small-is-beautiful/passionate-blog-button.jpg" alt="The Small Is Beautiful Manifesto" style="border:1px solid #C0C0C0;"></a>){kind=link}
![http://](http://<a href="http://www2.clustrmaps.com/counter/maps.php?url=http://tuckergurl.typepad.com"><img src="https://www2.clustrmaps.com/stats/maps-no_clusters/tuckergurl.typepad.com-thumb.jpg" />){kind=link}
Check this out from IMDB, my fave news source:
Wal-Mart Apologizes for Racist Software GlitchWal-Mart's attempt to mimic Amazon, NetFlix, and Blockbuster by providing an automated system that recommends movies based on the types of DVDs its customers previously ordered came to a crashing halt Thursday after blogs spread the word that the Planet of the Apes DVD was linked to "Similar Items" that included DVDs about Martin Luther King, Dorothy Dandridge, Jack Johnson and Tina Turner -- all notable African Americans. "We are heartsick that this happened and are currently doing everything possible to correct the problem," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said in a statement. "We were horrified to discover that some hurtful and offensive combinations are being mapped together. ... We are deeply sorry that this happened." The company gave no explanation for how the software program managed to select only films about African-Americans for the recommendations.
Oh, that racist programmer who set that up. He is so fired!
OMG! I do not even know what to say about that!!!! Wal Mart is like Dubya! It jus never ceases to amaze the world with its beyond contemptable behavior!!!
Posted by: beebs | January 07, 2006 at 10:38 AM
I know this story is all the rage - but I sincerely don't get it. Planet of the Apes is clearly a movie about race, and so people who watch it may be interested in other movies about race. It's a completely logical suggestion for a computer to make.
Posted by: David Jacobs | January 07, 2006 at 10:15 PM
David, I guess I can see what you are sayin. Yes the film is about race but that race is definately in the subtext of that film. I am not 100% sure that people "see" that film as a "race film". Therefore to categorize it that way is a misstep for whoever did it. That is also giving the folks involved the benefit of the doubt which I am willing to do.
I also think that this story gives us a good opportunity to rag on a company that already has a slew of problems. It's just the story folks have been waiting for.
Posted by: tuckergurl | January 08, 2006 at 05:52 AM
Oh, that racist programmer who set that up. He is so fired!
the only thing racist is the accusation that he or she is a racist.
the film is about race. the original reviews in the New York Times and elsewhere all said this. Is the New York Times racist?
Posted by: Nathan | January 08, 2006 at 07:15 AM
Too bad for Walmart. They are trying so hard with Queen and Destiny's CHild and that Black film-makers showcase their advertising. It's like they're taking two steps up and three steps back...
I agree, that racist programmer is histroy.
Posted by: Quel | January 08, 2006 at 11:07 AM
I brought this up in my weblog post on the topic, but I think it's worth saying again. I sincerely doubt there was a single programmer who is responsible. Walmart is saying there was so they can look like they are managaing the situation, but they are obviously lying as they do damage control.
All big e-commerce sites have recommendation engines that analyze consumer browsing and purchasing habits, and that's where the association came from. There's no "racist programmer" to be fired. It's not at all outside the realm of possibility that Walmart customers buy movies about Civil Rights and Planet of the Apes in the same shopping carts, whether they're racist assholes who think Black people are monkeys or they're college professors who are examining images of resistance in popular culture.
Posted by: David Jacobs | January 08, 2006 at 02:09 PM
I am curious David as to how you think Walmart should have handled with the press.
Posted by: tuckergurl | January 09, 2006 at 05:46 AM
Funny you should ask:
http://hello.typepad.com/hello/2006/01/if_walmart_had_.html
Posted by: David Jacobs | January 09, 2006 at 10:44 AM
But seriously, I think they should NOT have lied, which is clearly what they're doing. Adriana said they took their entire recommendations engine down this weekend, which is clearly overreacting, and probably bad for business too. I think they should have said something like:
"Our recommendations engine looks at the aggregate behavior of all users on walmart.com. Planet of the Apes is a film about race, and so naturally it appears recommended next to other films about race. We recognize that this can be offensive in the wrong context so we have blocked that particular association going forward.
Walmart.com recommends the following books on race:
bell hooks - killing rage
"Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity
Race Traitor.
We also recommend the new Mary-Kate and Ashley jeans, for all butts small and large.
Posted by: David Jacobs | January 09, 2006 at 10:51 AM