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Dissed by an Algorithm

Oh yeah, you're a super-clever, behaviourally targeted leading e-commerce website, but basically you're calling me a fat geek. To my face. Nice.

Check out the homepage below, which greeted me when I cruised past the Amazon website the other day. O'Reilly books, donut maker and a chocolate fountain.

amazon.gif

And what's worse is the suggestions are based on a book I bought for the office, and a gift for my sister. Honest.

It's a sad day when you're getting slagged off by an algorithm. Perhaps I do need to get out more. And maybe I should take in a bit more literary culture. Damn it, maybe the targeting is right.

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posted by Sam Michel
Fri, 26 Sep 2008
4 comments

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Comments

Mon, 29/09/2008 - 18:00 — Mat Morrison

You can, of course, tell

You can, of course, tell Amazon to "Fix this" on the recommendations page where it tells you why it's making the recommendation.

 

Of course, if it tells you that it's "Recommended because you ate too many pi-s" there's little you can do. 

 

That gag was probably never funny. It's even less funny now that it's on the page. Ah well. 

Fri, 26/09/2008 - 15:55 — Jon Aizlewood

Hey Sam, If you want my

Hey Sam,

If you want my honest opinion, I think you two should fight. I mean, you can take that algorithm. What's he made of? A few 1's and 0's? Go on, don't stand for that. I've got £10 on you to win in round 1.

Make me rich!

J

Fri, 26/09/2008 - 16:04 — Sam Michel

@Jon Aizlewood - good point,

@Jon Aizlewood - good point, I mean what's the worst it can do? Apart from delete all my digital data, remove any record of my existence. I've seen the films, I know what can happen.

Paranoid, moi? Wink

Fri, 26/09/2008 - 15:45 — Benjamin

Not the old 'office' and

Not the old 'office' and 'present for my sister' line. Common, everyone know that PHP coders eat donuts dipped in chocolate from a chocolate fountain. That page is a badge of pride!