Mik 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2006 Wal-Mart Apologizes for Racist Software Glitch Wal-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. imdb.com Thought that was funny. They have an easy out...blaming the software, but I bet they are secretly trying to hunt down and kill the programmer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2006 Ok, but the funniest thing was the use of "heartsick" in a corporate apology. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corey_Lazarus 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2006 They should've left it there. Would've been fucking hilarious to call up Wal-Mart and get that as a rec. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2006 gotta love it when corporate giants fuck up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideburnious 0 Report post Posted January 9, 2006 I wonder what came up when you did a search for Birth of a Nation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corey_Lazarus 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2006 Jesus Christ Superstar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2006 Guys, this is a company that rose out of Arkansas. I don't even bat an eye when I hear about companies that started down here having these kinds of things happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoff 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2006 Yeah, but you live down there. Guys like you and I, from the dirrty south, we've grown accustomed to this kind of thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2006 I saw a black dude leaving Walmart searched for no reason, but that's it. To be fair, he was pretty gangsta, and Florida isn't the real south. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaParkaYourCar 0 Report post Posted January 19, 2006 You know some programmer for WalMart's website probably set the thing up so that it would link those DVD's together as a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2006 Does it make me a bad person if I think that was pretty hillarious? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideburnious 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2006 Yessum Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
