Wal-Mart Apologizes for Racist Software Glitch

[Corey A.]

To go with Bloodyheck's Post:

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.

[RODGER]

lol

[ds9]

Glitch my azz.

[alexlannin]

If there's a way to make something relatively simple racist, Walmart seems to find a way...

[King of Mars]

My head's up my azz.Glad you're finally recognizing you have a problem.

Any number of ways this could have happened accidently and, even if it didn't, it was likely just the prank of some lone jackass that works for the company. I despise Wal-mart as much as any small business loving American but I certainly wouldn't try to pin a "racist" tag on them over this nonsense. Really, people crying wolf over this sort of horseshit hurts the cause of equality a hell of a lot more than it helps it.

[A.Huerta]

Idiots. They shouldve built that Wal-Mart in Compton, and see what would've happened when this got out.

[niceguyeddie]

fuck those fucks.
they put a walmart next to the aztec temples in Mexico.
what the fuck is that shit about.
I'm gonna have to choke a bitch or something... and Fox is first.

[King of Mars]

Sometimes, the lack of reading comprehension and deductive reasoning on this board is truly depressing.

[NATE!]

Idiots. They shouldve built that Wal-Mart in Compton, and see what would've happened when this got out.

A bunch of people whose only sin was going to work and wanting to feed their families would have gotten hurt and/or killed?

[A.Huerta]

The workers wouldve messed up the store.

[NATE!]

The workers wouldve messed up the store.

Oh. Well, that would work. ;-)

[King of Mars]

The workers wouldve messed up the store.And gotten fired over a harmless software glitch? Makes a lot of sense.

[stevapalooza]

That's when you know you're living in an anti-intellectual country. When people get mad because a computer does something we interpret as racist. Maybe we should start destroying our microwaves for not looking enough like Jesus. Our magic boxes are obviously plotting against us.