The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

[Andy C]

The Amazon recommend-o-matic has suggested that I might like Sipple Out Deh: The Black Ark Years by Lee Perry and I can't say that it's got my taste wrong. But one has to furrow a brow or two when Amazon shows its working: at the bottom it says "Recommended because you added Sir John Betjeman's Varsity Rag to your Shopping Basket".

[The Bean Counter]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

YouTube recommended Wondergirls (super cheesy Korean girl pop) to me once... because I had watched an Oasis video. Must be using the same algorithm as Amazon.

[midlander]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

Gonna be contrary - Amazon has me pretty sussed. Whereas Itunes doesn't know me at all despite 6K+ songs to choose from - I don't want Elton Bloody John. Come on Apple, even Last FM can make a decent stab at recommending things I'd actually listen to.

[Andy C]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

It's now telling me that I ought to like the new Radiohead album because I rated a Laurel and Hardy film.

[WOM]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

You must have rated Ladrones.

[Andy C]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

Now it's suggesting that I should buy a cassette head cleaner because I've stuffed a CD in my shopping basket.

[Ginger Yellow]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

"Stop, Andy. I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Andy. Andy, my mind is going. I can feel it."

[hobbes]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

Amazon seems to be convinced that I'm a transvestite.
My recommendations almost always include women's shoes.
When I removed them from my recommendations, it displayed dresses instead.
I'm genuinely baffled having never searched for either item, or anything remotely related (apart from some earrings for P.)

[Andy C]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

So you liked The Ministry of Fear, Graham Greene's "entertainment"? Well then, the Arden Shakespeare's edition of Hamlet seems just the thing for you.

[Ginger Yellow]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

I generally find Amazon's book recommendations to be very appropriate, but its music ones less so. Probably because I buy a lot of books from Amazon but only a handful of albums a year.

[Toby Gymshorts]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

Mine is recommending Shakira and Michael fucking Bolton (which I believe is his full name). Why?

[Seven Saxon Kings]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

One of our fans had the son of the bastard Chairman who asset-stripped our ground to AFC Wimbledon recommended as a Facebook friend. That takes some beating for getting it wrong.

[evilC]

The arcane logic of Amazon recommendations

Just chanced across this link in this article, regarding cookies and the new rules regarding their collection.

I'm still not sure why I seem to get bombarded with adverts for bras wherever I go: OTF, blogs, TV guide sites, etc. My tits aren't that big yet!