Wal-mart website makes racial connections

Velvetonefusion · 01-06-2006, 01:30 PM

I guess I could understand how this could be offensive if you werent a savvy computer user and werent aware how content-targeted recommendation systems work, but, despite what race you are, this should be funny

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10736265/

Quote:

Wal-Mart apologized yesterday after its retail Web site directed potential buyers of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Planet of the Apes" DVDs to also consider purchasing DVDs with African American themes.

The world's largest retailer said in a statement that it was "heartsick" over the racially offensive grouping and that the site was linking "seemingly random combinations of titles."

"It's just simply not working correctly," said Mona Williams, vice president of corporate communications for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Krazy Hawaiian · 01-06-2006, 04:03 PM

They need to watch the new Crash movie.......

Execelent movie btw.

BigBadBoom · 01-06-2006, 04:12 PM

I'm black and I find that tragically hilarious!

jim schmidt · 01-06-2006, 04:37 PM

I have no love for Walmart, but this could've happened to any big company. It means nothing.

Krazy Hawaiian · 01-06-2006, 04:38 PM

^^^^ exactly.

Fargin_Bastige · 01-07-2006, 04:47 AM

In Chicago, there was a grocery chain that ran a commercial where vegetables turned into people via CGI. In the commercial, an eggplant turned into a black lady.

If you know what I'm talking about, you'll get why it pissed a few people off.

Travis71902 · 01-07-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fargin_Bastige

In Chicago, there was a grocery chain that ran a commercial where vegetables turned into people via CGI. In the commercial, an eggplant turned into a black lady.

Sorry, but Thats a good chuckle.

Fargin_Bastige · 01-07-2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis71902

Sorry, but Thats a good chuckle.

I had a hard time believing it was coincidental.

Peter North · 01-08-2006, 07:17 AM

Wal-mart knocks my socks off.

jim schmidt · 01-08-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fargin_Bastige

I had a hard time believing it was coincidental.

My wife agrees with you. But the greedy nature of Walmart argues against it.

Fargin_Bastige · 01-08-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim schmidt

My wife agrees with you. But the greedy nature of Walmart argues against it.

I was refereing to the CGI of an eggplant into a black lady in the commercial.

I could see a database returning some weird stuff accidentally.

jim schmidt · 01-08-2006, 10:44 AM

Oh. I agree with that. (I'm sure my wife would too! ;-) )

Mr. Lesbian · 01-08-2006, 11:18 AM

All of those movies listed on that link DO have something in common. They are all about racism (in one form or another) and the struggle for equality.

I'm pretty tired of people finding ANY little fawking thing to gripe about in terms of racism.

"You burnt my toast!? WTF? Racist! I'm suing".......

or...

"Officer, why'd you pull me over? Because my truck is black?"

etc......

Mr. Lesbian · 01-08-2006, 11:26 AM

Here's some more for people to bitch about:

How come toilets, urinals, sinks, tubs etc... are white? Where can the black man relieve himself without being discriminated against?

How come toilet paper and paper towels are white? Black people are hygenic too.

How come there is white text on a black background on SBN?? Is it because the white man can step all over the black people?

Canada is racist, it's white snow here during the winter.

Google is racist, white background. Or, better yet, do a search for racism and you get links about black people.

I haven't done a search on google, but I'm sure each one of those has already (or have pending) a lawsuit for someone.