And foldy's probably listening to Alicia Keys right now...

August 28, 2003 10:35 PM

If you liked Mein Kampf, you may also like the Bee Gees. Data-mining fun with Amazon's "Other People Who Purchased x Also Purchased y" feature. (Also a Gruniad article on the phenomenon.) (via Anil's daily links.)
posted by Vidiot (11 comments total)

How long before people start misinterpreting the data? For example, CD's unique to conservative customers recommendations includes Bach: Goldberg Variations, some idiot is going to say if you like Bach you're Conservative.
posted by Grod at 12:19 AM on August 29, 2003

or if you like miles you're a liberal..
posted by cohappy at 12:54 AM on August 29, 2003

...or if you like binary opposites, you should read derrida....
posted by lazaruslong at 1:34 AM on August 29, 2003

thanks vidiot, this made me laugh out loud. i'm just glad i'm not at work! interestingly, people that bought mein kampf also bought prince. sing it with me now...

"mein name ist prince und ich bin funky. ein volk, ein reich..."

apologies for my lousy german
posted by triv at 1:59 AM on August 29, 2003

I saw this on display at the Mills Gallery in Boston, and it was pretty amazing. iKatun, an art & technology collective, curated the show, called "info@blah." Here's a link to the home page for the exhibit, with images of other pieces from the show.
posted by bingbangbong at 2:11 PM on August 29, 2003

Research for DATA MINING .
Think the resource's of info has dried up for advertisers finding a sure fire selling product for each individual tastes. Wonder if it means too; bigger stores & warehousing, sigh.

This study shows that the musical type/taste folks listen to is a wider range than long ago where most focused on one musical type/taste. Also that The USA is becoming diverse in it's musical tastes, which is what people want. Or not?
posted by thomcatspike at 3:00 PM on August 29, 2003

each individual tastes, replace with: each "groups' " tastes.
posted by thomcatspike at 3:20 PM on August 29, 2003

Today I was looking at albums that were release on september 11th. I came across this Jay-Z CD - the Blueprint - which has a recommendation from an amazon customer for the Best of Rolf Harris.

I can't see how any Jay-Z fan would also like Rolf Harris - myself excluded.
posted by DragonBoy at 3:21 PM on August 29, 2003

Jay-Z fan would also like Rolf Harris
Starting to think that the recommendation area in amazon is the place to pull a joke over on them.
posted by thomcatspike at 3:45 PM on August 29, 2003

Jay-Z fan would also like Rolf Harris

Tie my Kanga-shizzle down, fo-nizzle...
posted by jonmc at 6:16 PM on August 29, 2003

Starting to think that the recommendation area in amazon is the place to pull a joke over on them.

No, that would be in the customer reviews of Family Circus books.
posted by nath at 12:52 PM on August 30, 2003