Quote:
Originally Posted by Daithi
Before I make my comment I wish to state categorically that I do not wish death on anyone. I'm assuming Charbax doesn't either and was just using Hyperbole.
Now that that's out of the way, I don't see why a system described by Charbox couldn't be implemented. You sign up for a service like Amazon and they ask you half-a-dozen questions. Do you usually agree with the conservative or liberal viewpoints? On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, indicate if religion is a part of your life. Etc. Of course this survey is optional, but if you fill it out then Amazon could adjust the ratings you see on books based on how like minded individuals voted. So when some people click on Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand they would see a high rating if they were conservative and maybe a single star if they identified themselves as liberal.
|
To get any meaningful recommendations out of that, you'd need more than half a dozen questions. Take the religion one, for example. I work with, and have worked with, people of different religions, all of whom would rate it 5 on that scale, but who have remarkably diverse tastes. Not all Christians hate the Harry Potter books, for example; and not all Muslims seem to think Salman Rusdie should be killed.
I actually like Amazon's current systems - both of showing what else people bought who bought the book you're looking at, and of showing what others who looked at it went on to buy. When I've been after a similar book to one I have, I've looked up the one I have on Amazon, and used those to see what else is available.