Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Algorithmic Help?

I recently found a very educational video posted on Facebook by Frantz Kebeau of StolenHistory.com.  The historian/author runs down the dynamics of slavery and race relations with the Democratic Party in a very digestible format.  YouTube is where the video is hosted and has allowed the video to become viral.



In case you did not take time to watch the video, Mr Kebeau alternates textual facts of historical moments with a photo of a current Democrat politician, stating they support the Democratic Party.  Very impactful and illustrative of how history has been revised for political aims.

Yet, as striking as the video is, what comes afterwards that is jaw dropping. 

I first watched the nearly eight minute video embedded in the Facebook site, at the end there were two suggestions YouTube provided as of being potential interest to visitors.  Typically, YouTube, links to other videos from the author, if there are any, and similar offerings from other contributors.  The image below is a screenshot of what was suggested:


Seeing a donkey mount another and a women (dare I mention white) with a large sausage in her mouth led me to re-watch the video at the YouTube site.  Despite Mr Kebreau having 48 videos posted at YouTube, not one was included in the video viewing area, nor on the right side where about fifteen videos are linked as a menu (as can be seen below):


After the "worlds [sic] fastest deer cleaning" video, other selections include videos of a drunk President Bush; gastritis; Robin Williams stand-up comedy on alcoholics; modifying an AK-47 to fully automatic or semi-automatic.  Granted there are a few "right wing" selections, the choices are questionable. 

Watching as many videos as I do, contributors with numerous videos typically include their own movies.  Algorithms may be random, but the way they are programmed to operate is where the influence is written into the details.