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Funny that you compare recommendation algorithms to a human being who knows you well. My purely anecdotal feeling is that today, recommending media (let alone a

Funny that you compare recommendation algorithms to a human being who knows you well. My purely anecdotal feeling is that today, recommending media (let alone a book, as fewer people today read) to a friend or relative is viewed as less appropriate than in the past. When people are facing a glut of content, and are well empowered to find on their own content that would appeal to them, someone saying “You really ought to check this out, I think you’d like it!” might be just as bothersome as friends or relatives trying to evangelize their religion or draft you into their MLM scheme.

alwaysbeconsing 3y ago
To counterbalance your anecdote this is not among my friends and family. We swap books regularly and enjoy the recommendations. Of the prior 10 books I read all came from friend recommendation, and I enjoyed each one.
JohnFen 3y ago
What my friends think I may or may not enjoy is the only halfway reliable signal I have when it comes to identifying things new to me that I may or may not enjoy. I hope they never stop telling me about them.
- notjoemama 3y ago
  Same. Had a friend recommend a show to me and I binged the 3 seasons. I don’t binge watch anything. Ever. I’ve tried several other shows because Netflix and Amazon suggested them based on my previous viewing. They all mostly sucked. I don’t think algorithms can detect good acting yet…
gunapologist99 3y ago
It probably depends on how the recommendation is offered, rather than if the recommendation exists at all.