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When technology gets too clever for its own good: Why 'Mitchell' is now a dirty word according to this fast food chain’s computer

Michelle Engbino
By Michelle Engbino
  • Replies 29
Offtopic / Everything else

When technology gets too clever for its own good: Why 'Mitchell' is now a dirty word according to this fast food chain’s computer

compressed-william-boateng-1QbpuYgYScQ-unsplash.jpeg When technology gets too clever for its own good: Why 'Mitchell' is now a dirty word according to this fast food chain’s computer
Image source: William Boateng / Unsplash.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of being told off by a machine, especially when you're just trying to order some chicken and chips.



That's exactly what happened to Mitchell from Sydney when he popped into his local KFC for a quick bite, only to have the self-service kiosk essentially wash his mouth out with soap.





The trouble started when Mitchell typed his perfectly ordinary name into the ordering system, only to be met with a stern digital rebuke: 'Please try again, the word is not allowed.'



His crime? Having the audacity to be named Mitchell - apparently because his name contains the word 'h*ll.'



What Mitchell experienced has a name, and it's been plaguing the internet for decades.




compressed-image (12).jpeg
Image source: Reddit.




It's called the 'Scunthorpe problem,' named after the English town that found itself blocked by overzealous content filters because it contains an unfortunate four-letter word.





The problem occurs when automated systems designed to block offensive content cast their net so wide they catch innocent words, names, and phrases.



Recent examples include social media’s moderation system flagging posts mentioning 'Luigi' (thanks to Luigi Mangione making headlines), and even the US Department of Defense mistakenly removing references to the historic Enola Gay aircraft.




’As many services convert to digital based on human-machine communication technology, older adults face considerable challenges.’

— ScienceDirect research study



While younger tech users might laugh off these digital hiccups, research shows older adults face particular challenges when services convert to digital systems, especially when self-ordering kiosks are made to seem familiar but don't behave as expected.



The 'digital divide' affects many seniors who struggle with accessing and using modern devices due to limited familiarity with technology, and while some have adapted, others face real difficulties navigating apps and digital tools.



Mitchell's experience resonates because it highlights how these systems can make a simple task—ordering food—unnecessarily complicated and embarrassing.




What is the Scunthorpe problem?


Named after the English town repeatedly blocked by internet filters, the Scunthorpe problem occurs when automated content filtering systems wrongly flag innocent content because it contains letter combinations that spell out prohibited words. Examples include blocking 'Cassandra' (contains '*ss'), 'Nasser' (contains '*ss'), or 'Mitchell' (contains 'h*ll').




The issue stems from using basic 'substring matching'—the oldest and most straightforward way to do automated text moderation using lists of keywords related to potentially problematic content.



As one social media user astutely observed about Mitchell's situation, 'It's just using basic substring matching of characters. Whoever got the job to program this lied on their resume.'




Source: Reddit.



More sophisticated systems use language models that consider context and culture, understanding that the same word can appear in different contexts—some problematic, others completely innocent—but many businesses still rely on the cheaper, cruder approach.





KFC itself has been struggling with customer satisfaction, experiencing monthly traffic declines of 2-12 per cent every quarter in 2024 and 2025, with overall sales down 5 per cent in 2024 and a further 4 per cent decline in early 2025.



While self-service technology is meant to improve efficiency, incidents like Mitchell's suggest it might be driving customers away.



The problem extends far beyond fast food. Social media platforms like TikTok have laid off 700 human moderators in favour of AI systems, creating what experts call a 'fighting fire with fire' mentality, using AI to moderate AI-generated content.



Did you know?

When you encounter these digital gatekeepers, here are some workarounds:

Dealing with overzealous kiosks

  • Try variations of your name (like 'Mitchel' instead of 'Mitchell')
  • Use initials or a shortened version when possible
  • Don't take it personally - it's a programming flaw, not a judgement
  • Ask staff for help - most are understanding about these technical glitches
  • Consider it might be faster to order at the counter anyway



Read more: Today’s receipts are twice as long...but half as useful! Here's what's missing





Have you had your own run-in with an overzealous computer system? We'd love to hear about your experiences—and any clever workarounds you've discovered—in the comments below!

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SDC you are just as bad as the computer system!
Why the HELL did you use an * in the words HELL and ASS. ( H*ll & *ss).
What is offensive about the word HELL?
If HELL is offensive the HEAVEN must be as well..

What is offensive about the word ASS?
It describes a donkey:
ass1
/as/
noun
1. an animal of the horse family, which is typically smaller than a horse and has longer ears and a braying call.

Your report is fine and interesting showing the stupidity of the woke fools running this world but your use of the * is pathetic !
 
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BruceC said:
SDC you are just as bad as the computer system!
Why the HELL did you use an * in the words HELL and ASS. ( H*ll & *ss).
What is offensive about the word HELL?
If HELL is offensive the HEAVEN must be as well..

What is offensive about the word ASS?
It describes a donkey:
ass1
/as/
noun
1. an animal of the horse family, which is typically smaller than a horse and has longer ears and a braying call.

Your report is fine and interesting showing the stupidity of the woke fools running this world but your use of the * is pathetic !
Click to expand...
for a start WOKE means "I woke up in the morning" The alternative hasn't been used since Shakespear's day. I still don't know what it means these days. Same goes for "bespoke".
As to these wretched machines, I tried to purchase multiple copies of 2 books from AMAZON but could not pay for them thanks to stupid machine. A couple of days later I got an email from them telling me I still had a book in my cart. I replied that I'd actually ordered 3 copies of that book plus 3 of another. I explained that I was unable to pay for them as the robot wouldn't let me get to "pay" and asked if a human being could please ring me I'd happily fix the problem. Naturally I got not one word back from them.
 
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gamiry said:
for a start WOKE means "I woke up in the morning" The alternative hasn't been used since Shakespear's day. I still don't know what it means these days. Same goes for "bespoke".
As to these wretched machines, I tried to purchase multiple copies of 2 books from AMAZON but could not pay for them thanks to stupid machine. A couple of days later I got an email from them telling me I still had a book in my cart. I replied that I'd actually ordered 3 copies of that book plus 3 of another. I explained that I was unable to pay for them as the robot wouldn't let me get to "pay" and asked if a human being could please ring me I'd happily fix the problem. Naturally I got not one word back from them.
Click to expand...
Firstly you are correct about the original use of the word “woke” but now it is used quite differently!
Secondly: If I ever hvecan issue with anything Amazon I ring them immediately (1800 571 894) and the issue is solved instantly.


"Woke" is an adjective that originally meant being aware of racial prejudice and social injustices, particularly within Black American communities, and was a call to action for vigilance and awareness. In the 2010s, with the Black Lives Matter movement, the term gained widespread usage as a rallying cry and signal of commitment to social justice for all marginalized groups.However, the word has since been co-opted and inverted by some, especially on the right, to become a negative political label and a term of derision for progressive ideologies and social justice efforts.

Origin and Original Meaning
    • African American Vernacular English:
      The term originated in African American English, initially as the verb "wake" and later evolving into the adjective "woke".
    • Early Usage:
      By the 1930s, it was used to signal an awareness of the systemic racial prejudice and discrimination faced by Black people, as seen in the phrase "stay woke".
    • Cultural Context:
      For decades, particularly during the Civil Rights and Black power movements, "woke" was an internal signal within the Black community to remain conscious and informed about the systems designed to harm and disadvantage them.
Evolution and Mainstream Adoption
    • Black Lives Matter:
      The term gained significant mainstream attention and momentum in the 2010s as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
    • Broader Social Justice:
      Its usage expanded to encompass a broader awareness of various social injustices, including those related to gender, LGBTQ+ rights, and other forms of systemic inequality.
Co-option and Political Weaponization
    • Right-Wing Criticism:
      In recent years, the term has been widely adopted by conservative media and some political figures.
    • Negative Connotations:
      It has been twisted into a political catch-all term, used as a pejorative to dismiss progressive policies, social justice efforts, and those seen as too politically correct.
    • A "Battering Ram":
      Some view the co-opted use of "woke" as a form of political rhetoric, a "battering ram," and even a slur, that dilutes its original meaning and promotes division.
 
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mOiOz said:
WOKE = Why Other Kooks Exist..!
Click to expand...
On another subject mOiOz, where do you source your news on the Israel, Gaza conflict? I would like to check it out as well, or do you have friends in Israel? I’m just curious.
 
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How did Mitchell become a given name in the first place? It wasn't one when I was a kid.

Common enough as a surname, but never used as a given name.
 
BruceC said:
Firstly you are correct about the original use of the word “woke” but now it is used quite differently!
Secondly: If I ever hvecan issue with anything Amazon I ring them immediately (1800 571 894) and the issue is solved instantly.


"Woke" is an adjective that originally meant being aware of racial prejudice and social injustices, particularly within Black American communities, and was a call to action for vigilance and awareness. In the 2010s, with the Black Lives Matter movement, the term gained widespread usage as a rallying cry and signal of commitment to social justice for all marginalized groups.However, the word has since been co-opted and inverted by some, especially on the right, to become a negative political label and a term of derision for progressive ideologies and social justice efforts.

Origin and Original Meaning
    • African American Vernacular English:
      The term originated in African American English, initially as the verb "wake" and later evolving into the adjective "woke".
    • Early Usage:
      By the 1930s, it was used to signal an awareness of the systemic racial prejudice and discrimination faced by Black people, as seen in the phrase "stay woke".
    • Cultural Context:
      For decades, particularly during the Civil Rights and Black power movements, "woke" was an internal signal within the Black community to remain conscious and informed about the systems designed to harm and disadvantage them.
Evolution and Mainstream Adoption
    • Black Lives Matter:
      The term gained significant mainstream attention and momentum in the 2010s as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
    • Broader Social Justice:
      Its usage expanded to encompass a broader awareness of various social injustices, including those related to gender, LGBTQ+ rights, and other forms of systemic inequality.
Co-option and Political Weaponization
    • Right-Wing Criticism:
      In recent years, the term has been widely adopted by conservative media and some political figures.
    • Negative Connotations:
      It has been twisted into a political catch-all term, used as a pejorative to dismiss progressive policies, social justice efforts, and those seen as too politically correct.
    • A "Battering Ram":
      Some view the co-opted use of "woke" as a form of political rhetoric, a "battering ram," and even a slur, that dilutes its original meaning and promotes division.
Click to expand...
thank you Bruce . I really wonder why people of today have to stuff around with the English Language. I think I'll stick to Shakespear.
 
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The problem with computers - and AI - remains: garbage in, garbage out. If "Mitchell" is a bad word, so is "shellfish", (Oysters kilpatrick served in their own s****?), "Shelley" (makers of handyman consumables), "grass" (either because of the 'ass', i.e. donkey - I a Australian. I have a big arse, but don't have a donkey! - or because it is slang for marijuana.) and any other you can think of. Ridiculous.
 
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[If I ever have an issue with anything from Amazon, I ring them immediately (1800 571 894) and the issue is solved instantly] I never knew they even had a phone number, I hope everyone will share the number around. I read that Amazon have over 1.4 million robots in a new facility somewhere.
 
Went to the Galapagos. One of the birds there is a Blue Footed Booby. My Email sent to family and friends about my trip was blocked by Gmail because I mentioned it, along with all the other amazing animals birds etc etc
 
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mykl said:
Went to the Galapagos. One of the birds there is a Blue Footed Booby. My Email sent to family and friends about my trip was blocked by Gmail because I mentioned it, along with all the other amazing animals birds etc etc
Click to expand...
Utter madness, words fail me completely. I sure we would all love to see photos of your trip, including the Blue Footed Booby! Galapagos sounds fascinating. The world is going totally bonkers.
 
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OMG!! So many flaws in so many systems. If tech is so advanced, why the can it not perceive that the so-called ‘offensive’ word is part of a larger word - as in a person’s name. Btw, I don’t really consider the words ‘h*ll’ and ‘a*s’ as offensive.
 
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gamiry said:
for a start WOKE means "I woke up in the morning" The alternative hasn't been used since Shakespear's day. I still don't know what it means these days. Same goes for "bespoke".
As to these wretched machines, I tried to purchase multiple copies of 2 books from AMAZON but could not pay for them thanks to stupid machine. A couple of days later I got an email from them telling me I still had a book in my cart. I replied that I'd actually ordered 3 copies of that book plus 3 of another. I explained that I was unable to pay for them as the robot wouldn't let me get to "pay" and asked if a human being could please ring me I'd happily fix the problem. Naturally I got not one word back from them.
Click to expand...
Yes, yes! “Woke” and “bespoke”. Grrr. Woke = awakened. That’s the only way I take notice of its meaning. As for “bespoke”, that’s used by and about pretentious beings and things.
 
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GoodEnough said:
How did Mitchell become a given name in the first place? It wasn't one when I was a kid.

Common enough as a surname, but never used as a given name.
Click to expand...
Mitchell has been used as a first name since the early 1800s at least.

I went to school with a Mitchell who was born in 1958.
 
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mykl said:
Went to the Galapagos. One of the birds there is a Blue Footed Booby. My Email sent to family and friends about my trip was blocked by Gmail because I mentioned it, along with all the other amazing animals birds etc etc
Click to expand...
heaven save us from stupidity.
 
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PattiB said:
On another subject mOiOz, where do you source your news on the Israel, Gaza conflict? I would like to check it out as well, or do you have friends in Israel? I’m just curious.
Click to expand...
Mainly from the history of the Holocaust and today, Israel. I get at least 30 news posts a day, also with confirmation from Muslim Israelis and Muslims and from around the world.
In fact, if you know the history of how the Holocaust started, you don't have to get news today.

It's exactly the same!... the enemy (Nazis) started the war in WW11, Hamas (as usual) started it on Oct 7th 2023,
Nazis contaminated the world with propaganda, such as Jews kidnapping and murdering children for their organs, factory contaminated water became an accusation of Jews poisoning drinking water... not much difference today,
Muslims accusing Jews of what THEY are actually doing in Gaza. Shooting civilians and forcing them to BUY the donated food.
A lot of them have even ADMITTED to it... and proudly too!

I lived in Israel for over 3 years and saw all this shit with my own eyes!!!!
When they were given Gaza in 2006, multiple thousands were starving, and for the past 20 years, Israel has sent tonnes of food and medication to Gaza - DAILY!
Why,? Because in the 20 years the Palestinians have lived in Gaza, all they have accomplished is racking up a weapons and building tunnels - Hamas did NOTHING for their civilians!

I will be very happy to forward some of the posts I get via email, if you wish.
Feel free to contact me via a private message on this site.


❤️ ❤️ ❤️
 
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Veggiepatch said:
Mitchell has been used as a first name since the early 1800s at least.

I went to school with a Mitchell who was born in 1958.
Click to expand...
My brother-in-law is named Mitchel and he was also born in that year! LOL
 
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Why should they work around it??🤔
 
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