* A moment of levity for 2021 or is it?

[bbottomley]

I realise OCR software struggles at times, particularly with old newsprint but I do wonder about this one.

The article in question is:

Capture.JPG (44.51 KiB) Viewed 3246 times

The summary which I presume is generated by OCR is:

Capture3.JPG (44.55 KiB) Viewed 3246 times

About thirty winos but really, is this a genuine OCR error or someone having a bit of a joke? If the latter, does it not create some doubt in the reputation of these websites and their search engines?
Anyone had similar experiences?
Brian

[LornaCraig]

Well I've seem plenty of OCR errors but that one's hard to believe!

[themoudie]

Aye Brian,

Looks like some wag has seen the opportunity to amend the original OCR by using the text amendment facility to the left of the document screen.

So far as I am aware, as long as you are logged in to the BNA, then you can make amendments to the original OCR scan, to 'assist', or otherwise, other researchers.

Personally, I would just log in and amend the wags humour, without further ado, or leave it and treat it as the traffic cone on the head of the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow!

Good health and happy digging in 2021, Bill

[AdrianBruce]

It does rather worry me... It would seem to be virtually impossible for OCR to turn a word as long as "persons" into "winos"...

[bbottomley]

Cheers
I'm tempted to leave it in as an "Easter egg" for anyone searching their "wino" forbears and a nod to the undoubtedly formidable ladies of the Methodist Church Bazaar and their Temperance Hotel.

I trust they will stop spinning in their graves at some point!

I shall review my researches with a new focus from now on!

Stay safe and healthy

Brian