COLUMN: When auto-correct turns against you

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It’s safe to say everyone with a smartphone has experienced the hilarity or embarrassment of a text gone wrong, with the assistance from the ever-so-helpful auto-correct function.

As soon as you realize the text read “arouse” instead of “around,” it gets instantly awkward.

According to dictionary.com, auto-correct is defined as an automatic feature in software that corrects common spelling and capitalization errors, and can replace certain designated characters with special symbols. I disagree with that definition.

Unfortunately, auto-correct isn’t always “correct” for smartphone users. In fact, the function is to blame for much miscommunication. Although it can be humorous when it turns “songs” into “dongs,” sometimes it is more of a pain than anything. It’s not so humorous when you are a victim of offending your boss.

I don’t understand it. I feel like there’s a little man inside my phone trying to ruin my life.

Even before my fingers are done typing, auto-correct tries to escape into the human brain and figure out what is being said — or maybe it’s just some algorithms and scientific stuff.  Either way, it’s usually pretty perverted and often hilarious — depending on the recipient.

The Android auto-correct function allows users to pick from a list of words when texting, although the first option that it defaults to, unless otherwise selected, isn’t always correct. The iPhone, however, tends to have a mind of its own by changing words without the consent of the user. If unnoticed, a conversation can transform into an explicit confrontation rather than a simple texting conversation.

I feel the technological mastermind behind this function and Steve Jobs tagged-team to make our lives less boring.

The purpose of auto-correct is to make our lives easier, apparently. It really does make perfect sense, but it doesn’t work so well when my phone starts swearing at my mom when all I’m trying to do is ask her if she wants food.

Auto-correct incidents have become so popular that a website, damnyouautocorrect.com has a Facebook page with 277,834 likes. People have the ability to submit their auto-correct mishaps to share with the world. It is sure to cause a few laughs.

The auto-correct function is now even available on the iPad. I can’t help but cringe at the idea that our computers will start spelling or even speaking for us.

Our generation embraces social media and texting as a fast, easy and non-confrontational way of communication. Our way of communication with others is so easy and impersonal; our technology is starting to speak for us.

The next time texting turns against you, think about it.

At least you can turn it off, which I would suggest.