Community Corner
Best LOL Siri Moments: Local Questions Net Offbeat Answers
People are having fun with Siri — and some of that fun comes from misunderstanding the pronunciation and context for local questions.
Pedro Amaral got a good laugh recently, using Siri — the smartphone personal assistant that responds to the words you speak rather than the requests you type — to get information about a local destination.
His Facebook post gave testament to the confusion:
- "I say 'Thonotossassa' and Siri thinks I want 'empanada sassy' and suggests places to eat," Amaral posted July 3.
We asked Amaral if we could promote his post and he responded, "Of course, I have many others!"
So, of course, we inquired further, and tested some for ourselves. Here's what we asked Siri, and what we heard back:
- La Septima Cafe? — Answer: "Glossectomy cafe." ("Glossectomy" defined is "the surgical removal of all or part of the tongue."
- Phone number for B. Lee Elam? — Answer: "Sorry, I can't look for places in Iran." (The annual Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade starts at the corner of Lumsden Road and Parsons Avenue, where Elam, an attorney, has his office.)
- Bell Shoals Baptist Church — Response: "OK, here's Bell Shoals Baptist Church; it's pretty far from Valrico." (In actuality, Bell Shoals Baptist Church, at 2101 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon, is 2 miles from the Green Boutique at Plaza Bella, at 1032 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.)
Have some Siri moments of your own to share? Let us know in the comment box below.
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