What do fireworks, hand grenades and gender-specific apps have in common? All three are pieces of technology that, when put in the hands of stupid people, will blow up in their faces.

Thanks to BroApp, an Android app for guys that automatically sends prewritten text messages to girlfriends, my faith in the opposite sex has hit an all-time low.

Choosing from either the six preset texts included in the app or customizing their own, the user selects automated messages to send the oblivious girlfriend throughout the day.

So what’s the big deal? Not only does it give lazy boyfriends an excuse to be even lazier, the app is problematic for anyone involved because it’s wholly deceptive.

The program underscores the value of honest and meaningful interactions by marketing these situations as a hassle for guys, an annoyance that needs to be overcome.

It’s an app that sells deceit, and guys are all too eager to experience the enticing claim of having the best of both worlds with little effort on their part.

Not only do the ethics of the app need to be examined, but operator error should be taken into consideration when dealing with such technologies.

Safeguards are installed to prevent an automated text from being sent while in the same room as the girlfriend, but that only works if using the same Wi-Fi network.

What if the couple made last minute plans to get dinner at Burgers and Brew where their phones use 4G?

There they’d be: gazing into each other’s eyes, holding hands across the table, when the chirp of an incoming text sounds from the girlfriend’s phone. Awkward.

Apps are only as smart as their operators, and frankly, needing an app to craft and deliver one’s text messages says a lot about that person’s level of intelligence.

Valerie Teegardin can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @vteegardin.