Keyboard Changes Smileys Automatically

[cmars1201]

Hello, I noticed after a recent update (I believe a system update, but I'm not completely sure) that on the HTC Sense Input keyboard in the stock messenger, if you type ": )" (without the space) it automatically changes to <- an emoji. This goes for other symbol smileys too. Is there any way to turn that off?

 

[SpookDroid]

I don't think there is... I don't like it either mostly because Google's emoji are crap, but so far I haven't seen any option to turn this off

See what I mean? hahaha : ( =