"I can't believe I sent that!"
By Meredith Gordon
Imagine how heinous it would be if your most wicked email landed in the wrong inbox. It happens…
These days, many of us use email as our personal diaries to vent to, confide in, or bitch to our friends. And why not? It’s so easy – and satisfying – to get something off your chest with a quick click and send.
But what happens if your finger slipped and those eye-popping secrets, naughty plans, and catty comments were accidentally set to the last person (or group of people) you’d want to read them? Listen in as women share their very real, very mortifying “you got nailed” email confessions that’ll make you thank God you weren’t sitting at their keyboards.
Subject: FW: Kim’s bridal shower
Andrea frustrates the hell out of me. She says the opposite of everything I say. She doesn’t even know Kim at all. I don’t think she really cares about Kim having a good time anyway – it’s more like she wants to make sure she has a good time. So annoying . . .
Sender: Donna, a bridesmaid
Intended Reader: All the other bridesmaids except one, Andrea.
Actual Reader: Andrea
Subject: Bun in the oven?
I think that Molly is pregnant. I could be way off, but she hasn’t had a drop of alcohol this weekend and seems more closed off in talks than usual. Miss you. TZ
Sender: Tonya
Intended Reader: Tonya’s husband, Matt
Actual Reader: Tonya’s best friend, Molly
Subject: RE: UPDATE
So, I’ve got a new guy – pretty exciting! I’m not sure if he’s The One, but the sex is good enough for now. But I must confess, I still can’t stop thinking about the ex – especially the ex sex, which was HOT! At least he was good at one thing! E
Sender: Erin
Intended Reader: Robyn, Erin’s best friend who’s living abroad
Actual Readers: Robyn’s entire email list, including her parents, teachers, and Erin’s ex
Subject: What’s for dinner in Vegas?
Ladies: I found a great Italian restaurant in Vegas. Wonder if this is what we’ll be having for dinner tomorrow night! LOL, Lisa
(NOTE: The attachment included 10 pop-up centerfolds of naked men.)
Sender: Liz
Intended Readers: The bachelorette-party list
Actual Readers: The bride’s 95-year-old grandma, parents and everyone else on the entire engagement party list
Subject: RE: RE: My stupid boss
I have no idea how my boss lost that much weight. He used to be a real tub of lard! But the last four months, he’s been on some crazy diet and started setting up at 4:30am for spin class. Anyway, the other theory is that he is just plain going mentally insane. (Which would explain why he has that AWFUL tic where his head moves all around!!!) Talk to you soon! ;) Camille
Sender: Camille
Intended Reader: Camille’s friend Becky
Actual Reader: Camille’s boss’ assistant
Subject: RE: That nasty little dog
I hope that nasty little dog finally dies so we don’t have to hear about it anymore!
Sender: Jane
Intended Reader: Jane’s coworker Selina
Actual Reader: Another coworker, who is the dog’s owner
Subject: RE: Party
Party was a hit! We should have more at our “loft” (aka the office)! Ciao, Lara
PS: Attached are cool party photos
Sender: Lara
Intended Reader: Lara’s coworker
Actual Reader: Lara’s boss, Alan
Subject: RE: Check this out!
OH MY GOD! Read this email I just got. This is EXACTLY what I’m talking about with her! She has got to be the most dramatic person I know! See what I mean?? You know, I’m getting so fed up, I can’t even deal – the drama, the stinginess, the lies, the way she tries to make money off her friends, the way she snoops into my room and pilfers thinks and snoops into anything and everything that is personal – PSYCHO!! xoxo, K
Sender: Keisha
Intended Reader: Keisha’s best friend
Actual Reader: Keisha’s roommate, the subject of the email
Subject: They are bizarre
Thank God the wedding is over – a bit much don’t you think? God forbid they just do anything like everybody else, without putting on a show. Oh, did you hear about the honeymoon? Morocco AND Greece? Who does that? They are bizarre!
Sender: Ally, friend of the bride
Intended Reader: Ally’s boyfriend, Pete
Actual Reader: The bride
E-Damage Control
Oops . . . you goofed and sent an accidental email. Experts provide tips on dealing with your nightmare mistake:
Skip the excuses
No matter how hard you try, you can’t go back in time to that moment before you pressed send, so don’t even try to cover your ass. Avoid excuses (“Just listen”, “There’s this big story”, “I can explain...”). You have to be sincere. Maybe the truth is that you wrote a bitchy bridal email because you secretly want to get married so badly. Suck it up and say so.
Don’t email “I’m sorry” – there’s no accounting for tone and emotion in an email, so forget about putting your apology in writing. ‘Sorry’ can seem flippant in typewritten form or even angry is you use all caps to emphasise you words. So pick up the phone and call your pal or put your tail between your legs and fess up to your boss.
Be patient
Your email may cause your pal, boss or roommate to write you off, but chances are, they’d like to forget the incident as much as you would. So give them time. Meanwhile, let yourself off the hook for your slip – eventually, the humiliating sting will wear off.