Lemondrop

In addition to shoulder pads and an economy that functioned, something I miss dearly about the '90s is the "Unsend" function from my first AOL account. When pushed, the feature would reach out and grab whatever regrettable e-mail you'd just sent, returning it safely to your Drafts folder.

Whoever got rid of that function must never have survived the unfortunate situation everyone I know has encountered. You get an annoying email, mean to hit "forward," complain about what's underneath and hit "send" -- only to realize you hit "reply" instead of "forward."

Or you fire off an incensed e-mail to Person A, ranting nastily about Person B, and then -- whoops! Person B's name is so fresh in your mind that you accidentally type it in the "To" box instead of Person A's e-mail address.

Two seconds later you receive a curt response like "Umm, I'm sorry?" from Person B, who now has written record that you've been talking smack about 'em. How are you even supposed to begin to amend that situation? As one who unabashedly uses humor as a crutch, I tend to write back in a pathetic attempt to be lighthearted: "Hahaha! Wow! Looks like that'll teach me to be such a bitch!" (Please note the false hope that more exclamation marks = less incrimination).

Other guilty senders try the double-reverse psychology trick of replying with an "LOL ;)" -- as if to imply that you obviously meant to send it. That crack about your college friend's go-nowhere relationship and expanding hips was just your dry wit shining through, obviously.

Still others find it easier to simply write off the entire relationship. If you never talk to that friend/your boss/your bridesmaid again, they can't confront you, right?


Emme Martin is Lemondrop's online etiquette advice columnist.