There's a moment of panic that follows the discovery that an e-mail just went to the wrong person. I blame my computer's auto-complete function.
I was trying to send an e-mail to Akira Watanabe. I start typing Watanabe and my e-mail program automatically completed the e-mail address. Only it completed Hiroshi Watanabe's e-mail address instead of Akira Watanabe's e-mail address.
This would not be a big deal except that each of these Watanabes work for rival corporations and they are not particularly fond of each other. This could be a problem.
I can't just pretend nothing happened as that will make me look completely irresponsible. I have to phone Hiroshi Watanabe and ask him not to read the e-mail I just sent him. Unfortunately, asking someone not to read something is about the surest way to make certain that they read it. This is just like the foolish practice of stamping 'Confidential' on confidential faxes.
'Watanabe-san,' I say to Hiroshi, 'this is a bit embarrassing. I just sent you a funding proposal that was actually intended for someone else also called Watanabe.'
He laughs. That's a good sign.