It is possible that if you don’t live in the UK, you might not have heard of Damian McBride. Damian has provided the best example of why the email rule – “if you wouldn't want it printed on the front page of a newspaper then don't send it” – was established. Damian McBride was a senior advisor to the current British Prime Minister (Gordon Brown), and stands guilty as charged of sending emails designed to smear senior member of the British Opposition. While the news story is old news (April 2009), a fascinating interview with him is to be found in the Guardian newspaper.  McBride is quoted as saying, “As far as I was concerned, those emails went in the bin shortly after they were written … and that's where they should have stayed.” They weren’t. Few ever are.

Incriminating emails are unfortunately to be found littered through most people’s Inboxes. As a fine example, the other day I received a rather presumptive email from an Australian colleague (I’m English living in Australia), claiming that the English cricket team would be “smashed” by the Australian team in an upcoming Ashes Test Match. (These matches make the term “grudge match” seem pedestrian.)  The email was colourful, made various very unflattering and barely legal comments about a number of key players in the English team. The tone was outrageously confident.

As it turned out, England won the match easily. The email has been returned with interest. Having hit the send button with glee, I’m now wondering whether this email will get me into trouble in two weeks time when the teams play again.

We are searching for examples of similiarly ill-timed emails. Any contributions?