Another Glitch in the Matrix

A gathering at a friend's house of many people hanging out talking and eating. I was talking to a guy I know who had a number written on a piece of paper, a number that I was very interested in and needed to remember but it became apparent that I would have to copy it down so I went searching for a pen and paper. The paper I found was waxy and the pen not working so hot but I eventually got it all operating well enough to serve. 2311 - 2073 - 31... hmmm, there now appeared to be another problem, that is I coudn't seem to faithfully copy the number. I kept making mistakes. I finally asked my friend to please recite it to me while I wrote but even then after a couple of digits I noticed with astonishment that I was writing a different number than the one he was dictating to me! WTF??!!  This was really puzzling to me and more than a little disconcerting until a few moments later when it became obvious what the problem was...