History Main / StronglyWordedLetter

** It is actually a bit of a RunningGag with Hank, who will usually threaten someone with a letter of dis-satisfactory.

* James Cameron's ''Film/Titanic1997''.

* A recurring character in the last season of ''Series/TheChasersWarOnEverything'' was an angry letter writer who would watch the show, waiting for something offensive to happen so he could write a Strongly Worded Letter to Creator/TheABC. He was never disappointed.

* Admiral from ''Literature/WingsOfFire'' wants to convince [[TheEmpire the [=HiveWings=]]] to better the condition of [=SilkWings=] like him, and is content with his position as a glorified prisoner since he thinks it gives him the power to create reforms this way. The problem is that all of his suggested reforms are laughably small and only humored by the authorities. Talking to admiral makes Blue, TheHero of the book where Admiral appears, realize how complacent his own idea of changing the world is.

-->"Stop sending people to kill me. We've already captured five of them, one of them with a bomb and another with a rifle... If you don't stop sending killers, I'll send a very fast-working one to Moscow and I certainly won't have to send another."

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complaint_tablet_to_Ea-nasir The Complaint Tablet to Ea-nasir]] is considered the [[UrExample oldest known example of this]], dating to nearly four thousand years ago. It is a clay tablet from ancient Babylon written c. 1750 BC, containing a message from a noble named Nanni to a merchant named Ea-nasir regarding a transaction in which Nanni sent a servant to purchase a shipment of copper ingots. In the message, Nanni alleges that Ea-nasir was excessively rude to the servant and deliberately provided ingots of sub-par quality, due to a petty grudge over a small amount of money Nanni owed him. As such, Nanni demands a refund and swears to personally inspect any copper he buys from Ea-nasir in the future before paying for it. Even better, the tablet was only one of a small carefully preserved library of similar messages in the basement of what is believed to be Ea-nasir's own house; he was ''collecting'' them.

* in ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'', the gun-toting rebels of Lungfishopolis plan to fight against their tyrannical monster overlord by distributing pamphlets. Not precisely a letter, but equally unimpressive.
* This is [[VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam's]] reaction to discovering that his office is located a few doors down from the ''gateway to hell''.

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

-->'''Jo''': A letter? [[SarcasmMode That'll show him!]]

* James Cameron's ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}''.

-->'''Wedge''': I don't like this notion of dovin basal mines that pursue you.\\
'''Han''': Me neither. I'm going to draft a strongly-worded letter to the Yuuzhan Vong high commander and insist he stop using them.

-->'''Basil''': Our [[NoFourthWall viewers have very active imaginations]]! And colourful language to match. According to the letters we get.

** During "[[cap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon The Monster of Peladon]]," the ambassador from Alpha Centauri threatens to make their displeasure known by sending an official communication to the Galatic Federation. This is during the middle of an armed uprising against the government.

--->'''Sir Humphrey''': Have you considered a strongly worded letter?\\
'''Jim Hacker''': And get an even more strongly worded letter back? Copied to all the newspapers? I think not, Humphrey.

--> '''Dilbert:''' Ooh! I am so tempted to [[ComicallyMissingThePoint fire off another letter]] over this!!\\

--> Our condo association is going to be receiving a letter about ''this''.

-->'''Gardevoir''': ''Black Mesa is going to receive another strongly worded letter about this.''

-->'''Q''': What is the best way to begin a strongly worded message to a retailer who has wronged you?\\
'''A''': "I'm a ninja."

-->'''Ridley''': We should write a letter.\\
'''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG Geno]]''': Good idea. I'll start. ''(camera zooms in on Geno's face as he begins talking)'' Dear Masahiro Sakurai: ''(camera zooms out to show [[spoiler: Geno in space, holding a large energy ball]])'' '''''[[spoiler: [[PrecisionFStrike FUCK YOU!]]]]''''' ''([[spoiler:Geno releases the ball, which [[CallBack completely destroys Japan]]]])''\\
'''Mega Man''': ''[[spoiler:(flies over to Geno, using Rush as a rocket)]]'' Uh, you know, [[spoiler: they haven't finished making the game yet.]]\\
'''Geno''': Seriously?! [[OhCrap Oh shit!]]

-->'''Seto Kaiba''': I don't take kindly to kidnapping and attempted murder, but you do have a god card, so I guess I'll let it slide. However, try anything funny and I'll issue you a stern warning and wag my finger at you. Then you'll be sorry.

-->'''Buzz''': Your people really are capable of defending themselves in ways "[[IronicEcho my crude mind can't hope to grasp]]".

-->'''Annoyed fan''': That's awful! Steve Tyler's been clean for ''years''. I've got to write an angry letter. ''Dear ass-faces...''

---> "You may not know anything about the issue, but I bet you ''reckon'' something. So why not tell us what you reckon?"

--> "Stop sending people to kill me. We've already captured five of them, one of them with a bomb and another with a rifle... If you don't stop sending killers, I'll send a very fast-working one to Moscow and I certainly won't have to send another."

* In the world of ''Franchise/HarryPotter'', Howlers are what happen if you could hear the voice of the writer of said Strongly Worded Letter: open them and they scream the message's content at the recipient as loudly as possible. Then Molly Weasley writes one to Ron. The longer you go without opening the Howler, the louder it will shout the message, and if you don't open it immediately, it will ''explode''. And ''still'' shout the message.

* ''WebVideo/OutsideXbox'': Luke Westaway's survival plan for getting thrown off a ledge is to send one of these, then work up to the nuclear option of tutting.
-->'''Ellen Rose:''' ([[FauxHorrific cowers]])

* On ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'', [[BigBad Boris Badenov]] is working as a lion tamer under the alias "Claude Badly" at the Bumbling Brothers Circus when he deliberately lets the lion loose to run amuck. The Brothers warn him that if he does this again, they'll write him a nasty letter. [[UltimateJobSecurity This is because they don't know of any other lion tamers.]]
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', a particularly stupid alien plays this trope, claiming he will write an angry letter. He then proceeds to write a [[VisualPun large red letter Q]] on a piece of paper and demand that someone mail it. The other high-caliber response he has to the situation is... pouting.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** From "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part 1":
--->'''Mayor Quimby:''' We are all upset by Mr. Burns' plan to block out our sun. It is time for decisive action! I have here a polite but firm letter to Mr. Burns' underlings who, with some cajoling, will pass it along to him or at least give him the gist of it.
** From "Faith Off", featuring Homer's college nerd friends:
--->'''Benjamin:''' That Dean is going to get an indignant e-mail.\\
'''Doug:''' You should do it with bold red letters.\\
'''Gary:''' My computer has 512 shades of red.
** In "Blood Feud," this is [[SubvertedTrope surprisingly effective]]. Homer, angry at getting a thank-you note rather than a material reward after a blood transfusion from Bart saves Mr. Burns' life, sends him an insulting letter. After some [[MoralityPet cajoling by Smithers]], Burns [[PetTheDog decides that the Simpsons do deserve a reward]] and sends them an expensive (but useless for practical purposes, and presumably not easily re-sellable) Olmec totem. Which, it is pointed out, is still more than they'd have gotten without sending the letter.
** "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge" features many of the EscalatingWar kind. Marge writes a somewhat condescending letter to Roger Meyers Jr about the violent nature of his cartoons. Meyers replies with an openly insulting one that makes clear he is not empathetic ("...and the horse I rode in on???"). Marge in turn encourages other parents to write to Meyers, resulting in the studio getting a truckload of hate mail bordering on death threats.
-->'''Meyers:''' ''[reading letter]'' "I will never watch your show, buy any of your products, or brake if I see you crossing the street?" Wow, that's cold!
* So did the Resistance in Baron Underbite's country in the ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers''. Their primary means of rebellion was sneaking hairs into his water. In a subversion, it actually really pissed him off.
* At one point, Hank of ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' is charged a ludicrous amount for a haircut by the US Army, and gets fed up to the point that he stands and declares that he is going to write to his Congressman. Naturally, he doesn't even know how to turn on the computer and writes his letter out by hand. Subverted, when it's revealed that the Congressman obviously never even read Hank's letter.
** It is actually a bit of a RunningGag with Hank, who will usually threaten someone with a letter of dis-satisfactory.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Squidville", Squidward is chased by a mob of angry squids. When they corner him, the mob gives Squidward a well-thought-out grievance letter.
* On ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'', when school rivals pull a prank on Prometeus Academy, student body president Adonis plans to retaliate with a strongly worded letter, "with lots of verbs, action words!"

* Used in the ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' parody of ''Film/Armageddon1998''.
-->'''Annoyed fan''': That's awful! Steve Tyler's been clean for ''years''. I've got to write an angry letter. ''Dear ass-faces...''
* Gretchen in ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' at one point takes action on behalf of her friend in the form of an "Angry E-Mail". The AI in her pocket computer (the episode was written before the days of smartphones) becomes very excited about the idea. Notable as the angry e-mail does achieve its objective, which is more than any of the pranks the gang pulls during the episode do.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ChristmasCarolTheMovie'', after her boss is arrested for failing to pay a debt, Belle writes to Scrooge asking for leniency. The mice spend much of the movie trying to get him to read said letter.
* Played for laughs in a cutaway gag in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', where Mort Goldman is revealed to write these to different companies, demanding compensation for the most trivial things, such as the letter he's currently writing to Ritz Crackers just because some of the crackers in a box he bought were broken.
-->'''Mort:''' I am paying for fully formed crackers, NOT butter crumbles!

* One episode of ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' has Cody suggesting writing one of these to the city council in order to prevent a park from being bulldozed.
* In one episode of ''Series/BlackBooks'', they are building very noisily next door to Bernard's shop and will continue doing so for two weeks, leading to this exchange:
-->'''Bernard:''' I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll write a letter to the council.\\
'''Fran:''' Wh-what are you gonna say?\\
'''Bernard:''' I'll say: "Dear Council, please don't build beside us for the next two weeks."\\
'''Manny:''' Yeah, but what if that doesn't work?\\
'''Fran:''' Yeah, yeah, what are you gonna do if that doesn't work?\\
'''Bernard:''' You wanna know what I'll do?\\
'''Manny:''' Yeah!\\
'''Bernard:''' I will... drink heavily and shout at you!\\
'''Manny:''' Yeah, but I won't be able to hear you, will I? Because I'll be living in Drillsville!\\
'''Bernard:''' Well, then I'll write you a letter as well!
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** During "The Monster of Peladon," the ambassador from Alpha Centauri threatens to make their displeasure known by sending an official communication to the Galatic Federation. This is during the middle of an armed uprising against the government.
** In "City of Death", the Doctor tells Duggan that if he knocks anyone else out, extreme measures will be taken...like asking him not to.
* The fondness of the English for these was parodied multiple times in ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' with sketches containing letters complaining about the sketches (and in some cases the previous letter).

* In an episode of ''Series/UglyBetty'' when Betty [[UnsuspectinglySoused is high on toad venom]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext from a spiked bottle of perfume]] and acting irrationally, she makes the decision to finally stand up to Gio (a sandwich vendor who she finds irritating but has UnresolvedSexualTension with)... by writing him a strongly worded note.
* Rare serious example: in ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'', the local residents of Deadwood publish a strongly worded letter in the local paper calling CorruptCorporateExecutive, BigBad, and all-around evil George Hearst to task. Resident throat-cutter Al Swearengen remarks on what a strange decision it is, but everyone seems to agree that it's the ''right'' decision even if they realize that it's not an ''effective'' one.
* On one episode of ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart'', Samantha Bee warns that people who anger the Canadian government "might find themselves on the business end of a very sharply worded letter."
* ''Series/MrShow'' has a brief sketch involving Bob and David trying to incite their viewers to send them hate mail. The show cuts to a man played by David writing a letter in which he never gets to the thing he's angry about. "I have ''never''... ''ever''... ''never''... ''[[{{Angrish}} nevenevenev]]''..."
* In the "Smile" episode of ''Series/SpinCity,'' this is Carter's first response to someone parking a bicycle in his spot while Stuart mocks his diplomatic approach. When the bike's there again, however, Stuart eggs him on to mow the thing down.
* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'':
** Referenced in "The Book of Dougs". After a frustrating meeting with the Good Place Committee, Michael declares "the Titanic is sinking, and they're writing a strongly worded letter to the iceberg!"
** During season 4, the Good Place Committee return, and this time they ''literally'' draft up a sternly worded letter regarding [[spoiler:the Judge erasing all human life]]. Then they decide stern is ''too much'', and the guy writing it quits forever.
* Crossed with IrrevocableMessage, from ''Series/TheHoneymooners''. The "Lost Episode" "Letter to the Boss." Ralph thinks he's been fired after being told to turn in his uniform, so he dictates to Norton a hilariously hostile letter where he calls his boss JJ Marshall a "dirty bum" and a "miserable lowlife" and that he "ought to turn in" his "membership card to the human race." Ralph tells Norton to sign it "Respectfully yours, et cetera et cetera." Later, Ralph finds out from a higher-up at the bus company that he's been promoted to traffic manager. Ralph is thrilled but remembers the letter so he and Norton have to run off and find it before Ralph's boss sees it. Oh, and Norton ACTUALLY SIGNED the letter "Et cetera, et cetera."
* ''Series/ThreesCompany'': In "Out on a Limb," a food critic comes into Jack's Bistro, takes a quick bite, and leaves, causing Jack to worry that the critic hated the food and is going to give him a bad review. Larry suggests that Jack send the critic an angry letter, with Janet typing it. Larry starts the letter with "Dear Sleazebucket," and it goes downhill from there.[[note]]Jack and Janet ask Larry how he could come up with such a hostile letter off the top of his head like that. He says it was easy because he got the exact same letter that morning at the used-car dealership.[[/note]] Of course, the critic loved the food and gives Jack a great review, so the gang has to [[IrrevocableMessage retrieve the letter before the critic can see it]]. Oh, and Janet actually toned it down.
* A Morris Marina Owners Club member's reaction upon the wanton destruction of Morris Marinas in ''Series/TopGear'' was:
-->"I will send you an e-mail, and I don't care if you don't read it!"
* ''Series/Babylon5'' has a case of a note of protest actually being regarded as a sign of how seriously the sender takes a matter -- the Vorlons practically never take any interest in the concerns of younger races (openly, anyway), to the point of often not even bothering to show up to the Babylon 5 council, so even if it doesn't stop the perpetrators, them filing an official protest against [[spoiler: the Centauri bombardment of Narn using mass drivers, in direct and open violation of treaties banning mass drivers]] is something people notice.
* The habit of even serious news programs actually ''asking'' people to send these, at its height during the Web 2.0 / User Generated Content boom but still very much a thing, was lampooned by both ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' - "You may not know anything about the issue, but I bet you ''reckon'' something, so why not tell us what you reckon?" ([[https://youtu.be/OQnd5ilKx2Y?t=6 Link here]]) and, most notably, by {{Series/Newsnight}} host Jeremy Paxman, who did a very similarly dismissive take on giving out the Newsnight contact address at the end of one broadcast.

* When ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}} writes the governor to complain about prison overcrowding, the governor sends a convicted murderer to live with him for "thirty or forty years."

* ''Radio/TheKevinAndBeanShow'': Much comedy fodder is made out of Bean's habit of writing strongly worded letters to various people and institutions for trivial grievances. He's also carried this over into social media, where he'll tweet at people for such crimes as getting the name of Daylight Saving Time wrong.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', a [[BloodMagic blood mage]] who assisted in taking over the Circle of Magi tries to justify her actions by saying Andraste, the prophet of the game's main religion, changed the world through violent rebellion against the Tevinter Imperium. "She didn't write them a strongly-worded letter," the mage says.
* Played straight in ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptunia'', where Neptune and her friends send a series of threatening letters as a tactic to lure out [[spoiler:Arfoire,]] Overlord Momus' messenger and separate her from a group of extremists she's leading. The plan actually works, but for a reason none of them expected - because Neptune [[AccidentalMisnaming misspelled Momus' name as "Overlord Moron"]].
* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn'' has an implicit subversion in the backstory: take a look at the entry for the UN under real life, then realize that in the ''Tiberian'' continuity, the UN for years appeared to be exactly as in real life while secretly having (and ''using'') a black-ops team to "solve problems."

* A MundaneMadeAwesome version of this occurred in ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'', where the titular character uses a [[{{BFG}} mystical automatic rifle]] that turns into a typewriter to author a strongly-worded letter to the final boss... and then ''fires'' it out of the gun for massive damage. It's an [[RunningGag "Unpleasant Note"]], to be exact. Complete with grammatical errors, name-calling, and a nasty sketch. This is the culmination of Problem Sleuth's series-long gag of AggressiveNegotiations, where typical diplomatic solutions for him are a DeadlyEuphemism for shooting something to gibs.
* [[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=180 "I'm writing this note to your mother, telling her everything!"]] Part of ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'''s on-going fun with Canadian stereotypes.

* In the ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' prequel-book ''Start Of Darkness'', Redcloak vows to fire off one these to the Inter-Humanoid Council after his carefully-planned raid is preempted by some Lizard-people. On-going events ''probably'' cause him to drop the idea, but this ''is'' Redcloak we're talking about here.
* In ''WebComic/Level30Psychiatry'' Gardevoir and Slippy get attacked by head crabs in the middle of a session. Gardevoir's response:
-->'''Gardevoir''': ''Black Mesa is going to receive another strongly worded letter about this.''
* A ''Sev Trek'' cartoon spoofing ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' asks why former Bajoran terrorist Major Kira never seemed to do any of the KickTheDog acts that real terrorists do like deliberately targeting civilians or moderate Bajorans. When asked how they managed to throw the Cardassians off their planet; "I wrote strongly worded letters of complaint!"
* Subverted in ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo'' by Yuna [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2013/06/20/0492-yuna-has-the-atom-bomb/ here.]] When a teacher during a 'Bullying Prevention Day' lesson asks her how she'd deal with incessant chicanery, and Yuna replies that she'd get out her pencil, the teacher immediately assumes that she would send a Strongly Worded Letter to a teacher or maybe the principal. Nope. Yuna's the daughter of an ex-Special Forces operative and a former south-east Asian [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized rebel]], who named their kids after characters from ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' and gave them combat training to match. [[Film/TheDarkKnight How 'bout a magic trick?]] [[EyeScream I'm gonna make this pencil disappear...]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Polandball}}'', this is the UN's most common reaction to atrocities (well, other than complete indifference). It is occasionally done by other countries and multinational organisations as well.

* While not exactly a letter, ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' has something in the same spirit.
-->'''Seto Kaiba''': I don't take kindly to kidnapping and attempted murder, but you do have a god card, so I guess I'll let it slide. However, try anything funny and I'll issue you a stern warning and wag my finger at you. Then you'll be sorry.
* In ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'', when Sugou announces his intention to marry a currently-comatose Asuna at the start of the second season:
-->'''Kirito:''' No. I... I will ''not'' let this stand! If you thought I fought tooth and nail for ''two years'' just so I could kowtow to some ''assclown'' like you, then you're in for a rude awakening! Prepare to reap the FUCKING whirlwind that is the UNBRIDLED FURY OF ''THE HERO OF AINCRAD!!!''\\
(''[[DescriptionCut cut to Kirito in his room, on the computer]]'')\\
'''Kirito's [[Website/{{Twitter}} tweet]]:''' Some rich scumbag named [=@NobuyukiSugou=] is trying to buy/marry my wife! WHO IS IN A COMA BY THE WAY!!!!!! [=#whereisthejustice #youknowwhattodo=]\\
'''Kirito:''' Yeah, take ''that!'' "Sugou?" More like... "Su-go-fuck-yourself!"

* ''WebVideo/DoorMonster'''s recurring deranged hobo character gives us a subversion in "Comical Road Trip": Apparently, filing a "strongly-worded complaint" consists of [[DeadAnimalWarning mailing them a dead bird.]]

* Played straight in the early issue of ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' to a villain that has just turned Moscow into a charnel house. The U.N. ups the response by blatantly *cough* not sending in a kill squad.
* [[http://www.punchcartoons.com/images/M/1935.08.14.183.jpg This]] ''Punch'' cartoon from 1935, satirising the League of Nations.
* In a [[Magazine/{{Mad}} MAD Magazine]] parody comic from the late 80s, [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Captain Picard]] is unfavorably portrayed as the kind of diplomat who'd ask Starfleet to send a strongly-worded letter to the Klingons... while they're firing on the Enterprise.

[[folder:FanWorks]]

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/SnoopyComeHome'' where due to a new "No Dogs Allowed" law, Snoopy couldn't go to the beach, so he returns home and has Woodstock dictate a letter to The Editor in protest over this law that gets mailed off.

* ''Film/TeamAmericaWorldPolice'' had UN inspector Hans Blix and Kim Jong-il have this exchange;
-->'''Hans:''' I'm sorry, but I must be firm with you. Let me see your whole palace ''or else!''\\
'''Kim Jong-il:''' Or erse ''what''?\\
'''Hans:''' Or else, we will be very, ''very'' angry with you... And we will write you a letter, telling you how angry we are!
* ''Film/ACivilAction'' had an unintentional subversion: the movie was about a corporation that polluted and caused illnesses, and the climax was the good lawyer writing a letter.
* James Cameron's ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}''.
-->'''Jack:''' I don't know about you, but I intend to go write a strongly worded letter [[GallowsHumor to the White Star Line]] about all this.

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'': The Nova Corps's official response to Ronan the Accuser's rampage is to contact the Kree government and request that they issue a statement condemning his actions. They don't even demand anything, they just ''ask'' for the Kree to do the most minimal thing possible. And the Nova Corps is supposedly the side that won the war.
* ''Film/GetOnTheBus'' has a variation. One of the black men on the bus relates an anecdote about how he got in deep trouble with his white mother, causing her to lecture him. The rest of the black men are unimpressed, saying their mothers would have surely beaten them for the same offense.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' has a variation. After discovering that his wife was caught playing Patty-Cake with another man, Roger Rabbit in a drunken stupor vows that he and his wife will be happy before running out. The next day, the man that was playing Patty-Cake was found having been killed by a safe dropping on his head and all evidence points to Roger, however as it turned out Roger wasn't the guilty party because after leaving the office he went to his wifes' apartment and had wrote her a love letter in hopes of winning back his wife.

* In Creator/KeithLaumer's ''Literature/{{Retief}}'' stories, the diplomats of the ''Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne'' (Terran Diplomatic Corps) often spoke of sending strongly worded messages instead of taking effective action. Of course, these "strongly worded letters" are often delivered by the biggest, most powerful warships in the galaxy.
* Mr. Tyler, neighbor of Adam Young in ''Literature/GoodOmens'' and Tadfield's resident busybody, who will send a very angry letter to the local newspaper about all these young trouble-makers riding motorcycles, littering his lawn, and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick driving burning cars]], just you wait.
-->''Not for R. P. Tyler the soapbox, the polemic verse, the broadsheet. R. P. Tyler's chosen forum was the letter column of the ''Tadfield Advertiser''. If a neighbour's tree was inconsiderate enough to shed leaves into R. P. Tyler's garden, R. P. Tyler would first carefully sweep them all up, place them in boxes, and leave the boxes outside his neighbour's front door, with a stern note. Then he would write a letter to the ''Tadfield Advertiser''. If he sighted teenagers sitting on the village green, their portable cassette players playing, and they were enjoying themselves, he would take it upon himself to point out to them the error of their ways. And after he had fled their jeering, he would write to the ''Tadfield Advertiser'' on the Decline of Morality and the Youth of Today.''
:: He writes so many, in fact, that the newspaper does not have the room to print all of them. This prompts another letter on the degeneracy of the newspaper industry.
** In the [[Series/GoodOmens TV series]], Aziraphale tells Crowley that he avoided miracling his way out of being executed during the ReignOfTerror because Gabriel sent him a stern note about him using his powers too much. Later on, Crowley references that by pointing out that Hell doesn't limit itself to a stern note when his superiors are unhappy with him.
* In Creator/PGWodehouse's ''Literature/JeevesAndWooster'' novel ''Literature/ThankYouJeeves'', Bertie Wooster is giving ''serious'' contemplation of threatening to write one of these to the Times when the local busybody policeman yet again bangs on the door of Bertie's rented cottage in the middle of the night. Only it turns out it's not the policeman this time, and so the whole matter is dropped.

* In ''[[Literature/NewJediOrder Rebel Stand]]'', the cast is looking over new developments in the war. Since the book is written by Creator/AaronAllston, they snark constantly.
-->'''Wedge''': I don't like this notion of dovin basal mines that pursue you.\\
'''Han''': Me neither. I'm going to draft a strongly-worded letter to the Yuuzhan Vong high commander and insist he stop using them.

* In the world of ''Franchise/HarryPotter'', Howlers are what happen if you could hear the voice of the writer of said Strongly Worded Letter: open them and they scream the message's content at the recipient as loudly as possible. Then Molly Weasley writes one to Ron. The longer you go without opening the Howler, the louder it will shout the message, and if you don't open it immediately, it will ''explode''. And ''still'' shout the message.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes case "The Adventure of the Second Stain", a letter written by an unnamed European leader to Britain is described as being so inflammatory that its public release would lead to war. The British Government, wanting cooler heads to prevail and to avoid war, want Holmes to recover the missing letter before it can be put in the hands of third parties who would gain advantage by war. Holmes writes his guess of the leader in question and passes it unrevealed to the client, who admits that's who it is. [[UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany It's not difficult to figure out who it's supposed to be.]]

* The Creator/DonaldWestlake book ''Put a Lid On It'' has a political crony confidently (or rather over-confidently) declare that he's put a stop to a crooked political donor's efforts to sabotage the president's burglary operation (something affecting millions of dollars and all kinds of political favors) by threatening to revoke his invitation to the inaugural ball.

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Stuffed Gopher", Mr. Conklin thinks he's going to be fired as principal from Madison High School. He writes a strongly-worded letter of resignation to Mr. Stone, the head of the school board.
* In an early ''Series/MadTV1995'' sketch, "Annie Ho" (a gangsta film as written and directed by Creator/WoodyAllen), a neurotic gangsta on the way to a drive-by shooting asks his colleagues, "Do we really have to kill this guy? Can't we just send him a nasty note?"

* From ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'': "I sent him a very angry letter, with, like, five frownie faces."

** Used in Yes Prime Minister when discussing how to deal with the leader of a local council.

* Used in ''Series/RedDwarf'' when Rimmer, after having his anger sucked out by a polymorph that feeds on human emotions, suggests that they defeat the creature by hitting it "hard and fast" with a "major leaflet campaign... And if that's not enough, then I'm sorry, it's time for the t-shirts".
** And in "The Beginning", Rimmer starts writing a strongly worded letter to Geneva complaining that the simulants are violating Treaty 5 as said simulants are launching a barrage of photon mutilators at the Starbug. [[spoiler: Subverted when it turns out that he's intentionally baiting them as part of a trap.]]
* ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'':
** In the last series, a very drawn-out version of their typical "vox pops" scenes had a woman played by Laurie threatening to write "a very stiff letter... on cardboard."
** Another sketch involves Laurie's character attempting to convince a psychiatrist played by Fry that he was mad. To Laurie's annoyance, the psychiatrist refuses to believe that he's anything other than eccentric, and he announces that he'll be writing a very stiff letter to the Daily Mail about this. ''That'' gets the psychiatrist's attention.
* In the "Summer" episode of ''Series/TheVicarOfDibley,'' David Horton writes one of these to the water company that is actually not very strong at all. Subverted by [[spoiler: Geraldine's letter, an excerpt of which is "Dear Mr. Useless Babboon's Bottom, It might interest you to know that down our way, you're about as popular as Judas Iscariot at a disciple reunion." It is also implied that she uses the word "dickhead" (or "dick-head, as she's unsure if there's a hyphen.]]
* In one episode of ''Series/MamasFamily'' when Vint finds out that he's been laid off, Iola decides to write a "scathing letter" to his company.
-->'''Iola:''' And believe you me, they are ''not'' getting the floral stationery!
* A DoubleSubversion occurs on ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'' when Rose sends a letter to Gorbachev about nuclear disarmament. She actually receives a response from him, saying he would like to hold a press conference with her, but just before the conference starts Rose finds out that Gorbachev thought a little girl wrote the letter.
* A common additional punchline to DudeNotFunny jokes about current events told by [[Series/TheTonightShow Jay Leno]] was for Leno to mime writing a letter while muttering "Dear Mr. Leno, I just saw your recent show and..."
* Part of the regular SelfDeprecation on the ''Series/TheBasilBrushShow''.
-->'''Basil''': Our [[NoFourthWall viewers have very active imaginations]]! And colourful language to match. According to the letters we get.
** Amusingly, it so happens that Basil's original StraightMan from the first series was one Creator/DerekFowlds, who would go on to play Bernard in ''Series/YesMinister''.
* A recurring character in the last season of ''Series/TheChasersWarOnEverything'' was an angry letter writer who would watch the show, waiting for something offensive to happen so he could write a Strongly Worded Letter to Creator/TheABC. He was never disappointed.

* Very much TruthInTelevision in England, the local stereotype being a middle-aged, middle-class, Middle England busybody writing to the editor of the Daily Telegraph, often signing off with something along the lines of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgusted_of_Tunbridge_Wells "Disgusted, of Tunbridge Wells."]]

Compare PokeThePoodle, the villainous version. Contrast DisproportionateRetribution as a switcheroo of this. If someone does this before or after doing something of ''actual'' significance, it may be a CallingCard.

Compare PokeThePoodle, the villainous version. Contrast DisproportionateRetribution as a switcheroo of this.

** Amusingly, it so happens that Basil's original StraightMan from the first series was one Derek Fowlds, who would go on to play Bernard in ''Series/YesMinister''.

* The most famous open letter in history, "J'accuse...!" ("I accuse...!") by Émile Zola did produce an effect, namely, blowing the antisemitism, incompetence, and cowardice that led to the Dreyfus Affair wide open and eventually resulted in Alfred Dreyfus getting a full pardon and a Légion d'honneur medal as an apology. The document is still considered required reading in many French schools.

[[folder:Film]]

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/SnoopyComeHome'' where due to a new "No Dogs Allowed" law, Snoopy couldn't go to the beach, so he returns home and has Woodstock dictate a letter to The Editor in protest over this law that gets mailed off.

* Discussed in ''WesternAnimation/MaryAndMax'', as Max tells her that he often writes such letters about local issues.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMeetsTheBooBrothers'', Sheriff Buzby's reaction to Billy Bob's RecklessGunUsage shooting off the belt to his pants (but doing no damage, aside from causing the sheriff's pants to drop) is to threaten to write the hillbilly a citation. Billy Bob ignores him and shoots out the flashing lights on his car, at which point Buzby retreats, vowing that when he comes back, he'll give Billy Bob ''two'' tickets.