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Mistaken Message

 Mistaken Message
type
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 Mistaken Message
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Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message
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MistakenMessage
 Mistaken Message
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Alice writes Bob an unsigned note, typically a secret admirer type message. Carol finds the note, misinterprets it and believes it was written by David. The note continues to be passed around until all characters have misconceptions about one another.
See also Mistaken for Index, Love Letter Lunacy.

Examples
 Mistaken Message
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2023-08-30T01:00:25Z
 Mistaken Message
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2023-08-30T01:00:25Z
 Mistaken Message
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Dropped link to NotWhatItLooksLike: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Mistaken Message
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DBTropes
 Mistaken Message / int_13413f13
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_13413f13
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A Yellow Raft in Blue Water: Rayona picks up part of a letter at Bearpaw State Park that her current caretakers Sky and Evelyn mistake as a letter sent from Rayona's parents, which actually turns out to be a letter sent by the parents of another person, Ellen DeMarco, working at the state park.
 Mistaken Message / int_13413f13
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_13413f13
featureConfidence
1.0
 A Yellow Raft in Blue Water
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_13413f13
 Mistaken Message / int_261c8d3f
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_261c8d3f
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In one episode of The Simpsons Lisa develops a crush on school bully Nelson. She is too scared to approach him and so writes a "Guess who likes you" note and asks Milhouse to pass it to him. Nelson does not realize that Milhouse is acting as an intermediary and so the resident Butt-Monkey ends up in the hospital.
 Mistaken Message / int_261c8d3f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_261c8d3f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Simpsons
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_261c8d3f
 Mistaken Message / int_2777c062
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_2777c062
comment
Are You Being Served?, "Dear Sexy Knickers"
 Mistaken Message / int_2777c062
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_2777c062
featureConfidence
1.0
 Are You Being Served?
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_2777c062
 Mistaken Message / int_2858b08a
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_2858b08a
comment
In Full House, a prank love letter was left to one of the girls. It then gets delivered to the wrong girl, who distresses over it and misplaces it. Repeat for every other character on the show, except the intended recipient.
 Mistaken Message / int_2858b08a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_2858b08a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Full House
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_2858b08a
 Mistaken Message / int_2aa31308
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Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_2aa31308
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The classic example is from the sitcom Mama's Family, but most long-running sitcoms offer a variation.
 Mistaken Message / int_2aa31308
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_2aa31308
featureConfidence
1.0
 Mama's Family
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_2aa31308
 Mistaken Message / int_3f047e59
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_3f047e59
comment
Our Miss Brooks: The plot of "Bones, Son of Cyrano".
 Mistaken Message / int_3f047e59
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_3f047e59
featureConfidence
1.0
 Our Miss Brooks
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_3f047e59
 Mistaken Message / int_47dfc6f
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_47dfc6f
comment
In an episode of Total Drama, Bridgette and Gwen find a love poem, and each believe it's from their respective love interest. Hilarity Ensues as they try to prompt Geoff and Trent into admitting it. Turns out it was from Harold to LeShawna
 Mistaken Message / int_47dfc6f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_47dfc6f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Total Drama
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_47dfc6f
 Mistaken Message / int_55ef2655
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Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_55ef2655
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In Kenan & Kel this leads the later of the titular duo accidentally stealing someone else's girlfriend. Hilarity ensues.
 Mistaken Message / int_55ef2655
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_55ef2655
featureConfidence
1.0
 Kenan & Kel
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_55ef2655
 Mistaken Message / int_5a3533fe
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_5a3533fe
comment
In an episode of My Name Is Earl, Earl helps a man who'd written a love letter Earl had prevented from being delivered by spending time with the intended recipient so she won't get involved with anyone else before the sender can get back into shape again. When she finds the letter, she thinks it's from Earl. Unfortunately, Earl's interested in her, too — she can spit and she likes Lynyrd Skynyrd! — so he lets her go on thinking he'd written it.
 Mistaken Message / int_5a3533fe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_5a3533fe
featureConfidence
1.0
 My Name Is Earl
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_5a3533fe
 Mistaken Message / int_755fadab
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_755fadab
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A variation is played on Haruhi Suzumiya, when the class representative Ryoko Asakura leaves Kyon an anonymous note in his shoe locker. Kyon first thinks the note was written by Mikuru, but then he corrects himself: the note was a simple sheet of paper torn from a notepad, and it would be Mikuru only if the note was written in scented decorated paper sprinkled with glitter. Massive mayhem ensues. Decidedly not of the romantic variety.
Some of the mayhem is of the romantic variety, or at least looks a lot like it.
He later finds a letter actually written in decorated paper by Mikuru... only problem is, he's only partially right...
Another variation occurs in Love at First Sight, where a lovestruck man dictates a love letter to Yuki to Kyon. Naturally, this means Kyon writes the letter in his own handwriting. It led to some awkwardness when explaining the situation to Yuki, but it got worse when he threw it out and Haruhi saw it.
 Mistaken Message / int_755fadab
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_755fadab
featureConfidence
1.0
 Haruhi Suzumiya
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_755fadab
 Mistaken Message / int_86814cd2
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_86814cd2
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Final Fantasy IX, in which Eiko leaves a note for Zidane. It never reaches him, and is eventually intercepted by both Steiner and Beatrix, who each think it's from the other.
Incidentally, the game was greatly inspired by Shakespeare, who absolutely loved this kind of plots.
 Mistaken Message / int_86814cd2
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Final Fantasy IX (Video Game)
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_86814cd2
 Mistaken Message / int_89fece16
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_89fece16
comment
In Avalon Ceilidh meets half the cast thanks to a misdirected love letter from Ryan to Phoebe, which turns out to be a sneaky version of First Girl Wins.
 Mistaken Message / int_89fece16
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_89fece16
featureConfidence
1.0
 Avalon (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_89fece16
 Mistaken Message / int_8a3a1edd
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_8a3a1edd
comment
Good Morning Miss Bliss, "Love Letters"
 Mistaken Message / int_8a3a1edd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_8a3a1edd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Saved by the Bell
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_8a3a1edd
 Mistaken Message / int_ccfef5a0
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_ccfef5a0
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A variant of this trope in FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman's Season 2 Premire nearly costs Ruff his show. When Ruff wants to sell snack molds to promote his second season, the molds aren't working. He writes a letter to the mold maker, but he forgot to check WHO he's sending the message to and accidentally sends it to every newspaper in the country! Right after he meets his intern Blossom, the Board of Health plans to shut down his show.
 Mistaken Message / int_ccfef5a0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_ccfef5a0
featureConfidence
1.0
 FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_ccfef5a0
 Mistaken Message / int_dd1b673f
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_dd1b673f
comment
The Comic Strip Presents film Mr Jolly Lives Next Door features an escort agency accidentally receiving a letter meant for a hitman. The message? "Take out Nicholas Parsons".
 Mistaken Message / int_dd1b673f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_dd1b673f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Comic Strip Presents
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_dd1b673f
 Mistaken Message / int_fdfd6055
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_fdfd6055
comment
Another variation occurs in Love at First Sight, where a lovestruck man dictates a love letter to Yuki to Kyon. Naturally, this means Kyon writes the letter in his own handwriting. It led to some awkwardness when explaining the situation to Yuki, but it got worse when he threw it out and Haruhi saw it.
 Mistaken Message / int_fdfd6055
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_fdfd6055
featureConfidence
1.0
 Yandere
hasFeature
Mistaken Message / int_fdfd6055
 Mistaken Message / int_fe83b608
type
Mistaken Message
 Mistaken Message / int_fe83b608
comment
In the aptly titled Law & Order: UK story "Mixed Up Messages," Ronnie receives a text message from Matt—a picture of Alesha, wearing Matt's shirt, with him teasing her about how beautiful she looks. He promptly matter-of-factly tells Matt to be more careful about who he's sending messages to, thoroughly enjoying how horrified Matt is upon realizing his error. (For added bonus, they're having a Secret Relationship in this story and Matt is not only horrified that he's inadvertently revealed it to Ronnie, he's terrified Ronnie's going to blab to everyone else).
 Mistaken Message / int_fe83b608
featureApplicability
1.0
 Mistaken Message / int_fe83b608
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1.0
 Law & Order: UK
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Mistaken Message / int_fe83b608

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Mistaken Message
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Mail and Delivery Tropes
 Mistaken Message
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Mistaken for Index
 Between My Brother and Me (Fanfic) / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 From Shizune's Perspective (Fanfic) / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Learning How to Be a Witch (Fanfic) / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Neighbors (1920) / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 The Gold Rush / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Aria the Scarlet Ammo / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 A Yellow Raft in Blue Water / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Aria the Scarlet Ammo / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Five Nights at Freddy's: Fazbear Frights / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Kids Incorporated / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Mama's Family / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 My So-Called Life / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 The Comic Strip Presents / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Noises Off (Theatre) / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message
 Katawa Shoujo (Visual Novel) / int_cef50092
type
Mistaken Message