Funny vs. Professional Errors.

[NArc0t1c]

Sometimes I wonder If I should give funny error messages or should I make It professional.

 

Like take a 404 Error.

Professional Version:

404 - The Page you requested could not be found.

 

Funny Version:

The page you wanted does not exist, like Hilary Duff's talent.

 

What do you like/use the most?

[zq29]

Heh, I guess the funny ones are ok on personal projects, but putting something like that on a clients site might cause some issues!

[LiamProductions]

Professional errors are better for open source or a clients website

but funny ones would be good for a personal site or your own business.

[AndyB]

http://www.plinko.net/404/default.asp - get some ideas

[Daniel0]

I'd say that "funny errors" should be restricted to very rare errors. Sort of like an easter egg. Funny errors for common error such as 404 would be stupid IMO.

 

Edit: Voted "Professional".

[Stopofeger]

Funny errors for stuffs like permission denied. else pro pro

[redbullmarky]

i think it's a design choice, just like other aspects of the site. inappropriate funny 404's can be worse than the default apache handler depending on your target audience.

 

as most of the sites i do are quite quirky, i tend to favour the less serious: eg http://www.kingnutter.com/this_is_an_error or informal: http://holdingthebaby.com/this_is_an_error

[NArc0t1c]

So basically everyone Likes what the client does ?

[AndyB]

So basically everyone Likes what the client does ?

 

If you mean the browser's standard 404, then no.  'Everyone' appears to like a custom 404 that's 'professional' and constructive, e.g. simple error message with link to site map, etc.

 

If you mean what the paying customer wants, then why would you do anything else?