Funny error messages often send the wrong message

Twitter is being upgraded for more agility, better time wasting management skills
Originally uploaded by David Chartier

See, here's why you shouldn't write a funny message. Twitter isn't so much down as UP then DOWN then up... but not really. Guys, don't brag about super strength if you can't keep the servers pointed to the static page until updates are done.

We used to teach devs not to write funny error messages for this very reason. It isn't funny when you are trying to do something. In fact, like anything "funny" it can actually aggravate people more than soothe them.