More 404
Geekier Than Thou
Within three minutes of publishing the preceding post, Techno-Note: If You Can’t Find A Web Page, It’s Me, I was rightfully reproached for using, in a footnote, unexplained jargon — specifically, “404 Error Pages.”
Given that I complain about others doing this sort of thing, I find it incumbent on me to apologize and to clarify the term.
Apology
Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry …
Wherefore 404?
404 is an HTTP status code1 that means a server computer somewhere is responding to your request that it fork over a web page (a signal you sent when you entered a web site address into your browser) with “I can’t find that page and I dunno where else to look for it.”
Bonus: Hot Shot 404 Pages
As noted in my original post, not all 404 Pages are created equal. Check these out:
DrHGuy’s Best Of Show
From a server with multiple neuroses & self-esteem problems
The Association for Computing Machinery - University Of Illinois Chapter
Techno-Rude
From that guy you knew in Junior High with the briefcase & pen protector
Yeah, the one you stuffed into the gym locker — in the Girls Gym
Yep, the one who had four successful tech start-ups and just bought Portugal
Parallel Universe Of Missing Objects
Just Plain Rude
From the guy who stuffed you into the gym locker
The page cannot be [obscenity that rhymes with "mucking" deleted] displayed
If You Can Fake Sincerity
From the guy who pretended he felt bad about you being stuffed into the locker
Chairboy
The Oliver Stone Award
It’s a conspiracy
Very Big Design
Footnotes
- You know, the code established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 1992 — yeah, that code. ~back~
Possibly Related Posts:
- No related posts
I loved James Lileks’ Crying Guy. But when I went to look at it, it’s been replaced. See http://www.lileks.com/pagenotfound - OK but doesn’t replace Crying Guy in my affection.
Comment by Helen — July 16, 2006 @ 10:32 pm
I wasn’t privileged to have known the Crying Guy so I’ll take your word that it was superior, but I gotta love a 404 Page that uses the term, “feckless lummox” Thanks.
Comment by DrHGuy — July 17, 2006 @ 7:30 pm
OH OH! My verybig 404 got an award!
What do I get?
Comment by jen — July 29, 2006 @ 5:50 pm