Summary: This post tackles a deceptively simple issue with significant implications—a message that looks like computer code isn’t always a story waiting to be told. You run into a JSON error message, something structured, generic, and entirely lacking narrative. Yet many interpreting these systems for content creation mistake such outputs as storytelling goldmines. Let’s get this clear: not every string of code is a forgotten tale. And it’s time we stop treating nonsensical error logs as if they just need creative polish.
When There’s Nothing to Rewrite
Let’s not dance around it: sometimes you get a block of text, and it’s just… an error message. No nuance, no characters, no arc. If a system spits out a JSON response saying “insufficient account balance,” you’re not staring at a hidden plot. You’re staring at a diagnostic signal. Mistaking this for a ‘raw story’ is like mistaking a thermostat alert for a climate drama.
This confusion usually comes from a misalignment in workflow—content generation tools trying to twist data of the wrong kind into some engaging reading. The result? Waste. Wasted time, wasted energy, and most dangerously, wasted attention from people trying to turn every signal into marketable content. The real signal you should be listening to is this: not all input is narrative-ready.
JSON: The Language of Machines, Not Stories
JSON isn’t complicated. It’s a notation system. It tells machines what to do, not readers what to feel. When a script returns:
{ "error": "insufficient_account_balance" }… it tells developers the system declined a user request due to lack of funds. That’s not a tale of struggle; it’s operational feedback. Now, can this become part of a larger story? Sure, if there’s a bigger picture, like a fintech startup facing user adoption issues or a misguided payment API. But by itself, it’s like a puzzle piece with no puzzle.
What Creators and Marketers Must Recognize
Here’s where things go wrong. Content creators chasing quantity over quality see every input as something to rewrite—and that’s bad strategy. It dilutes credibility and breaks trust with readers, who know fluff when they read it. You’re not being clever turning a debug notice into a bedtime story. You’re being confusing—or worse, deceptive.
Ask yourself: “What am I really looking at? Who is this text actually for?” If it’s not meant for a human audience, don’t force it to become content. There’s creative writing, and there’s guessing at ghosts. Know where to draw the line.
How This Error Reflects a Bigger Issue
This isn’t just about one out-of-place error message. It’s about applying the wrong tool to the wrong job. You don’t use a branding expert to debug code. You don’t create a hero’s journey from a failed currency authorization. The bigger issue is this blind automation of storytelling—machines chewing on outputs they’re not qualified to repurpose, and humans rubber-stamping the result.
That feeds a system of noise. Brands filled with vague, templated clichés. LinkedIn articles that feel like AI talking to itself. And customers? They tune out. Because there’s no signal in that noise. Just mimicry pretending to be meaning.
The Right Way to Respond to Non-Narrative Input
So how should you respond to a JSON error dump? Just like you would to a “no” in negotiation—you don’t push. You pause. You listen. You reassess. You ask:
- What kind of information is this?
- Who is it intended for?
- Can this support a real story—with stakes, emotions, decisions?
If the answer’s no, accept it. Excel at drawing boundaries. Your credibility builds on what you choose not to say. Cialdini’s principles underpin this—people respect authority who knows their limits. Audiences gravitate toward consistency. You strengthen your voice when you don’t force it into every room.
A Better Use of Everyone’s Time
Instead of fighting a JSON file for character development, spend that time identifying true customer pain. Where’s the bottleneck in your user journey? Where does confusion bloom across your documentation? What are clients afraid to ask? That’s where your content belongs—at the intersection of curiosity and need.
No one reads content that talks down to them. They read what speaks their language and respects their intelligence. Acknowledge their frustrations. Confirm their suspicions about bad automation. Empathize with the exhaustion of being fed AI dreams served cold. Use that to open a dialogue based on logic and transparency.
If you’re serious about creating meaningful communication—especially in SaaS, professional services, or tech—then you’ve got to know where the story begins and where it doesn’t. A balance alert in JSON format is not the starting point of your next content campaign. It’s a stop sign. Treat it like one.
#ContentStrategy #StopTheFluff #MarketingRealityCheck #SmartAutomation #TechMarketingInsights
Featured Image courtesy of Unsplash and Steve Ding (T42j_xLOqw0)
