Summary: Not every piece of received data is meant to tell a story. Some messages are blunt, transactional—designed to instruct, flag a problem, or halt an action. One of the clearest examples comes from structured programming responses: the JSON error message. These short, precise data statements often disrupt attempts to extract compelling narratives, yet they serve an indispensable function. Specifically, we’ll focus on a common case: the InsufficientBalanceError—a cold, mechanical alert that the account doesn't hold enough credit to proceed. We'll break down why there’s no storyline in this data, what it's trying to say, and why recognizing the non-story is smarter than forcing one.
What Is a JSON Error Message?
JSON—JavaScript Object Notation—is a lightweight, structured format used primarily to exchange data between a server and a user interface. It’s not prose. It doesn't speak in metaphor, implication, or mood. You won’t find rising action, dramatic beats, or redemption arcs here. What you’ll find instead are sharp constraints, precise keys, and literal values. JSON speaks like a customs officer: direct and without interpretation.
In the case of the InsufficientBalanceError, the JSON payload might look something like this:
{
"error": {
"code": "InsufficientBalanceError",
"message": "Your account balance is too low to run this query.",
"resolution": "Please recharge your account to proceed."
}
}
That isn’t a narrative. That’s a wall. And the wall says: You’re not getting through until something changes.
Why There’s No Story Here
Humans are wired for storytelling. We search for meaning, causation, intent. But trying to pull a narrative arc from a structured error message is like trying to debate moral philosophy with GPS instructions. The purpose is transactional, not emotional. The message? Your current operation encountered a technical boundary, and it won’t proceed without intervention.
Let’s use Chris Voss’s lens: What’s the hidden emotional driver behind this refusal? The system, in its cold automation, is saying "No." And that “No” is powerful. When you acknowledge it—when you don’t fight it—you open room for the actual dialogue: what needs to change for the system to say “Yes” again?
The Real Function: Setting Boundaries in Code
This kind of message exists to prevent faulty operations. It's a boundary signal—just as “No” sets the stage in negotiations. There's no drama because it operates below that level. You might feel frustration, but the software does not. There’s no villain. There's just accounting logic.
The purpose of this message isn’t to explain the past. It's to halt the present and redirect the future. That’s why it says, “Recharge your account.” Straightforward. Specific. Immediate. And if you’re disciplined enough to respect the prompt, you’ll avoid compounding the problem.
Respecting “No” as a Framework
Here’s a takeaway marketers could borrow: not everything must be persuasive. Sometimes you earn trust through structure. The error message doesn’t try to soothe; it doesn’t sugarcoat. In that sense, it's a model of clarity and credibility.
Let that sink in: what if your brand’s messaging stopped trying to wrap every moment in a bow? What if it clearly defined limits—what’s allowed, what’s not, and what the prospect has to do to progress?
By confirming the user’s suspicion—“This isn’t working because I’m out of funds”—the JSON message doesn’t diminish credibility. It reinforces it. Much the same way clients often trust someone more when they say, “This isn’t for you—yet.”
Optionality and Decision Forcing
The error message doesn't ask for more context. It doesn’t request emotional intelligence. It simply presents a fork in the road. In business development or product design, this is an example of forced choice architecture. You can’t continue without action. Curiously, this reinforces user agency: recharge or don’t—but no room remains for maybe.
That decision-making pressure works because it’s clean. That’s what real leadership communication looks like: clear constraints, clear outcomes, and enough silence to let the other party decide.
So What Can You Learn From This?
If you're creating marketing narratives, user interfaces, or even onboarding documents, not everything you deliver should be a story. Sometimes, clarity is the most persuasive play you can make. JSON error messaging shows us that stating the uncomfortable truth—without apology, without embellishment—can set expectations better than any brand voice trying too hard to be friendly.
Stop trying to find meaning in data formats that aren't built for it. Know when to use narrative, and know when to shut up and let the structure speak. The silence of the JSON message? It forces reflection. It creates stillness. And in that stillness, decisions happen.
So the next time your campaign, user process, or app throws back a rigid message, don’t try to rewrite it into a Pixar script. Instead, ask: What outcome does this message demand? What action must follow? And how can I refine my system to reduce confusion without pandering?
Because sometimes, “No” is a complete message. And in markets cluttered with noise, that makes it rare—and valuable.
#DecisionDesign #JSONErrors #UXWriting #ClearCommunication #NoMeansNextStep #TechMarketing #UserBoundaries
Featured Image courtesy of Unsplash and Joshua Hoehne (vCO1Frox2j4)