Just before Noon EST/9 a.m. PST Monday, Gmail's mostly reliable email service and that tab you keep open in your browser at work all day was unaccessible, returning "Error 502 (Server Error)!!1" [sic] messages and a sad robot cartoon to users. No official updates from the Gmail blog at this point, but according to handy Internet downtime service, Downrightnow.com and — like, everyone on Twitter — the downtime isn't just you.
As of about 9:20 a.m. Gmail service seems to be going in and out, with some users reporting access to their preferred office timesuck. Although Downrightnow continues to report widespread service disruptions.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, users reacted with the usual mix of comedy, violent threats, despair, and irreverence:
Gmail is down. Mayans making moves early
— Tupac Chopra (@fivefifths) December 10, 2012
The only gmail real thugs use is bullets. They send the best message. Bang bang. Thug life. Reply all. Forward to the block.
— Eddie Gryffindor (@TheDiLLon1) December 10, 2012
Whew. That was close. I had already packed up the car to head out to California in hopes of finding some Gmail there.
— justhaveaseat (@justhaveaseat) December 10, 2012
Ah, my Gmail account is back online. Well, this is awkward. Anyone know how to get blood out of carpet?
— Dave Lewis (@gattaca) December 10, 2012
The Onion took advantage of the situation by tweeting a link to a satirical video skit:
[In Focus] Google Shuts Down Gmail To Show Its Immense Power onion.com/UxyLs8
— The Onion (@TheOnion) December 10, 2012
And comedian/twitter celebrity Rob Delaney summed the whole thing up nicely:
More like G-FAIL! #LOL #DonJohnson #GangamStyle #DogAIDS #MammaGrizzly #DenverNuggets #Oprah
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) December 10, 2012
As of around 10:45 a.m. PST Monday morning, Gmail appears to be back up for most users. Although some service disruptions are still being reported. Anyway, back to your usual gchatting, folks.
