Thank you! I was sitting here with a similar comment ready to go, but I was afraid to post because I thought for sure I'd be alone again.
I will sometimes be very interested in a service until I hit the "about" page and see all the "inside jokes" and weak attempts at humor that, for some reason, make me very uneasy.
It almost makes me feel like an outsider, the guy standing around the circle of cool kids who all have something funny to say, that I won't get, and they don't want anything to do with me. Do you really want your COMPANY to send that message?
The main UI designer draws arrows and likes Ice Cream? Is he 7? What is a data grill master? Uhg. I'm a bit of a stick in the mud, yes, but I don't understand this silly about-page trend.
That's just parroting of what newbies see others doing.
Back in the 90's I remember when people first started including dogs. Totally unheard of in business until that time.
As far as why (other than what I've stated) it's because it appeals to the people who are making the joke as something that they feel is cool and needed to fit in. Once again, because they see someone else doing it.
It's kind of similar to in radio the "wacky morning guy" shtick. Or even some stuff that Letterman tries to pull off. Comedy by contrast (the contrast being this isn't something you normally find in legacy established business).
We're not trying to make the whole page silly. Just have a little fun so you understand what we're like and see if you might want to join us. It's clear you wouldn't--so that's pretty effective.
Good thinking. Maybe even take it a step further and change the person's photo from a happy smiley "fun" photo to a more serious "lets get down to business" look.
What about people who don't want their photo on the website? What about people who don't want their name to be found on the company website first (if it has a good page rank)?
Who am I to talk, having a website online for over a decade? Still, if your team likes to have such a team page, awesome (if not a few feel pressured to join in) - but I prefer our wall of mugshots near our entrance in the physical office and I know some people who would object to that team website a lot.
What exactly does "Draws Boxes & Arrows" mean to anyone outside of the team?