What is the deal with mankind's mindless march to completely light up the planet at night? We have lost so much of the glorious night sky that I some times want to shed a tear like the American Indian in those old anti-littering commercials.
This thread is here for those moments that you want to ponder, rant, vent, etc. about area lighting. Maybe share what you would like to do to your neighbor's/neighborhood area lighting. We don't encourage anyone to act out these ideas though.
If you have anything good to say about area lighting, you can go elsewhere please. Just kidding. All thoughts are welcome. Even dumb ones supporting bright, continuously-on area lighting.
On a separate note. Why do we call our handheld wallet depleting light generation devices flashlights and torches? Some flash, but that isn't their main purpose. We certainly don't want them to burn. We need a real name for them. One better than handheld light generation device. Anyone got one? Lets start a trend.
Yes, I agree. What is the point of a flashlight if there is no darkness? And it is amazing how we are able to be active outdoors in the light from the stars and from the moon. The moon is almost like a small sun. With it up and full, and your eyes adapted to the darkness, it is almost like daytime. Only everything is grey and you can’t see small stuff very good.
Don't you know that the more you are able to infringe on and injure and basically just plain piss off others, the more Free you are? What are you, some kind of Commiefascist?!
Yeah, area lighting can be really annoying.
While I can see that it is important for safety and comfort of many people, it also robs me of a lot of flashlight playing fun.
I live near a harbor and a coal power plant, so the whole area is lit up with those nasty orange sodium vapor lamps.
In a few weeks the nights will be so bright that one can read even without artificial light.
To have fun with my lights, I have to make a trip to the woods then, preferably around new moon.
But that fun compensates for it all, then. Even a stock sk68 cuts trough the darkness so well that everyone with me wants to have one after that.
Well, over here we call flashlights/torches ‘Taschenlampe’ which translates to pocket lamp.
Anything with a handle is a ‘Handscheinwerfer’ - a handheld spot/searchlight.
While I find that to be accurate for the most part, the names are also really boring.
Any suggestions?
Pocket Rocket is a common nickname for a really good small flashlight.
In Sweden we also use “Taschenlampe”, “ficklampa”. But more often than not that includes flashlights that are much too big for any normal pocket. :bigsmile:
Other names may be confused with lights that run from mains power or from a car battery with cables.
It can be seen in some horror movies. It’s the parts when the screen is completely black. Especially popular in cheap movies, because it is less costly to shoot than other scenes. Also in some more artsyfartsy movies that attempt to use your imagination, without prior permission.
In real life, in rural areas (what sometimes is between cities) without area lights when the Sun is down, that blackness is all around you. However monsters, aliens, spies, maniacal killers, predatory animals, giant flesh eating nocturnal plants and zombies are either optional or depending on the rural location.
In some cases it could be a ‘temporary animal immobilizer’, I managed to belt a rat off my fence with a shoe one night using this particular mechanism.
If not used in the correct manner “temporary blindness inducer”
Strange. In similar situations I am able to see the screen. But only for a short moment. Then I am attacked (initially verbally) by other visitors to the same movie. At least it used to be like this. For some reason I am not allowed to visit my favorite movie theaters any more… :_(
Who has not tried stargazing should really do so. It’s your getaway from all these light business.
Set a date on moonless night, on rural area with no light contamination.
Simply gaze on the sky and watch the magic happens. Stars start to pop up out of nowhere, colours seem to appear through the dark sky… it’s just magical. All your stress and baggage will seem to just float away.
Really there’s no word for it. Have to try it yourself.
@ Pulsar13 - And a pair of low-power binoculars will turn that evening of magic into an evening of marvelous wonder....
Although... I do hate all the area lighting... From the car dealerships with their Jigawatts of bright white light blinding me when driving down the road, power company pushing their "Security Lights" (for additional $$$/month), neighbor's backyard light shining through the bedroom window... There may be times I want to light up my back yard, but I'll put it on a switch and TURN IT OFF WHEN I'M DONE!
Now, how about another rant:
I absolutely HATE those giant LED billboards! Between the flashing alternating images causing a distraction to the bright light temporarily impacting my night vision... Those should be considered hazardous and removed from service!
