Daylight Savings Time

[whiteraven]

Ok, so this is weird, maybe. Where I live in the US, we have Daylight Savings Time (DST) in the summer, when we set the clocks forward an hour in the spring so it gets dark later (around 9 p.m. or so). Then in the fall, we set it back again, so it gets dark around 5:15 or 5:30 (Standard Time). I used to LOVE standard time, when it got dark earlier. I loved being in the dark, walking in the dark, etc... I hated it when it stayed light so late.

Now, it's completely the opposite. I HATE the dark; I don't think I'd have a problem living with near-100% daylight all day long. I have no idea why my feelings about all this changed; I only know that the dark makes me intensely anxious now. It doesn't help that I have to work almost until it gets dark, so I can't/don't really go out after. I mean, the stuff I like to do is harder to do at night, esp. since it's just me (and no friends or partner).

I get the sense that there's anxiety because I don't feel safe, but I have no idea what changed.

Anybody have similar issues?

 

[Roland]

This makes me think. Growing up I was afraid of the dark, but really I was afraid of demons or some paranoia (like being afraid men were hiding in my room, bathroom, or outside my window waiting to get me). So honestly darkness was the only thing I had words for. I never told anyone about the creepy things I experienced at night or the terror.

Now, I find darkness relaxing. I get overstimulated frequently and I seek darkness and silence to calm myself. My bedroom has blackout curtains and my downstairs is dimly lit with lamps with curtains and blinds on the windows.

I do find it interesting that you loved darkness and hated daylight and now it's the inverse though. I wonder what associations you have and had.

 

[Lost in the Woods]

When I worked I loved DST. After work I could do outdoor stuff, cycling, sailing, etc. but now my life isn’t run by clocks so it isn’t such a big deal. That said, I do enjoy longer days.

 

[whiteraven]

This makes me think. Growing up I was afraid of the dark, but really I was afraid of demons or some paranoia (like being afraid men were hiding in my room, bathroom, or outside my window waiting to get me). So honestly darkness was the only thing I had words for. I never told anyone about the creepy things I experienced at night or the terror.

Now, I find darkness relaxing. I get overstimulated frequently and I seek darkness and silence to calm myself. My bedroom has blackout curtains and my downstairs is dimly lit with lamps with curtains and blinds on the windows.

I do find it interesting that you loved darkness and hated daylight and now it's the inverse though. I wonder what associations you have and had.

This reminds me of the times when I was very young and had imaginary mice friends who lived under my bed and climbed up a ladder to join me at night. That made me happy. But...I think it was a "need safety" thing.

I *have* to have a light on at night when I go to bed, and some kind of noise, as well. I don't remember anything specifically bad about nighttime or the dark, but I guess there could be something. I wonder if it could also be that the world is just scarier now, and darkness brings out people that are generally up to no good. When I was young, being light out meant I could be out of the house and doing something other than being with my family...not being at home was a good thing.

When I worked I loved DST. After work I could do outdoor stuff, cycling, sailing, etc.

Yes! This is definitely an issue for me now. I wake up, work, then it's dark so I really can't do my favorite stuff.

 

[Roland]

This reminds me of the times when I was very young and had imaginary mice friends who lived under my bed and climbed up a ladder to join me at night. That made me happy. But...I think it was a "need safety" thing.

I *have* to have a light on at night when I go to bed, and some kind of noise, as well. I don't remember anything specifically bad about nighttime or the dark, but I guess there could be something. I wonder if it could also be that the world is just scarier now, and darkness brings out people that are generally up to no good. When I was young, being light out meant I could be out of the house and doing something other than being with my family...not being at home was a good thing.


Yes! This is definitely an issue for me now. I wake up, work, then it's dark so I really can't do my favorite stuff.

That's understandable... I don't feel very comfortable being out in the dark especially certain areas. People just tend to be crazier, high, and generally up to no good at night in the dark. Nighttime is a perfect cover for crimes.

The mice thing took me back (in a good way!). When I was a kid, I watched Stuart Little and then wanted to become a mouse so I would be small and unnoticeable. I set up my dollhouse "in case I turned into a mouse" and fantasized about living in my dollhouse and eating cheese (my favorite). I thought if I was a mouse my dad couldn't or wouldn't hurt me but I could still have a relationship with my mom and siblings like in the story.

 

[Rose White]

All the mouse talk makes me think of the fantastic Beatrice potter books about the mice in the dollhouse—I felt sad for them that the food was fake

I love walking in the dark but that’s because then I can’t see people and they can’t see me. And I love the stars and moon. Venus and the moon put on a show yesterday and today.

But at the same time my mood turns bummed out when the sun goes down.

So it’s a conflict for me.

 

[whiteraven]

The mice thing took me back (in a good way!). When I was a kid, I watched Stuart Little and then wanted to become a mouse so I would be small and unnoticeable. I set up my dollhouse "in case I turned into a mouse" and fantasized about living in my dollhouse and eating cheese (my favorite). I thought if I was a mouse my dad couldn't or wouldn't hurt me but I could still have a relationship with my mom and siblings like in the story.

Aw...I loved my mice! And during the day I had an invisible cougar that went with me everywhere. Good memories.

 

[whiteraven]

I love walking in the dark but that’s because then I can’t see people and they can’t see me.

This was totally me! That's the only time I'd walk when I was younger. I worked a 3-11 shift, got home around 12, then walked until maybe 2 am.

 

[Roland]

All the mouse talk makes me think of the fantastic Beatrice potter books about the mice in the dollhouse—I felt sad for them that the food was fake

I love walking in the dark but that’s because then I can’t see people and they can’t see me. And I love the stars and moon. Venus and the moon put on a show yesterday and today.

But at the same time my mood turns bummed out when the sun goes down.

So it’s a conflict for me.

I love Beatrix Potter

 

[Friday]

Anybody have similar issues?

For sure.

The USA time zones system??? Entirely based on train schedules in the 1800s. Translated across the globe in very precarious fashion.

That made about as much sense, living in Asia in the late 1900s, as basing something based on string cheese. Or Zimbabwean masks. Yes, real. But? RANDOM AS FAWK.

As “noon” was when the sun was directly overhead. DAWN was when the sun rose. Sunset when it sank below the horizon. BUT??? Even if the sun rose at 3am or 10am? “dawn” is now… some random number?!? Okay??? Arms are now fingers or hips? Okay???

AS? We FOLLOWED those clocked absurdities. As …if you were 2 minutes late/early for a train? You. Were. On. The. WRONG. Train. Even though that’s STILL NOT TRUE in the US. Who imposed these stupid numbers upon everyone. As trains in Asia? Have been compertized for nearly 100 years. WWII. 1945. Meanwhile, 2025 in the US, and they’re still f*cking manual.

It’s stuff. And nonsense. And refuse to follow at your own peril.

In HIGHSCHOOL? We showed up, 3 HOURS before dawn, with sleeping bags. As dawn wasn’t “until” 7am. But school started at “dawn” (345 am or 845 am, in reality, but 6am according to “clocks”).

STUFF AND NONSENSE.
BULLSHIT & f*ck THAT NOISE.

But? On paper. So “sacrosanct” in some stupid f*cking impersonal idiot way.

 

[Roland]

For sure.

The USA time zones system??? Entirely based on train schedules in the 1800s. Translated across the globe in very precarious fashion.

That made about as much sense, living in Asia in the late 1900s, as basing something based on string cheese. Or Zimbabwean masks. Yes, real. But? RANDOM AS FAWK.

As “noon” was when the sun was directly overhead. DAWN was when the sun rose. Sunset when it sank below the horizon. BUT??? Even if the sun rose at 3am or 10am? “dawn” is now… some random number?!? Okay??? Arms are now fingers or hips? Okay???

AS? We FOLLOWED those clocked absurdities. As …if you were 2 minutes late/early for a train? You. Were. On. The. WRONG. Train. Even though that’s STILL NOT TRUE in the US. Who imposed these stupid numbers upon everyone. As trains in Asia? Have been compertized for nearly 100 years. WWII. 1945. Meanwhile, 2025 in the US, and they’re still f*cking manual.

It’s stuff. And nonsense. And refuse to follow at your own peril.

In HIGHSCHOOL? We showed up, 3 HOURS before dawn, with sleeping bags. As dawn wasn’t “until” 7am. But school started at “dawn” (345 am or 845 am, in reality, but 6am according to “clocks”).

STUFF AND NONSENSE.
BULLSHIT & f*ck THAT NOISE.

But? On paper. So “sacrosanct” in some stupid f*cking impersonal idiot way.

I'm so hoping they do away with it. Maybe I should move to Arizona lol.

 

[Friday]

I'm so hoping they do away with it. Maybe I should move to Arizona lol.

The thing is, though? Even in places who refuse to follow DST? They’re STILL following the 1800’s trains time tables time zones. Dawn, Noon, & Sunset are NOT relevant. 6am. Noon, 6pm are.

Unless you live/work with rational people. Who care about the day you live, instead of the random numbers assigned. Do you start at can & end at can’t? (Even if that’s 4am to 11pm? Or 9am & 2pm? Or 6am to 6pm, round the equator?) Or the numbers on a clock? Most likely? The numbers on a clock.

An HOUR, a single HOUR? Pfft. Predawn lasts 2-3 hours, north and south. Or 3 minutes in the mountains or along the equator.