Strange to choose the North Pole for this topic. No one will ever live there. The South Pole, on the other hand, does have people living there, year-round!
I am so grateful that more and more people are aware that in our 24/7 world, DST is an anachronism that needs to die.
And what sets me off about DST? Working third shift and having to work an extra hour every year when the clock falls back. Yes, I get paid for it but it means my circadian rhythm gets bonked twice a year.
A contrarian view: If you live on the eastern edge of a time zone the sun comes up at an unholy hour and you drive home from work in the dark. Not fun.
The unnaturalness of it all. It’s bad enough to live by artificial minutes, seconds, and hours and worse to have it become arbitrary. Since I’ve retired, my mantra is “Death to clocks.” (And telephones, they’re evil, too.)
My recollection is that this was a bureaucratic “solution” to an agrarian problem that never existed. “Lets give farmers an extra hour to get their work done in the summer!” Real helpful to a guy that already works from “Can see to Can’t See” every day. But, Hey! We’re helping!
It wasn’t for farmers, it was for industrialists who wanted to use less electricity lighting their factories. BTW, the South Pole is on Greenwich Mean Time.
Well, I can tell you that for a lot of us folks in the Northern U.S….. Daylight Savings Time is a greatly appreciated and wonderful event. The variance of our day lengths (as you go further north, there is more variation) is such that we greatly enjoy DST because then at this time of year, sunset does not occur until almost 7:30pm, which is (for us Northerners) a helluva boost to our morale…. far more significant that the minor, day-or-two circadian rhythm adjustment.
My father often made the point that, if instead of the mandated moving the clock ahead an hour and the government simply required everyone to go to work or school an hour earlier each day, there would be strikes, perhaps riots, and widespread public discontent! We’re easily controlled, it seems.
The worst thing about DST is in the Autumn, when we go back to Standard Time. The days are already getting too short and suddenly we lose another hour of daylight in the PM. Personally, I think we should have DST year around, despite how much I hated it as a kid.
Here’s an idea with the potential (not that one works to their potential) to satisfy everyone. Change the hours, not the clocks. Keep mean solar time. If DST has illumination savings, change the hours from 9-5 to 8-4 “summer hours” and do it when needed and not just to accommodate Easter sunrise services and Halloween trick or treating. If the cows don’t like the change in milking schedule (few things are more piteous than the cries of an unmilked cow), don’t tamper with it.
We were in Alaska in June and the little kid next door was playing loudly outside at 11:30 pm—because why not?—while others were trying to sleep because the work day began at 5:30 am. Light-proof window coverings were a necessity (and soundproofing might have been a good idea too.)
Tesla Roadster 181 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Strange to choose the North Pole for this topic. No one will ever live there. The South Pole, on the other hand, does have people living there, year-round!
Grace Premium Member about 7 years ago
DST is antiquated and unnecessary. Throws of everyone’s circadian rhythm.
Francis Lapeyre Premium Member about 7 years ago
Does not save energy.
IQTech61 about 7 years ago
I am so grateful that more and more people are aware that in our 24/7 world, DST is an anachronism that needs to die.
And what sets me off about DST? Working third shift and having to work an extra hour every year when the clock falls back. Yes, I get paid for it but it means my circadian rhythm gets bonked twice a year.
StratmanRon about 7 years ago
DST has outlived it’s usefulness. At least a couple states understand this. It’s time to drop it completely nationwide.
assrdood about 7 years ago
“DST has outlived it’s usefulness. At least a couple states understand this. It’s time to drop it completely nationwide.”
IMHO It was never useful – I support your position
Max Starman Jones about 7 years ago
I know of no one that is in favor of DST and wonder why we keep electing people who keep it going.
Tyge about 7 years ago
A contrarian view: If you live on the eastern edge of a time zone the sun comes up at an unholy hour and you drive home from work in the dark. Not fun.
Tyge about 7 years ago
Now back to the topic: The active male mind is tuned to the imponderable. It keeps his view of things world fresh.
grainpaw about 7 years ago
Now that there is more daylight savings time than standard time, standard time is sub-standard.
MeGoNow Premium Member about 7 years ago
The unnaturalness of it all. It’s bad enough to live by artificial minutes, seconds, and hours and worse to have it become arbitrary. Since I’ve retired, my mantra is “Death to clocks.” (And telephones, they’re evil, too.)
ChessPirate about 7 years ago
@Francis Lapeyre
“Misquotes”=“mosquitoes”, methinks?
Yeah, probably. After all, misquotes are always active… ☺
Kirk Barnes Premium Member about 7 years ago
My recollection is that this was a bureaucratic “solution” to an agrarian problem that never existed. “Lets give farmers an extra hour to get their work done in the summer!” Real helpful to a guy that already works from “Can see to Can’t See” every day. But, Hey! We’re helping!
katzenbooks45 about 7 years ago
It wasn’t for farmers, it was for industrialists who wanted to use less electricity lighting their factories. BTW, the South Pole is on Greenwich Mean Time.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member about 7 years ago
Well, I can tell you that for a lot of us folks in the Northern U.S….. Daylight Savings Time is a greatly appreciated and wonderful event. The variance of our day lengths (as you go further north, there is more variation) is such that we greatly enjoy DST because then at this time of year, sunset does not occur until almost 7:30pm, which is (for us Northerners) a helluva boost to our morale…. far more significant that the minor, day-or-two circadian rhythm adjustment.
WF11 about 7 years ago
My father often made the point that, if instead of the mandated moving the clock ahead an hour and the government simply required everyone to go to work or school an hour earlier each day, there would be strikes, perhaps riots, and widespread public discontent! We’re easily controlled, it seems.
WF11 about 7 years ago
The worst thing about DST is in the Autumn, when we go back to Standard Time. The days are already getting too short and suddenly we lose another hour of daylight in the PM. Personally, I think we should have DST year around, despite how much I hated it as a kid.
Hippogriff about 7 years ago
Here’s an idea with the potential (not that one works to their potential) to satisfy everyone. Change the hours, not the clocks. Keep mean solar time. If DST has illumination savings, change the hours from 9-5 to 8-4 “summer hours” and do it when needed and not just to accommodate Easter sunrise services and Halloween trick or treating. If the cows don’t like the change in milking schedule (few things are more piteous than the cries of an unmilked cow), don’t tamper with it.
David Huie Green PrepareBeforeOrRegretLater about 7 years ago
Nobody has to live by standard time, we just like to be on the same page.
lindz.coop Premium Member about 7 years ago
Love DST because I like coming home in daylight and having time to have fun in the evening….absolutely hate when it gets dark at 4:30.
amaryllis2 Premium Member about 7 years ago
We were in Alaska in June and the little kid next door was playing loudly outside at 11:30 pm—because why not?—while others were trying to sleep because the work day began at 5:30 am. Light-proof window coverings were a necessity (and soundproofing might have been a good idea too.)
MosheWaisberg almost 7 years ago
DST is bogus