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Original poster

To think outdoor Christmas lights shouldn't come with flash mode?

85 replies

EmotionalSupportPotato · 01/12/2024 19:21

My neighbours have put their lights up and put them on some sort of strobe mode or something. It won't go off until about 12 if we're lucky based on last year. Aibu to say outdoor lights shouldn't be made with a flash mode?

OP posts:
AngryBookworm · 01/12/2024 23:49

YANBU. The house opposite mine has bright flashing (and I do mean flashing: a gentle twinkle this is not) lights on ALL NIGHT during the festive period and it drives me batty. Never understood why people do it - to me it feels much cosier to just have the lights steady. Not actively making people feel ill being an added bonus!

StarCurator · 01/12/2024 23:39

I don't think that "disgruntled" is the appropriate word: flashing lights can trigger epilepsy and migraines, and, unless you have really effective blackout blinds or curtains, there is usually light-leak which can affect sleep. What do you love so much about your lights? Perhaps the comments on here may encourage you to rethink.

Soitis83 · 01/12/2024 23:37

I have flashing lights but now I'm going to change them to not flash as I didn't even consider how annoying they could be for my neighbours. My kids love them but I don't want to piss anyone off or induce migraines.

whatdoyouthink123456 · 01/12/2024 23:24

I love my flashy Christmas lights 🤩 I'm guessing by all the disgruntled neighbours on here, I'm not the only one 🤣

JBJ · 01/12/2024 23:18

The people over the road have put up blue flashing ones all over the front of their house which are on all night. Looks like the emergency services are on the street and lights up the front bedroom through the curtains. Very inconsiderate and annoying!

Thegoatliesdownonbroadway · 01/12/2024 23:15

One of my neighbours has inflatable Santa's and Snowmen. It's just so tacky. I can't figure out why they do it.

StarCurator · 01/12/2024 23:13

I agree. For people who have photosensitive epilepsy, the flashing lights can trigger seizures, and for everyone else, they are very obtrusive. Unfortunately, there is no legislation limiting the intensity or speed of flashing of decorative lights, yet the speed at which bicycle lights can flash is restricted by legislation! Those with photosensitive epilepsy are typically confined to their homes from November until January/February every year.

Bright lights also can frighten and disorientate wildlife that is active at night (e.g., bats, owls, badgers, hedgehogs). I live in a rural area, and have been annoyed all weekend by the flashing and bright lights that have just been installed on our parish hall, which are set to go on until the morning, even though the hall is at the periphery of the village on a lane so few people will see it at night (apart from me).

Merrilydancing · 01/12/2024 23:07

Definitely should be banned. It took us quite some time to get ones without though which was a pain in the arse as we always have them on timer and the old ones used to default to this.

noctilucentcloud · 01/12/2024 23:03

Tomatina · 01/12/2024 20:01

Yes ban these bloody things. They trigger migraines and epilepsy in several people I know, and even for those without medical issues they are just extremely unpleasant. Who in their right mind would want them?

They're pretty horrible when you have dizziness issues too. I'd love to ban them!

Justleaveitblankthen · 01/12/2024 22:49

amzn.eu/d/0d89ug0
A Godsend 😴

ForPearlViper · 01/12/2024 22:19

I have had the same, beautiful, outside lights for the last 10 years. Every year I spend hours trying to get them on the setting for 'gentle twinkle'. Every year they constantly default to search and rescue flashing. Luckily, the don't shine into anyone else's house. And they are on a timer to go off at 11 pm.

Original poster
EmotionalSupportPotato · 01/12/2024 22:08

TiramisuThief · 01/12/2024 21:18

Yeah i loathe the flashing ones too. I don't mind the ones that sort of twinkle or gently fade in and out though.

The neighbours have set up flashing blue and white ones. It looks like some sort of police incident 🙄

Ooh maybe you could ask the police non emergancy helpline if everything is OK as there have been police there for 4 hours with lights on

OP posts:
PassingStranger · 01/12/2024 22:06

Yanbu.

TiramisuThief · 01/12/2024 21:18

Yeah i loathe the flashing ones too. I don't mind the ones that sort of twinkle or gently fade in and out though.

The neighbours have set up flashing blue and white ones. It looks like some sort of police incident 🙄

User820825 · 01/12/2024 20:29

YANBU. I can't understand why anyone was choose any flashing never ming that frantic flashing.

Original poster
EmotionalSupportPotato · 01/12/2024 20:24

SkyView · 01/12/2024 20:09

My -thoughtless- neighbour has these on all year round too. It's extremely thoughtless & selfish.

It infiltrates my bedroom around the edge of my blackout blind & triggers my Neurological issues. I have told him this too. He has reduced the time they're on.

It's a super quiet street near to woods & abundant with wildlife too.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/garden-lighting-effects-on-wildlife 'light pollution is a driver of insect decline'.

Edited the excessive amount of angry faces

Edited

ALL YEAR? I'm so so sorry

OP posts:
LoobyDoop2 · 01/12/2024 20:17

LadyChilli · 01/12/2024 20:12

OMG this! Steady on lights is always the last option of the huge number of choices you have to cycle through as well. I only want normal lights and they are so hard to find now.

Show quote history

Me too, it’s a massive pain. You can get ones that have a memory function so once you’ve set it, they come back on to the same setting until you actively change it- so you don’t have to cycle through the whole lot each time.

GrumpyCactus · 01/12/2024 20:15

I agree completely. The house across the road from us has these ridiculous lights that flash so fast it genuinely gives me a headache.

Curtains don't help because when my room is dark I can still see them through the edges of the curtains.

You have my sympathy.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 01/12/2024 20:14

Caterina99 · 01/12/2024 19:37

I don’t think any should be made with that insane flashing mode. Does anyone actually want that. Inside or out?!

Not me - I loathe all flashing lights!

LadyChilli · 01/12/2024 20:12

Caterina99 · 01/12/2024 19:37

I don’t think any should be made with that insane flashing mode. Does anyone actually want that. Inside or out?!

OMG this! Steady on lights is always the last option of the huge number of choices you have to cycle through as well. I only want normal lights and they are so hard to find now.

SkyView · 01/12/2024 20:09

My -thoughtless- neighbour has these on all year round too. It's extremely thoughtless & selfish.

It infiltrates my bedroom around the edge of my blackout blind & triggers my Neurological issues. I have told him this too. He has reduced the time they're on.

It's a super quiet street near to woods & abundant with wildlife too.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/garden-lighting-effects-on-wildlife 'light pollution is a driver of insect decline'.

Edited the excessive amount of angry faces

Original poster
EmotionalSupportPotato · 01/12/2024 20:08

FOJN · 01/12/2024 20:00

Couldn't you tell a little white lie and use migraines as an excuse to ask them to stop using the flashing mode.

One does not simply ask these neighbours anything unfortunately

OP posts:
Tomatina · 01/12/2024 20:01

Yes ban these bloody things. They trigger migraines and epilepsy in several people I know, and even for those without medical issues they are just extremely unpleasant. Who in their right mind would want them?

FOJN · 01/12/2024 20:00

Couldn't you tell a little white lie and use migraines as an excuse to ask them to stop using the flashing mode.

Original poster
EmotionalSupportPotato · 01/12/2024 19:54

fishfingersandchipsagain · 01/12/2024 19:39

YANBU they are awful, tasteless, and a migraine trigger, not to mention distracting for drivers.

I hadn't even thought about migraines. I'm so sorry to those that suffer.

OP posts:
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