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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate this about Christmas tree lights?

136 replies

GardenAnarchist · 14/12/2025 08:41

Picture the scene: You've spent ages trimming your Christmas tree with strings of fairy lights, sparkly baubles, shiny tinsel. Gorgeous! Then you switch on the plug socket... and your tree turns into a flashing strobe beacon visible from space. After rescuing any epileptic family members in the vicinity, you grope around the light plug for the control button and it takes 8 (eight) presses through a series of barely distinguishable but eye-watering flickery-flashy-blinky settings, to achieve the steady state of... ON.

Just why??

Why isn't ON the first default setting?
And while we're on that, why is there a setting of "pretend I'm ON, then just as the user withdraws their finger from the button, fade everything to black"?

I have multiple sets of tree lights bought over the last 10 years and they all do this. Some need 8 presses, some 7, some 9 😫 If I put my tree lights on a timer to save electricity, I come downstairs in the morning to a scene like a Star Wars laser battle and have to crawl on the floor to press all the buttons the requisite number of times.

YABU - Only a boring stick in the mud wants a steady glow on the tree. Clearly, at least 8 times more consumers prefer all the other blinky-flashy settings giving the electric storm-cum-Laserquest-kids-birthday-party vibe!

YANBU - Surely there must be a market for tree lights that just have OFF and ON? And maybe a third setting of gentle twinkling?

OP posts:
BeFairOliveBear · 14/12/2025 23:39

Mine take 8 clicks, it irritates me every time.
I could have written this post!

Statuesem · 14/12/2025 23:34

Wait. Did I write this? Are you me??

sumayyah · 14/12/2025 23:15

My daughters epileptic so the fast flash setting is a definite no in our house

Worse though is when were driving at night and some house is light up like the deck the halls house with it on multicoloured fast flash
She reacts to coloured lights and flashing, great fun!

TaterTots68 · 14/12/2025 22:39

GardenAnarchist · 14/12/2025 08:41

Picture the scene: You've spent ages trimming your Christmas tree with strings of fairy lights, sparkly baubles, shiny tinsel. Gorgeous! Then you switch on the plug socket... and your tree turns into a flashing strobe beacon visible from space. After rescuing any epileptic family members in the vicinity, you grope around the light plug for the control button and it takes 8 (eight) presses through a series of barely distinguishable but eye-watering flickery-flashy-blinky settings, to achieve the steady state of... ON.

Just why??

Why isn't ON the first default setting?
And while we're on that, why is there a setting of "pretend I'm ON, then just as the user withdraws their finger from the button, fade everything to black"?

I have multiple sets of tree lights bought over the last 10 years and they all do this. Some need 8 presses, some 7, some 9 😫 If I put my tree lights on a timer to save electricity, I come downstairs in the morning to a scene like a Star Wars laser battle and have to crawl on the floor to press all the buttons the requisite number of times.

YABU - Only a boring stick in the mud wants a steady glow on the tree. Clearly, at least 8 times more consumers prefer all the other blinky-flashy settings giving the electric storm-cum-Laserquest-kids-birthday-party vibe!

YANBU - Surely there must be a market for tree lights that just have OFF and ON? And maybe a third setting of gentle twinkling?

I totally get you. When you find the setting you want, it always reverts to the awful flashing one every time you've turned them off and back on. I like the twinkle, but not the flash, why can't they just twinkle? Barmy. Also, migraine inducing

justpassmethemouse · 14/12/2025 21:41

FlyingCatGirl · 14/12/2025 21:34

They've got a timer so you don't need to turn them off, they know what time to turn on and off. But at least you aren't making your street look like a rave like where I live! Mind you 8 hours is the awkward part, it could do to be 5 hours on these things.

Show quote history

I know haha, but it all depends on them being turned on at the right time first. Otherwise the 8 hours is all out.

Nomnomnew · 14/12/2025 21:39

Yes OP!

Also 8 presses on ours to get to a nice twinkle. Unfortunately our 3 year old knows where the button is and enthusiastically changes them to the super flashy settings. 🫠

BeQuirkyMintScroller · 14/12/2025 21:39

I hate sitting next to flashy strobe light trees when visiting on xmas day.

You sit down in the afternoon after more sugar food and booze than youd ordinarily eat... The TV is blaring, kids are being..kids, the place is heated to about 88 degrees...

You choose a comfoy spot in which you hope to fend off that headache lurking in the back of your head.

...and the tree basically assaults your retinas.

What's worse is that is the room where everyone is until bedtime and you can't escape the fucking strobe lighting in the corner of the room.

FlyingCatGirl · 14/12/2025 21:34

justpassmethemouse · 14/12/2025 21:18

They’re inside, but if I only turn them on at 8pm/9pm, they’d be carrying on into the night by themselves

Show quote history

They've got a timer so you don't need to turn them off, they know what time to turn on and off. But at least you aren't making your street look like a rave like where I live! Mind you 8 hours is the awkward part, it could do to be 5 hours on these things.

GreenGiant167 · 14/12/2025 21:31

Thanks for the ridiculous assumption that all epileptic people are affected by flashing lights. Do your homework.

frozendaisy · 14/12/2025 21:29

There are hundreds of possible options for fairy lights why buy what you don’t like?

we have lovely pretty static pastel ball lights from John Lewis (they were £40 3 years ago) worth every penny H loves them I can’t hang them they are effectively his

they aren’t glaring or flash

totally possible to get what you want it’s a consumer world

justpassmethemouse · 14/12/2025 21:18

FlyingCatGirl · 14/12/2025 20:07

But can't you leave them on being as they are on a timer, the manually switching on is what causes a problem to neighbours because of you insist on manually switching on your lights everyday, if you turn them on at 5, your lights might be pissing your neighbours off til 2am. Let the timer take full control as this is the mistake my neighbours are making!

Show quote history

They’re inside, but if I only turn them on at 8pm/9pm, they’d be carrying on into the night by themselves

BadgernTheGarden · 14/12/2025 21:10

Put ours on today and had to get up during dinner to find a more sensible setting, a long on, fade and on again. Tomorrow I will have a proper look! Ours do come back on the same as you set them, so there is some sort of memory.

abracadabra1980 · 14/12/2025 21:05

I have finally 'found my person'! Solidarity OP.

gandeysflipflop · 14/12/2025 21:04

Yes Yes Yes are you me because I moan about this every year too. Mine is also setting number 8 for the steady on mode as ive spent many a year now counting to 8 presses every bloody time I switch the lights on each day.
I cannot stand flashing lights they make me feel ill. Also hate it when neighbours have window lights on flashing mode. I do have an outdoor icycle lights set bought from B&Q a couple of years ago that seem to have memory of the last used mode. theyre great as when switched on are automatically on steady on mode. wish they made them all like that xx

SwirlyGates · 14/12/2025 21:04

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 14/12/2025 20:15

For some reason I can't post the link but if you search for "120 Warm white LED String lights With timer function Green cable" on the B&Q website, that's the ones!

Wow, I just missed out on some freebie lights that a neighbour was giving away on facebook, so I had a trawl on facebook marketplace - there are lots for £10, or £3 if I drive across the city, etc. Your B&Q ones are a fiver!

BoarBrush · 14/12/2025 20:57

I wore my sunglasses to put the lights on this year, why are they so bloody bright!😂

SwirlyGates · 14/12/2025 20:51

Yes! I have two sets of lights on my tree, and one requires about 5 presses for the steady state, while the other needs 7 or 8. Who can remember this stuff?!

ethelredonagoodday · 14/12/2025 20:50

catlover123456789 · 14/12/2025 17:58

The lights should either be on or off. The mode where it tricks you its on and then fades out once you've sat down is the most annoying thing ever.

Yes, 100% agree. So annoying!

ethelredonagoodday · 14/12/2025 20:43

very much agree. Would like the option of a gentle twinkling light, but not fussed for any of the numerous other settings beyond just on!

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 14/12/2025 20:15

For some reason I can't post the link but if you search for "120 Warm white LED String lights With timer function Green cable" on the B&Q website, that's the ones!

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 14/12/2025 20:12

Oh yes, I feel your pain on this. Put two new sets of lights on the tree yesterday, plugged them in and both went off on a setting which I can only describe as a cross between ‘strobe’ and ‘We have ways of making you talk’.

Eventually managed to find the ‘just on’ setting which is much more restful.

For anyone looking for ‘traditional’ lights, I’ve been through many sets over the years and ones that looked nice in the shop were always too orange, too white or too sickly. Eventually I found the almost perfect set from B&Q.

autumnsheretimetogetcosy · 14/12/2025 20:10

Pricelessadvice · 14/12/2025 08:49

YES!!!

I couldn’t agree more OP, this infuriates me aswell!

Me too! You’re not alone OP!

light manufacturers.. take note!!

DecemberGloom · 14/12/2025 20:08

I knew this thread would be about the 8 button pushes!!

Yanbu. Even worse is our external lights also do this! Have to change them each time.

FlyingCatGirl · 14/12/2025 20:07

justpassmethemouse · 14/12/2025 19:29

My lights have an automatic timer to be on for 8 hours and off for 16, so when they turn back on they’re already on the ON setting. If only I’d actually remember to turn them on at 4pm so this would work 🤦‍♀️

But can't you leave them on being as they are on a timer, the manually switching on is what causes a problem to neighbours because of you insist on manually switching on your lights everyday, if you turn them on at 5, your lights might be pissing your neighbours off til 2am. Let the timer take full control as this is the mistake my neighbours are making!

notnorman · 14/12/2025 20:03

Mine you have to press 8 times. Awful