Turning out the big light

[Barney16]

I'm interested to know if I'm deluded or if my DP is quite mad. Every single evening at some point, whilst we are sitting in the living room watching TV, he will say mind if I turn the big light out? If he does we are plunged into virtual darkness except for a rather rubbish table lamp. It's like sitting in the dark more or less. He says he likes it because "it's like being in the pictures". It isn't, it's exactly like sitting in the dark. It's obviously a completely mundane problem but I honestly don't think the majority of people sit in the dark watching their TV do they?

@NattyTurtle59 100w bulbs in all light fixtures here. 💡😎

our main lights are on a dimmer switch

We always watch tv with light off

We're the opposite, DH would have the big light on every night, and I'd be happy to never have it on. He hates "sitting in the dark" but won't have lamps because they're clutter. I tolerate it until after tea, then if there's no jobs to be don't that need lights I switch it off.

I'm team lamp too, only use the big light when cleaning or something that needs a lot of light, definitely not for watching TV!

I agree, it's cosy with just the lamp on, not pitch black though, I'd hate that too! Look for another lamp or two, or some dim fairy lights round a bookshelf or dresser. But even if it is pitch black it's not really like being in the pictures is it?

Ah..., well the pictures have sound now (they're referred to as talkies) and they don't have the organist anymore.

Not without popcorn and a Coke. 😁

Loving the comments but this stood out for me, very sad, sorry to hear that StevesLavaChicken, but yeah, you can do what you like now.

This.

I dislike going to people's houses which only have 'mood' lighting like I am in some kind of romantic restaurant. Bloody put the light on!

BTW, I don't know what is a Big Light. It is called The Lights.

I am with your dh.

Well it's obviously a common thing as quite a few poster have recognised it 🤷.

I did recognise it and we also don't use the "big light" apart from searching for a lost item or cleaning (in crevices when doing a deep clean), or again in winter grabbing a few extra hours of daylight when it gets dark.

To watch TV in our family the big light is off.

I have recollections of my parents, aunties etc talking about the "big light". But they turn the big light off to watch TV with some sort of lamp. And they are old enough to talk about going to the pictures but they really mean the cinema 🤣🤣

The big light is the main light, from the ceiling. Do people have mood lighting for anything other than a film btw?!

I find the TV too glaring for my astigmatism if there's not enough other light in the room, but equally don't like a full on big light. Thankfully my livingroom lights are dimmable, but my partners aren't and its either squint and headache from the big light, or get painfully blinded every time theres a really bright scene in whatever we're watching.
So i got some battery operated LED lights that i've strategically placed around his room.

😂😂

We only use the big light for illumination when we have dropped something. It is even called “The Big Light” to turn on and off via Alexa.

We have an led colour changing light behind the tv, and lamps. Floor and table lamps, and a bright reading light next to me as I don’t like a room to be too dim, but also don’t like a central big light as it doesn’t illuminate the room how we want.

Big lights remind me of the 150w bulbs at my Gran’s on a Saturday night when we were all forced to watch Bullseye. We much prefer targeted light around the room.

Is this not using the Big Light business some kind of hangover from WW2 rationing or something?

I did not grow up in the UK. I find stumbling and fumbling around in the dark as a preference quite bizarre. I have the Big Light and Lamps on, like the Fontainebleau.

Absolutely agree! 💡💡💡💡

Did you put big light in quotes to mock me? 😂

Sounds like our house. DH likes to turn off the main lights to watch TV. Our TV is huge and the picture is pretty clear to me. We have a couple of side lights. I can't stand low lighting - it hurts my eyes, but maybe that it psychological? I had to have my lens replaced a few years ago and since then strugging to see in low lighting got worse. Anyway I don't like it.

The only time (all) the lights went off was during the zombie battle scene in GOT and we still couldn't work out what was going on!

My dad used to go mad if the big light was on! Our living room was lit by the light of a lamp next to mums chair (so she could read) and the light from the telly. I’m in my 60’s now and still feel guilty putting the big light on. I do have a fair few lamps though.

Y'all, if your ceiling light is too harsh get a different light bulb. Mine is warm white and I have an up-lighter lampshade. It's lovely. But then I can't see very well in dim light, I like to read and I don't have a TV.

I never have the main light on when I watch TV. I have a table lamp on, it’s much more pleasant and restful than the big light. Perhaps get another lamp that gives you a bit more light.

I thought “big lights” were for cleaning and looking for small things like needles that you have dropped, not for an evening.

My husband always does this when we settle to watch a movie. Trouble is it then makes me really tired so I'm struggling then to watch it 😞