Flashing Christmas lights

[Galiano]

What is it with flashing Christmas lights? Does anyone actually find them attractive? I've just been for a walk around my village and was bombarded with migraine inducing, manically flashing lights on every block. None of them were in sync and they were unbearable to look at for more than a few seconds, there was nothing peaceful or magical about it. I get the idea of gently twinkling lights but what is the point of strobe lights? Just because they can flash, doesn't mean they should. AIBU?

YANBU they are annoying light pollution. Static or gently twinkling lights are fine though. Less is more.

I also hate the plastic inflatable tat - so naff.

That's weird, though.
Our lights have the 8 settings and they're on a timer but they always come on as steady

I detest them. I have just bought a lovely light that is going straight back as there was no mention of the fact it flashes and has no other setting.
The flashing lights everywhere make me feel a bit sick, and they are all so horrible bright. That electric blue ! Aaarhhgggh. I hate it.

Migraine sufferer here too.
Lights are nice. Gently twinkling is rather lovely. Strobey flashing are not only horrible to look at they really do bring on actual migraines.

The flashing lights can trigger a migraine for me. I get vestibular migraines that last for days and leave me bed ridden as I am too dizzy to do anything.

I bought some special glasses that filter lights with a green lens, migralens. I keep them on a lot at this time of year.

Twinkling is fine, flashing lights however are just horrible for a lot of people.

I also hate flashing lights and blue lights at christmas - i am going to ban them when I'm in charge!

@OneMoreForExtra

As PP have said, a lot of the trouble is that lights are set to flash when they first come on. If they're on a timer as ours are we have to scroll through to a steady shine, which I do instantly when home as I hate the flashing, but if we're out past 4pm I come home to a disco. Why make them like that? Surely the default should be a plain glow!

Same for us. And as the switch thing is INSIDE and the lights are outside so it needs two of us - one to do the switch, the other to shout "stop!" on the right setting.

I do prefer the static light but on my neighbour's homes I'd much rather flashing lights than none!

I hate them too. Always have done.

I hate them too - they're full-on in the next road to mine. My neighbours have the house projector thing on, it looks ghastly.

I think the problem lies with the manufacturers having 'flashing' mode as the first option on most lights. People dont realise you have to cycle through to the end to get static lighting.

If people simply come home and switch them on, then they'll get flashing mode.

Maybe we need a campaign aimed at manufacturers to have 'static' as default.

I dont know what can be done about the awful blue 'emergency services' lights though.

My lights are meant to twinkle but for some reason occasionally switch themselves to flash. So annoying. No idea why lights would even have that setting as I agree, it's horrible

I don't mind the slow dimming ones, I love the warm glowing ones but the bright blue ones make me sick! I get such terrible head aches.

@Pohtaytoes

The flashing lights can trigger a migraine for me. I get vestibular migraines that last for days and leave me bed ridden as I am too dizzy to do anything.

I bought some special glasses that filter lights with a green lens, migralens. I keep them on a lot at this time of year.

Twinkling is fine, flashing lights however are just horrible for a lot of people.

Okay, well now I love flashing lights as they caused @Pohtaytoes to write this post and now I know of the existence of migralens. This might actually change my life. Thank you!

Love twinkling lights. Makes streets look lovely. Bit some are rave worthy

I despise flashing lights, especially the blue toned ones.

Our neighbour in the house opposite has their house and hedges covered in them, with the added bonus that they leave them on all night for some bizarre reason

I cannot be enough of a grinch to complain to someone about their fucking christmas lights so we’ve just taken to hanging sheets along the top of our curtains so that it doesn’t look like Wigan pier in our bedroom.

It feels like there’s been a fucking major incident in our cul de sac. Furiously flashing lights are not festive.

@MsJaneAusten 🤨

Love them! we have loads of flashing lights on our house but we live opposite a primary school and the kids love our house.

And we leave ours on 24/7

Migraine trigger for me. Plus they are tacky af.

@XelaM I'm curious, what is it you like about them?

I think you're on to something with targeting the manufacturers. I hadn't considered that disco rave is the default setting. My faith in humanity is restored.

@XelaM

Love them! we have loads of flashing lights on our house but we live opposite a primary school and the kids love our house.

When I think back to my schooldays, I am reminded that it's a good job that nine year olds don't get to be the arbiters of good taste.

Ergh. I hate them so much. It would drive me crazy having a neighbour opposite with flashing lights. So tacky.

@LadyEloise1

I like warm white twinkling lights. Does anyone have them and what brand are they / from where ?

The battery ones i have, have 8 different sequences but none just twinkle

Festive brand Twister Firefly lights is what you want. I have several sets and they're lovely

My icicle lights from Aldi twinkle nicely (they do all the other things too but stay on twinkle if you use the inbuilt timer plug). I think the warm white are out of stock but they have straight strings which I assume have the same twinkle.

I loathe that jagged flashing setting. It's awful!

I don't like them, I can't even bring myself to have the flashing light setting on my Christmas tree ! Just warm and twinkley please.