Neighbour asked us to stop our Christmas lights flashing

[SuddenlyISee]

Outside Christmas lights got put up on Sunday morning going around a couple of the windows at the front of the house (we live end terrace on a close).
We were out till late on Sunday evening so they were only on for probably an hour that day and then I switched them on when I got home from work at about 3:30 yesterday. Within an hour, my opposite neighbour knocked on my door and said that although he really likes the "Christmas cheer", could we not have them flashing all the time as they are disturbing him at night. They are turned off no later than 10pm as that is when we go to bed. There are multiple settings and I can't control that my children keep changing them when I'm not in the room where the plug is. I just feel like I'm going to spend the next few weeks worrying that our lights are offending him and wonder if I should just take them down. The neighbours either side of the neighbour that complained have both got the same lights as us so I have the same view as him, if not more so, and I can't see how it would affect anyone

Yanbu it's a couple weeks of lights

I'm very combative? I've said I would stop the flashing as requested. I also said that to him at the time and was very friendly about it, as was he. I started the thread because I was intrigued by how the lights could affect anyone. I have been educated so thank you all for that but please don't question my parenting. I used the wrong wording, that's all.

We asked our lovely neighbours if they could turn off their flashing lights and they very kindly did. Flashing lights can set off migraines and fits in some people. I adore fairy lights and Christmas lights, but not when they are flashing. They are painful to behold.

I have epilepsy, don't try this nonsense with me.

If you do not have photosensitive epilepsy, your sensory distaste for flashing lights is coincidental. It's just a preference. Don't act like you're being persecuted. You're not. Christmas lights are safe for epileptics, and would not be permitted to be sold if they were not.

Waste of electricity apart from anything else. Just have them on indoors. I fucking hate Xmas so the fewer flashing light reminders, the better.

Yabu put them on static not flashing

Stop the lights flashing. That would really annoy me too.
Also could be really dangerous for anyone suffering with epilepsy.

Would help if you replied to me!

All I can say is ha, ha, ha, ha!

I am not the only one questioning your parenting here. If anything I was concerned you’re letting your kids touch electrical items and not bothered about their safety (I’m sure you are bothered really).

Anyway let’s leave it there. Seems like you’ve taken things on board. Merry Christmas! 🎅

Ug. Hate flashing lights. Your neighbour probably had to drum up a lot of diplomacy to speak to you.

I have no idea if the pp’s reaction to flashing lights is related to her epilepsy or not but if that’s what she’s experiencing it’s not just a preference. A preference is where you don’t like them because think they’re a bit tacky. Feeling physically sick and needing to sit down when you see them is a physical reaction not a preference.

Tell him to close his curtains and mind his own business.

Why is everyone so combative and angry about things. Why can't people be more agreeable and chill out a bit.

I'm happy to stand up for myself when I need to but if someone politely asked me to stop doing something that was bothering them that didn't really make any difference to me I'd stop. Even if I thought their request was silly.

Exactly. Why are so many people determined to assert their right to be a bellend above all else?

I agree, I was just thinking that when I read the response of tell him to close his curtains and mind his own business, do people really behave like that in real life when Met with a polite and reasonable request.

Who raised these people, do their parents behave like that? Is that where they learned it? Do they have their own kids, and behave like this in front of them?

or are they just keyboard warriors, who’d never follow their own advice in real life.

Ah. Because you're okay, everyone else must be?

Your sad little belief that if it was unsafe for those with epilepsy then it would not be allowed completely ignores strobe lighting in clubs, flashing images in movies and on TV, etc. Those come with warnings, so I can choose not to expose myself.

I navigate life knowing that I'm going to encounter it at times. Even driving through a line of trees with the sun behind them can make me feel unwell. Headlights when driving too. I adjust my life to avoid them as far as possible.

I accept that to you, my issues are meaningless, irrelevant, nonsense. Because you're okay with it, it's not an issue for anyone. Gotcha.

What meds are you on for your epilepsy? Cos if they're that good, I'm getting me some.

My neighbour has the blue flashing ones. It’s like having a police car at the door from mid November until new years . Tbf I can’t see them from my bedroom but it’s very annoying when I’m just pottering around in my own home in the evenings and people shouldn’t really need to blackout every window from 3:30 onwards so other people can cosplay motorway cops for a month.



Very well expressed @Zwicky

Blue 'Christmas' lights are so cold looking -precisely as they resemble emergency vehicles.

But this....Imagine living opposite this!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6J-5FvT0_v4

Blooming Grinch type people!

This ^^ but also yabu for flashing lights they are bloody horrible things.

Came on to say basically this. The worry in itself of a migraine with aura when around flashing lights is terrible, even if I don’t actually get one.

Regular ligths are fine but flashing lights can really work on a persons nerves 😊 Could you maybe explain to your children what the issue is and ask them not to play with the lights after 8'ish p.m. or so?

Flashing lights are a bit common anyway! Joking of course.
Just control the children! It's not too much to ask.

Lights are fine.
But flashing lights in your field of vision - are not.

I love Christmas outside house lights , but I loathe them flashing. They set something off in my brain and make me feel nauseous- weird.