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

[EmotionalSupportPotato]

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?

amzn.eu/d/0d89ug0
A Godsend 😴

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

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.

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).

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

Yanbu. The flashing ones look awful. They're distracting for drivers too.

That’s really lovely of you. You’ll be on Santa’s nice list! 😁

I love seeing tasteful lights twisted around trees etc but don't like the flashing type.
We usually just put some fairy lights around all the trees in our front garden.

I like outdoor Christmas lights and I don’t mind the slow flash, but the fast flashing mode drives me crazy

Completely agree. You usually have to scroll through about six ridiculous settings for strobe, or gradually fading out then back as a strobe etc until you get to twinkle or still lights. We just want constant lights, gentle twinkle or lights off! That’s all.

I imagine OP’s neighbours have probably selected the wrong setting or they can’t reach the button and are just using the socket on/off so it just automatically comes on at strobe.

My next door neighbour has the blue ones every year on the fastest setting, same thing with it coming in around curtain edges, the light just travels so far in our house, on the hall walls, through downstairs loo window, the whole dining room. It's like ambulances out side. She never turns them off, I end up with my curtains practically stuck to the windows the whole of December and January as she doesn't take them down until February. What I don't get is all these mad flashing lights and projectors flashing lights everywhere outside, the house owner can't even see them unless they go outside so they're not even getting to enjoy them , it's us the neighbours who with the soft setting set trying to sit and watch TV or sleep and blue lights flashing everywhere.

I have Epilepsy and flashing lights is one of the triggers. My neighbours are lovely and only put out the nonflashing ones.

May I ask - do you have them on a timer so they go off at a sensible hour? Also - why do you like them over a more gentle or static mode?

@TiramisuThief - was going to say the same re the blue ones, for 3 weeks each year I'm convinced the police are pulling up outside!

That's good of you @Soitis83

Hopefully @whatdoyouthink123456 will take a leaf out of your book!

Thank you so much xx

No not a disgruntled neighbour, I am just a poor sod who suffers from epilepsy and loathes the bloody things. Do people have to have them on 24/7 ffs.

YANBU.
Completely unnecessary.

do you have neighbours? If yes consider adjusting the light setting to static on or a gentle twinkle…. Otherwise they’re likely to assume you’re a c*nt

They are annoying and the flashing blue ones should be banned as they look like the emergency services