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marym625

(17,997 posts)
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 10:45 PM Mar 2015

Five Myths about Daylight Savings Time

Interesting stuff. I would rather we keep the clocks one time all year. I think DST makes more sense than standard time. Imho.

The Myths

1. Daylight saving time was meant to help farmers.

2. The extra daylight makes us healthier and happier.

3. It helps us conserve energy.

4. DST benefits businesses

5. Standard time is standard.

The reality is in the article.

In fact, some opponents of DST aren’t against daylight saving time per se: They think it should be adopted as the year-round standard time. Because it basically already is.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-daylight-saving-time/2015/03/06/970092d4-c2c1-11e4-9271-610273846239_story.html
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Five Myths about Daylight Savings Time (Original Post) marym625 Mar 2015 OP
I think d_r Mar 2015 #1
interesting! marym625 Mar 2015 #2
I would love to stay on DST. roamer65 Mar 2015 #3
I agree marym625 Mar 2015 #5
If you would like more afternoon daylight hours in the winter TexasProgresive Mar 2015 #7
I pretty much hibernate in the winter marym625 Mar 2015 #10
So it really doesn't matter if we are on standard time in the winter. TexasProgresive Mar 2015 #14
Well, I don't like the time change marym625 Mar 2015 #16
The sun would rise at 8 AM if DST were extended into winter meow2u3 Mar 2015 #46
Good point. marym625 Mar 2015 #50
I would too dflprincess Mar 2015 #54
my vote is for year round dst Travis_0004 Mar 2015 #4
I wish we could vote in it marym625 Mar 2015 #6
#2 always makes me laugh. There is no "extra daylight". WillowTree Mar 2015 #8
Yeah, that's a good one marym625 Mar 2015 #12
Oh, no, not this crap from Arizona again! Warpy Mar 2015 #9
Sorry to upset you marym625 Mar 2015 #11
You ever spend a summer in Arizona? TM99 Mar 2015 #26
DST has no effect whatever on the amount of daylight you get tkmorris Mar 2015 #28
If that were factual, TM99 Mar 2015 #32
you believe DST creates an additional hour of daylight? ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #47
It creates an extra hour of useable daylight dumbcat Mar 2015 #60
Thank you. TM99 Mar 2015 #63
i don't like the clock change either ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #66
well, that sounds like a personal problem ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #65
I'm next door in NM Warpy Mar 2015 #29
Where in NM? TM99 Mar 2015 #33
it's the only thing I'll drop the S-bomb on MisterP Mar 2015 #13
What is a superstition? marym625 Mar 2015 #18
DST is MisterP Mar 2015 #19
Ah! Thank you marym625 Mar 2015 #21
As are all arbitrary measurements of time. Yet we pretend one is a little more "real" than the other LanternWaste Mar 2015 #68
how'm I being trendy? I don't call anything else a superstition! MisterP Mar 2015 #69
Just pick one or the other. Who cares what time the sun comes up or sets. RB TexLa Mar 2015 #15
I love it staying light until 9pm in the summer! marym625 Mar 2015 #17
Standard Oil was the real driver behind Daylight Time. Wellstone ruled Mar 2015 #20
Thank you for that marym625 Mar 2015 #22
"Standard Oil was the real driver behind Daylight Time." /citation needed. AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #24
It's an interesting op-ed article, but.... AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #23
I don't think for a second anything will change marym625 Mar 2015 #25
That's daylight saving - no s. According to the TV laundry_queen Mar 2015 #27
interesting marym625 Mar 2015 #36
It's always been "saving". It's not a bank account. PeaceNikki Mar 2015 #70
Our legislature is trying to do away with DST here, Blue_In_AK Mar 2015 #30
That's a hefty time difference marym625 Mar 2015 #37
Just get rid of the clocks The2ndWheel Mar 2015 #31
There ya go! marym625 Mar 2015 #38
I believe #4 is correct and the prime reason DST was implemented in the first place. The extra .... Scuba Mar 2015 #34
Really? marym625 Mar 2015 #39
Great! We have a new subject that everyone here at DU can argue about! CTyankee Mar 2015 #35
Not going to let that happen marym625 Mar 2015 #40
Yes, it is fun! I agree... CTyankee Mar 2015 #41
The real problem isn't LWolf Mar 2015 #42
+100 marym625 Mar 2015 #43
Exactly. I don't care which time gets picked - DST or ST - I just want to stop being jacked around. scarletwoman Mar 2015 #62
Saving time. You keep your money in a Damansarajaya Mar 2015 #44
Yes marym625 Mar 2015 #45
Shame on you! CTyankee Mar 2015 #49
LOL! marym625 Mar 2015 #52
I usually say "savings time" too actually. It's easy to do. nt Damansarajaya Mar 2015 #71
I do know one thing that is try. Before the spring change my great grandchild get up to meet the jwirr Mar 2015 #48
I didn't think about the kids marym625 Mar 2015 #51
That's actually backwards. scarletwoman Mar 2015 #57
You caught me. I have a problem with thinking this problem through. My sister says I lack math jwirr Mar 2015 #59
I imagine that if you don't have to be up early in the morning, it's harder to conceptualize. scarletwoman Mar 2015 #61
That is my problem. I have never been good at story problems because of exactly that - I draw a jwirr Mar 2015 #67
"Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, Agnosticsherbet Mar 2015 #53
I love that! marym625 Mar 2015 #56
I LOVE DST... chillfactor Mar 2015 #55
This year marym625 Mar 2015 #58
Me too! DawgHouse Mar 2015 #64

d_r

(6,907 posts)
1. I think
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 10:52 PM
Mar 2015

We should start planning now and next fall set them back one half hour then never touch them again.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
3. I would love to stay on DST.
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 10:53 PM
Mar 2015

I know I don't want standard time in the summers. The sun would be rising at 5 AM. No thanks.

TexasProgresive

(12,148 posts)
7. If you would like more afternoon daylight hours in the winter
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:12 PM
Mar 2015

you would need to double or triple the hours since there are less daylight hours in the winter and the further north you are the less. But that balances out in the summer as the further north one is the longer the day.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
10. I pretty much hibernate in the winter
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:25 PM
Mar 2015

So I'm good with whatever is going on outside, as long as the sun shines some of the time

marym625

(17,997 posts)
16. Well, I don't like the time change
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:38 PM
Mar 2015

And I do like DST in the summer. So, I prefer DST.

I don't think anything we think matters. It won't change this

meow2u3

(24,745 posts)
46. The sun would rise at 8 AM if DST were extended into winter
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 03:11 PM
Mar 2015

IDK about you, but it would be damn near impossible for me to get up in the morning 2 hours before the sun comes up.

dflprincess

(28,057 posts)
54. I would too
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:03 PM
Mar 2015

I would rather have a little more light at the end of the day rather than going to and leaving work in the dark in the winter. At least in December it would be twilight at 5 pm and not full dark if we stayed on DST. So what if it's still dark out the first hour or so I'm at the office?

Warpy

(110,909 posts)
9. Oh, no, not this crap from Arizona again!
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:14 PM
Mar 2015

1. Farmers were never mentioned when DST was instituted full time by FDR. They rise when the roosters make sleep impossible and work until and sometimes after dusk. The clock is irrelevant for farm work.

2. Having sunlight at one end of the winter commute in northern latitudes might decrease winter depression. Going to work in darkness and coming home in darkness sucks. This article is complaining about the twice a year time change, not DST, which should be year round.

3. Oh, it certainly does by reducing household lighting needs, especially in Luddite households that still use mostly incandescent and other inefficient lighting. In addition, more light in the evening means more light to be outdoors instead of asleep in a chair with the TV blaring. The spike in AC only comes in hotter months, certainly not this weekend, and would happen anyway.

4. I don't think they were mentioned, either, along with farmers. This is also silly BS by people who don't understand that changing the clock doesn't magically create a 25 hour day.

5. Standard time is 100% arbitrary. That's the only true thing they almost said.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
11. Sorry to upset you
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:28 PM
Mar 2015

Not taking any of it as gospel and didn't follow any of the Arizona stuff.

Thanks for the information. I do appreciate it.

 

TM99

(8,352 posts)
26. You ever spend a summer in Arizona?
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 01:56 AM
Mar 2015

The last thing we need are extra hours of daylight. There is a damned good reason why we always abstain form DST shifts.

tkmorris

(11,138 posts)
28. DST has no effect whatever on the amount of daylight you get
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 02:36 AM
Mar 2015

All it does is change what time the clock says when you get it.

dumbcat

(2,120 posts)
60. It creates an extra hour of useable daylight
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:34 PM
Mar 2015

Daylight before my eyes are open in the morning is not useable. I can use it in the evening instead.

 

TM99

(8,352 posts)
63. Thank you.
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 11:11 PM
Mar 2015

An extra hour of useable daylight is not what I or most would desire in a state where it can still be 100º at midnight!

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
66. i don't like the clock change either
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 04:22 AM
Mar 2015

but usable light is a matter of preference. i prefer my usable light in the morning ... not at night. makes me nuts, but in the summer i end up going to bed while the sun is still up and end up spending extra time in the morning in the dark.

DST is nothing but perception... and if it weren't for the fact that most of us have to work for a living wouldn't be a problem.

sP

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
65. well, that sounds like a personal problem
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 04:20 AM
Mar 2015

some people actually get up in the morning and could use the light then. It is a little after 0400 here in the east... I would love to be able to get my outside activities going a little earlier... but not now.

so, usable daylight is relative. daylight it daylight. all this clock shifting crap is tapdancing. stop moving the damned clocks.

sP

 

TM99

(8,352 posts)
33. Where in NM?
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 03:28 AM
Mar 2015

If you are in the northern cities, they simply are not the same as the Phoenix Valley.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
68. As are all arbitrary measurements of time. Yet we pretend one is a little more "real" than the other
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 11:32 AM
Mar 2015

As are all arbitrary measurements of time. Yet we often pretend one is a little more "real" than the other-- possibly to feel more clever about ourselves... or possibly to better advertise our trendy and fashionable cynicism.

 

RB TexLa

(17,003 posts)
15. Just pick one or the other. Who cares what time the sun comes up or sets.
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:37 PM
Mar 2015

It's stupid to go back and forth.
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
20. Standard Oil was the real driver behind Daylight Time.
Sat Mar 7, 2015, 11:44 PM
Mar 2015

They knew with more recreational daylight they would sell more gasoline. And to sell this pig in a poke,the politicians said it would save Gasoline for the War Effort. So we got ration stamps and that was a major nightmare. Call it what it was,propaganda.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
24. "Standard Oil was the real driver behind Daylight Time." /citation needed.
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 12:05 AM
Mar 2015

I don't know where you saw this claim of Standard Oil being *the* driver behind Daylight Time, but it sure as hell doesn't jive with anything I've ever read on the subject. It's very likely just another myth.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
23. It's an interesting op-ed article, but....
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 12:01 AM
Mar 2015

Adopting DST year-round on the federal level, would pose it's own serious problems.....just ask the Russians.....and so, too, would eliminating DST altogether(especially in places such as Boston, Portland, Me., or pretty much anywhere in California.).

marym625

(17,997 posts)
25. I don't think for a second anything will change
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 12:06 AM
Mar 2015

Just thought it was fun. Got sick of the bullshit fighting and thought this was interesting. Evidently, much is incorrect but I learned by posting it.


laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)
27. That's daylight saving - no s. According to the TV
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 02:07 AM
Mar 2015

Seriously, it's a new thing. They have everyone on tv dropping the s. There was a discussion on some morning show yesterday about how stupid it was, lol.

Anyhow, I hate any time change. I lived in a place that didn't have the time change. It was truly bliss. Loved it. Didn't notice any 'lack of daylight' issues.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
36. interesting
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 07:48 AM
Mar 2015

It's correct but it sure is not that big a deal in mho. Though my mother would have been upset if she saw I wrote "savings"

I agree, it's really an annoyance that causes unnecessary issues. Should just be one or the other all year.

Thanks for the tidbit! I appreciate it

Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)
30. Our legislature is trying to do away with DST here,
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 03:01 AM
Mar 2015

which on one level makes sense, but since it would put the east coast five hours ahead of us, it seems like it would be bad for business.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
37. That's a hefty time difference
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 07:50 AM
Mar 2015

I know dealing with both coasts at my last job even the 2 hours made things difficult at times. 5 hours would be a real pain

marym625

(17,997 posts)
38. There ya go!
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 07:52 AM
Mar 2015

I saw a study once where they kept everyone away from clocks. People slept better, functioned better and accomplished more. I looked but can't find it now. I will post it if I find it

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
34. I believe #4 is correct and the prime reason DST was implemented in the first place. The extra ....
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 07:31 AM
Mar 2015

... hour of daylight after people got off work would enable them to shop more.

Of course it killed the drive-in movie industry, but that's another question.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
39. Really?
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 07:56 AM
Mar 2015

I loved going to the drive in. We used to pack up my boyfriend's van, put an old couch and mattress in there, and have a little bbq when we got to the drive in. We would have about quality or 20 people watching the movie, a couple hibachis, was great

I didn't realize that was why they all closed.

Thanks. Interesting stuff

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
35. Great! We have a new subject that everyone here at DU can argue about!
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 07:34 AM
Mar 2015

I love it when we find yet another cause to get all bent out of shape on!

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
42. The real problem isn't
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:53 AM
Mar 2015

DST. It's that we don't pick a clock and stick to it. The constant messing with our body clocks is the real problem. I'd prefer DST to "standard time," but I'd be thrilled if we could just pick one and quit flip flopping.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
62. Exactly. I don't care which time gets picked - DST or ST - I just want to stop being jacked around.
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 11:01 PM
Mar 2015

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
48. I do know one thing that is try. Before the spring change my great grandchild get up to meet the
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 03:51 PM
Mar 2015

school bus when it is dark. Once the change comes that actually think they are getting on the bus during the day.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
51. I didn't think about the kids
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 09:55 PM
Mar 2015

I used to when there were kids in my life. I hated that they went back to standard time right before Halloween. Glad they changed that

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
57. That's actually backwards.
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:17 PM
Mar 2015

If the sun rises at 7 a.m. on Standard Time, once you set the clocks ahead one hour for DST the sun rises at 8 a.m. So, the fact is, the kids waiting for the morning school bus after the change to Daylight Saving Time will be waiting in the dark for a longer period of time than if the clocks didn't change.

I leave for work every morning at around 6:45 a.m. For the past few weeks it's been light out, and the sun has been up by the time I get to work. When I leave for work tomorrow morning, it will be full dark again - just like it has been for most of the winter. I won't see another sunrise on the way to work now for another 2 -3 weeks.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
59. You caught me. I have a problem with thinking this problem through. My sister says I lack math
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:26 PM
Mar 2015

sense. Fortunately my clocks all change automatically. Thank you for the correction.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
61. I imagine that if you don't have to be up early in the morning, it's harder to conceptualize.
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 10:55 PM
Mar 2015

For the majority of people who are awake in the evening, it's easy to see that it stays light later in the day during DST.

What they don't get, if they're not also up early in the morning, is the flipside - it stays dark later in the morning during DST.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
67. That is my problem. I have never been good at story problems because of exactly that - I draw a
Mon Mar 9, 2015, 10:26 AM
Mar 2015

blank when it comes to conceptualizing the problem. I am old enough so that when I went to school no one recognized the problem and so there was not help learning how to overcome the problems. Usually I do pretty good at avoiding the issue. Not on this one.

Agnosticsherbet

(11,619 posts)
53. "Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket,
Sun Mar 8, 2015, 09:57 PM
Mar 2015

sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket."

Indian wisdom.

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