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Old 12-03-2012, 04:36 PM #1
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Default Daylight Savings Time

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Why Daylight Saving Time Is Pointless



Ugh. You're up an hour early, your body hates you for it, and even a gallon of coffee can't get your day on track. Daylight savings sucks. But you know the worst part? It doesn't have to be like this.
Daylight savings isn't as old as you think it is. First suggested by Benjamin Franklin, in 1784, it was at the time shot down by many very sensible people as being pointless. Then, in the First World War, it was introduced—first by the Germans—to save coal during war time.

Somehow in that age of austerity, the concept soon caught on and everyone started doing it. Sadly, nobody's really thought to change back. Except Arizona, and it hasn't fallen off the face of the planet as a result.

But oddly, some people still support the use of daylight savings: they say it saves energy, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and reduces traffic accidents. So let's bust the myths right now and make it clear that daylight savings needs to go.

Daylight Savings doesn't save energy...
The Germans introduced daylight savings to lower fuel costs. The idea is that, while changing the clocks reduces the use of artificial lighting in the evening but increases use in the morning, the evening reduction outweighs the morning increase.

Great—but that was a century ago. Recent studies point out that, at best, DST might reduce the US electricity usage by 1% during March and April. Other estimates, by the National Bureau of Standards, suggest it has zero effect.

...cut accidents...
Many folks point to the fact that DST reduces the incidence of road traffic accidents as a good reason to keep using the system. In fact, the data surrounding road safety disagree widely. Some studies show that it makes no difference, others suggest a 0.7 per cent reduction in traffic fatalities during DST. When the data's that limited, it's not enough to base a decision on.

...or make us any healthier...
It's true that DST does provide extra daylight in the evening, and that it may bring with it increased physical activity and reduced incidence of depression. But there is plenty of evidence that changing the clocks by an hour can have a detrimental effect on our health.

Clock shifts disrupt our circadian rhythms. Studies have show that, around the times of the spring clock changes, there are spikes in suicide rates and an increase in the number of recorded heart attacks. In fact, when Kazakhstan ditched DST in 2005, it cited health reasons. Sure, it might make you go for an extra jog or two every year, but it might also help contribute to a heart attack. I know which I'd prefer.

...but is incredibly disruptive.

So, none of the arguments for maintaining DST weigh up. I have one, very large, argument to support scrapping it, though: it loses the US billions of dollars every year. It damages retail, affects the stock market in a negative way, and even disrupts agriculture.

A century ago, we didn't have data to tell us whether DST made a real measurable impact; it was acceptable to run with it because, for all we knew, it was useful. Now, we know better. Day light savings sucks—and we need to get rid of it.
From Gizmodo.

Thats made me change my mind on it now. I've never really questioned DST before. I just went with it cause I'd always gone along with it. I didn't realise how pointless it is to today's society.

What do you guys think?
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Old 12-03-2012, 04:39 PM #2
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Those reductions are still something though I mean

"reduce the US electricity usage by 1% during March and April" might be a small number but surely that's quite a lot, I don't have any figures to hand but the US is a huge nation, with an even bigger electricity usage no doubt!
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Old 12-03-2012, 04:42 PM #3
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Those reductions are still something though I mean

"reduce the US electricity usage by 1% during March and April" might be a small number but surely that's quite a lot, I don't have any figures to hand but the US is a huge nation, with an even bigger electricity usage no doubt!
If you click the link I put in the OP, it links back to the article, which has a few links embedded within it. A bunch of them lead to figures and such I think. That'd probably give a better explanation.

DST seems really pointless to me now though.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:38 PM #4
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Originally Posted by Niall View Post
From Gizmodo.

Thats made me change my mind on it now. I've never really questioned DST before. I just went with it cause I'd always gone along with it. I didn't realise how pointless it is to today's society.

What do you guys think?
Think about what? Daylight Savings Time? Doesnt affect the UK.

We use GMT(UTC) in winter and BST in summer.

What would you have us use?
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Thanks.I just didn't want to make a fuss.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:41 PM #5
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Can we just axe "having to get up early" and everything will be much better.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:45 PM #6
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I'm not just saying that, I hate how everybody says "If you are tired during the day GO TO BED EARLY!!!" and NOBODY ever says "If you are tired during the day have a few more hours sleep." No matter what time I go to bed, even very early, I NEED A LAY IN!!! Seeing a alarm clock with "7:00" just makes me upset.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:45 PM #7
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Originally Posted by Shasown View Post
Think about what? Daylight Savings Time? Doesnt affect the UK.

We use GMT(UTC) in winter and BST in summer.

What would you have us use?
Daylight savings time is used here too?
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:46 PM #8
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I'm not just saying that, I hate how everybody says "If you are tired during the day GO TO BED EARLY!!!" and NOBODY ever says "If you are tired during the day have a few more hours sleep." No matter what time I go to bed, even very early, I NEED A LAY IN!!! Seeing a alarm clock with "7:00" just makes me upset.
Because we waste enough of our lives lying in bed. And on the internet too. lol

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Old 12-03-2012, 08:51 PM #9
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Because we waste enough of our lives lying in bed. And on the internet too. lol
But it is true though! Say you had a standard 9-5 job plus travelling even if you went to bed after work at 6pm you would STILL have to get up around 7am to get ready for work! There is far more flexablity around what time you go to bed then what time you wake up, you have to agree!

Go to bed late - too bad!

Wake up late - OH MY GOD!!!!
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:53 PM #10
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We were taught the clocks changed in the summer so farmers had more daylight hours to gather crops.
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Old 12-03-2012, 09:44 PM #11
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Originally Posted by Harry! View Post
But it is true though! Say you had a standard 9-5 job plus travelling even if you went to bed after work at 6pm you would STILL have to get up around 7am to get ready for work! There is far more flexablity around what time you go to bed then what time you wake up, you have to agree!

Go to bed late - too bad!

Wake up late - OH MY GOD!!!!
Well, obviously considering you have to be in work for a set time so you can't just go in late because you're tired. It's up to the person themselves to make sure they get enough sleep.
Most people hate mornings (I only hate them in winter when it's dark and cold) but that's no excuse. lol

I love getting up really early in summer, you have that breeze and it's all quiet yet really light. Love it.

Last edited by Marsh.; 12-03-2012 at 09:44 PM.
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