http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_047.html
Can some people extinguish streetlamps by means of their bodily emanations?
is the column i read…
What a RUSH!
MORE INFO NEEDED!
This column stuck out to me personally because it IS a question i have been asking MYSELF for over ten years- especially the “or am i just crazy” part of it. Although there is still no solid (meaning tested and prooved by acceptable scientific method) tangible PROOF that this anomaly exists, this article at least acknowledges the possibility. I wanted to state my own observations after reading, and discovering that I am not the only one who has thought this about themselves…
First off I have always and especially now attempted to observe and form thoughts on this subject as logically as possible, with full recognition that it is Impossible for me to think or even make a statement here without being superbly biased. I have tried to form my conclusions, statements and even opinions from the view of a scientist in a lab testing a theory with the well known “Scientific Method” (which, if the reader here doesnt know and understand I advise them to research it or stop reading now). I do not have a lab or controlled variables (like lights with different chemicals or people with rare body chemistry) but i have done my best throughout the years to prove to MYSELF that I am not INSANE, delusional or experiencing repetitive hallucinations- the only Acceptable standard by which I measure my sanity is that of the modern scientist- apply known proven scientific methods for harvesting and gathering data when attempting to render a theory into practicality- and Of Course- Physical Proof is Always Best.
<note- i have walked, in my 26 years, more than the average american- for 8 years of my life i lived in a rural area and had to walk everywhere- walking 10 miles to me used to be relative in comparison to the average person walking 3 city blocks- my girlfriend at one time lived 12 miles- during our 2 year relationship i walked to her house *at least * 4 times a month- and back to mine- also for 5 years my work enviroment demanded an *average walking distance * of 19 miles a day- a day equating 12 straight hours- over a count of 365 full workdays measured in 1 and a half years at the same location and job position, then multiplied by 3)
the biggest personal variable to me is how many times i have or have not noticed the lights turning off- Im fairly confident Ive missed it many many dozens of times, yet even with that I still have seen this happen often enough in my life to notice the occurance as an oddity… , until now, I havent ever heard this discussed… outside of the 2 repeating factors I have experienced- telling someone about this… thing… that I “do” to streetlights I usually get reluctant responses- others stating belief or non belief has not been an issue because I have not spoken of this to enough to observe variables in response and I personally think I receive delayed or reluctant responses because those I have told where probably not wanting to say aloud that I am "NUCKING FUTS!"
The 2nd repeating factor- there is an overly zealous acceptance that my statement is truth based on fact, often followed by personal storys of e.s.p., psychic phenomena, near death experiences ghosts or some other such rubbish.
A final factor, a sad one almost, is that I am so used to this happening and so used to NOT talking about it that I have accepted it as practice… so for the last year or so I havent paid attention or allowed myself to think much on the subject… fear on insanity is my only plea…before today i believed i was the only one… and that all my observations… just a desperate attempt to convince myself that i was not delusional.
Plus I have gotten lazier… so less walking… less exposure to streetlights in general and especially the ones in more secluded areas.
The wildcard is the many times people have been with me and seen this happen 
REGARDLESS of ANY Scientific Research Data known to the Public or to my Own Self I KNOW One Thing to be Physically True-
Streetlights DO Turn OFF When **I ** Walk By them-
Observations based on what I call a “Seeing is Believing” premise-
Only seems to happen when i am walking. I use “seems” here because of variables that exist in other methods of transportation. (I read a long time ago mans average walking speed is 4-5mph- but i walk a little faster- avg 6mph and at work its closer to 7- tested that with a clip on my hip attached to my leg- at work and otherwise- then averaged the results from 365 (12 hr activity range )days worked over a period of 1 yr and 6 months- not fullproof but close as i can get all alone)
Usualy not consecutive- more often than not its every 5th or 6th streetlight… seems to me the last light that turned off is usually close or at the vanishing point on the horizon in my perspective
Happens with the White ones very rarely- mostly- (i guess here) 90% that i “effect” are the Orange ones
Doesnt seem to happen in Densly populated areas, especially in large cities, be it commercial or *residential * zones- but it does appear streetlights that have less “contact” (gosh that just SOUNDS crazy lol) with human bodies, or even rather, less duration of time occured with singular individuals- are often more suceptable to this event than those under constant exposure to the human presence. The Orange Streetlights turn off around me a lot more often- most noticeably in Supurbs or roads more than (another “guess-timate”, remember that in school?) 30 miles away from a Major city, Chicago, L.A. or Atlanta being “Major”
I havent ever had one turn off around me then *seen * it turn back on- until or unless it was the next day and a timer but I have had them turn off and turn on when out of site, then upon walking by again observed flickering or another switch to off.
Never happens when the sun is out and the sky isnt dark- i know that sounds like a stupid statement but it is a valid test factor in determining if this is my own delusion or physical fact- thus a valid statement in which I have excluded the (hopefully) obvious
This anomaly is not 100% consistent with me-
I say roughly its 65% of the time that I see, can not deny rather, streetlights go out as I am walking by them
When I am in the company of another human ( I have not observed dogs and animals to disable or intefere with this “ability” ) it seems to occur a bit less- about 45% of the time, I will also state here that even though I see an obvious difference between Alone/Accompanied the anomaly still happens so often in my presence that often others have noticed this happening around me. So my less than is higher than peoples Average. There IS an average- almost Everyone has seen a streetlight or two just go out.
My personal opinion on this anomaly is that human bodies somehoew DO effect certain types of streetlights- in a way that modern scientist are un-aware of or can not explain- this results only from ignorance, false premise and too much sociological implication in current scientific researchin my humble opinion----------- at this point i think “What great genius minded scientist would bother testing this when he/she could be applying that talent in more sought after and socailly accepted matters of importance and relevance”
My second thought, just after the first, is -
"There is so much about existence as a whole- life, biology, human brains,psychology, applied physics, gravity, the universe and Perception that is unknown- if this anomaly could be tested under controlled methods and extensive time, 50 years being optimal, with as many controls and variables feasible, along with ** generations of repetitive humans and (wildcard) random people ** … its possible this event may then be observed as an established practicality of reality. Explained; a ** whole new doorway in physics, biology and scientific practice would be opened…* then… We would have ourselves a “cornerstone” by which we could test and compare all those “sought after and socially accepted matters of importance and relevance currently under research”*
one never can tell what **huge implications ** exist behind small occurences… at least, not without methodical research in controlled enviroments.
think! what we learned just observing what happens when a small marble and a bowling ball, of different mass (DUH) and density (weight) are dropped at the *exact same time * from the top of the exact same building… (if you dont know, discluding variables like extreme wind or weather, they both hit the ground at the same time) - **Gravity effects all (or in my opinion Most Known) things the same! **
Arent we all tired of being reminded of old theory and the battles fought to get new ones accepted?
“The Earth is Flat.”
“The Sun, and Planets in our Galaxy revolve around a center, which is planet EARTH.”
If you read this far* THANK YOU,* I wont go on naming them as we all get the point…
… sorry about the rant… but after all these years stumbling on that question and the responses it got is to me very very… comforting… i know im not alone…
I look forward to more input, especially replies, comments, debate, opinion, ANYTHING!
Cmon… I KNOW I am NOT the Only one who has been secretly worried they are certifiably crazy cuz they think that lights turn off around them! Lets bring this topic back to life and get more data!
my final afterthought is-
OR I am Insane and Delusional to the point of permanent ongoing visual hallucinations!!!
(P.S. Apologys and Afternotes- If i sound condescending here… or whatever words you want to use to describe “A person who deals with people in a patronizingly superior manner” I am sorry- my life and line of work has resulted in my own conviction that Most people are Ignorant- yet very obviously NOT stupid… my favorite for instance is expressing the need I feel to define ignorance here so that the context I’ve used it in will be understood properly- I have actually seen physical altercations over one calling another Ignorant…I went easy on the “detailed explanation of definitions and literal context application direction implied to the reader/listener’s comprehensive perception within my statement” here though because I suspect that this sites Admins and especially the group that comes up with “answers” are at least and probably Far more intelligent than I )
To the Site Admins- anywhere I can find out what I options only paying members have? I am not willing to search so many Pages with so many threads manually- I see no Forum Search option… no offense but as a site admin I know that kind of option can be user account allocated- the “post reply” script enabled on the currently viewed page would rock! or a direct link to the forum threads associated with viewed topic, if any exist )
my final afterthought is-
OR I am Insane and Delusional to the point of permanent ongoing visual hallucinations!!!
http://clanx.us