# Daylight Saving Time **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424 "2017-11-01T19:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/21 "2017-11-01T22:18:59Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > More important? I live a bit past 61 N and daylight saving time is completely pointless this far from the equator because the normal changes to day length are far greater than paltry 1 hour. Days go from 5 hours to 21 hours, DST only accelerates the inevitable by 2 weeks or so. Not worth the hassle. I’m slightly lower ,“only” 54 N and DST is pointless. Sunrise in the summer is well before 0600 and sunset after 2000. In winter, I get up in the dark, and I drive home after work in the dark. DST is useless and a giant PITA. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/22 "2017-11-01T22:23:46Z")
I voted stick with what we have but if I were really in charge we would double down and spring forward an additional hour between Memorial Day and Labor Day. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/23 "2017-11-01T22:28:44Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Fuck. > > The annual thread on daylight saving time. > > I love daylight saving time, it allows me to do outdoor activities, such as get in 9 holes of golf after work. > > I think it becomes more important the farther one gets from the equator. The perfect answer. The only people who like daylight savings time are golfers in coastal states. Mid-America hates having it pushed down their throats by coastal golfers. And there are countries lying right on the equator who feel compelled to switch, in order to keep their international business time in synch with coastal golfers. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/24 "2017-11-01T22:31:49Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Pick one and stick with it. Don’t care which one. ^ This. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/25 "2017-11-01T22:34:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What I’d _really_ like, since nearly all clocks are computerized nowadays anyway, would be for every clock to set to exactly 6:00 at dawn of every day. This would mean that every location would be at a different time, but computers could be programmed to compensate for that, too. We’d have the same amount of daylight every morning, as much as we could get in the evening, and there’d be no sudden discontinuities. This sounds like some form of Roman time. It would work less well in the Arctic. I thought of suggesting local mean time, which also used to be a thing, but has its drawbacks for people who work in a different town to where they live. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/26 "2017-11-01T22:56:33Z")
I think we need to go back to the original intent of DST - to save energy. If we are not saving any energy, either due to increased AC use or increased energy use on dark mornings, then get rid of it. Or adjust the length to maximize energy saving. There’s no way it should last longer than 6 months or past either equinox. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/27 "2017-11-01T23:12:37Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The perfect answer. The only people who like daylight savings time are golfers in coastal states. Mid-America hates having it pushed down their throats by coastal golfers. > > And there are countries lying right on the equator who feel compelled to switch, in order to keep their international business time in synch with coastal golfers. Damn golfers! I voted to get rid of daylight saving’s time, but honestly I don’t care what you get rid of as long as the clocks don’t change twice a year. However I _would_ on board for making all the months 28 days each, with the weeks aligned to them. Yes, that means adding a thirteenth month, and making the ‘extra’ one or two days unclaimed holidays with no day-of-week associated with them. I propose this change should be made without warning and enforced by law. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/28 "2017-11-02T00:20:40Z")
I’m fine with the DST change happening. These days, 90% of my clocks change auto-magically anyway so I don’t even experience the minor hassle of going around the house and switching them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/29 "2017-11-02T00:21:09Z")
I like it. I keep it. It’s pretty fucking depressing now waking up to darkness at 7 a.m. Can’t wait for DST to kick in next week. Similarly, in summer, I enjoy it not getting dark until 8 p.m. or so. Without DST sunset would be 7:30 p.m. here in Chicago in the summer. Depressing! ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/30 "2017-11-02T00:33:37Z")
I voted get rid of standard time but I really don’t care - my real answer is just pick ONE and stick with it. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/31 "2017-11-02T00:38:21Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > More important? I live a bit past 61 N and daylight saving time is completely pointless this far from the equator because the normal changes to day length are far greater than paltry 1 hour. Days go from 5 hours to 21 hours, DST only accelerates the inevitable by 2 weeks or so. Not worth the hassle. I’m a fair bit south of you at 56-and-a-bit N, and the time change makes little difference here as well really. It’s a bit lighter on the morning commute/school run for a few weeks? Whoop-de-doo. Just stick at GMT/Zulu, or that +1, it really doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/32 "2017-11-02T00:43:28Z")
What bothers me even more is the US propensity to be out of synch with the rest of the world. A couple years ago, I was trying to book flights, and the airlines have to change their flight times to or from the US four times a year. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/33 "2017-11-02T01:24:14Z")
If there’s no DST how would I know it’s time to check the batteries in the smoke alarms? I’m right at 45 N, and DST is very nice in the summer, watching sunset over a lake at 9:30 PM, instead of sunset at 4:30 AM. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/34 "2017-11-02T01:42:47Z")
At about 47N here, I think locking in DST would be preferable. It gets dark before 4pm on standard time for about ten weeks around the solstice, which sucks. I want the light in the evening, not so much in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/35 "2017-11-02T01:51:50Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > What bothers me even more is the US propensity to be out of synch with the rest of the world. A couple years ago, I was trying to book flights, and the airlines have to change their flight times to or from the US four times a year. I don’t understand what you mean. There are at least 3 DST schedules in the world (and Syria appears to have its own version that changes on a Friday instead of Sunday), and much of the world doesn’t observe it. This is hardly a US being out of step thing. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/36 "2017-11-02T01:54:26Z")
Get rid of standard time. For me, that affords the most amount of daylight after work. Slightly off-topic: I hate it when people go to the trouble of specifying “daylight” or “standard” time…and get it wrong. Why bother? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/37 "2017-11-02T01:55:26Z")
Ditch it. I’m tired of changing clocks and it really doesn’t serve as much of a purpose as it once did. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/38 "2017-11-02T02:00:04Z")
We have the lights on in houses and businesses whatever the outside light. My FIL (v.1.0) described it as “A middle class fix to be outside and grill longer.” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/39 "2017-11-02T04:03:32Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > This. Exactly this. > [@snowthx](#): > > ^ This. Proof that even a broken clock is correct twice a day! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424/40 "2017-11-02T04:20:28Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I think it becomes more important the farther one gets from the equator. This clearly suggests that our layout of time zones should consist of “horizontal” bands of latitude rather than the current “vertical” swaths of longitude. Wouldn’t that be much more practical? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daylight-saving-time/800424.md?page=3)