# Will you be observing earth hour? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715 "2014-03-27T20:07:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/1 "2014-03-27T20:07:06Z")
On Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 local time, will you be turning off the lights? Poll to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/2 "2014-03-27T20:08:02Z")
I wasn’t aware it was happening, so I assume many others will neglect to observe the event due to pure ignorance. I will give it a try if I remember. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/3 "2014-03-27T20:15:52Z")
It’s a feel-good stunt up there with collecting pull tabs. The organizers always think it’s a great idea and it accomplishes something less than nothing. (Because it diverts what could be real attention, donations, effort and thought away from the problem.) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/4 "2014-03-27T20:25:15Z")
Do I have to turn my computer off too? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/5 "2014-03-27T21:03:24Z")
I think it’s lights only. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/6 "2014-03-27T21:17:54Z")
Meaningless gesture that I was unaware until right now. I might turn on extra. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/7 "2014-03-27T21:18:53Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Do I have to turn my computer off too? > [@Leaffan](#): > > I think it’s lights only. So just turn your screen brightness down to zero and you can still use your computer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/8 "2014-03-27T21:30:11Z")
What on earth does Earth Hour commemorate? Is it just supposed to raise awareness about energy conservation or something? Energy conservation is not about sitting in the dark for a portion of the day. It is about turning off lights you aren’t using, and using energy efficient light bulbs. Reminds me of all that useless walking-around to cure stuff… (I am grouchy because I live in CA and have been conserving water for months. I mean really conserving, not setting aside one hour a year to leave the faucets turned off.) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/9 "2014-03-27T21:45:08Z")
I won’t be observing earth hour because I’ve never heard of it, and because it sounds stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/10 "2014-03-27T22:21:10Z")
8:30 to 9:30 on Saturday? I expect we will be in the hot tub then, so sure. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/11 "2014-03-27T22:22:59Z")
For every light you turn off, I’m turning on three. Take _that_, Mother Nature! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/12 "2014-03-27T22:55:41Z")
Never. The only purpose it serves is to let people pat their own backs for making a meaningless gesture. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/13 "2014-03-27T23:30:33Z")
No, even though I support the environment this gesture is more of the type that I would like punch the pink ribbon fascist Republicans Koman people for. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/14 "2014-03-27T23:59:12Z")
Is that a.m. or p.m.? I live in Pennsylvania so it’s always gray outside. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/15 "2014-03-28T00:04:22Z")
I’m always at work on Saturday nights. I don’t think they’ll be turning out the lights at the animal ER any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/16 "2014-03-28T00:16:05Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > No, even though I support the environment this gesture is more of the type that I would like punch the pink ribbon fascist Republicans Koman people for. No, it’s more like “Buy Nothing Day” - do something that’s somewhere between useless and self-inconveniencing to prove… something to… the small audience paying attention, likely the choir. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/17 "2014-03-28T02:26:26Z")
Thanks for telling me about this. I plan to turn on all my lights and electronics, in celebration of abundance and technology. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/18 "2014-03-28T11:21:51Z")
I won’t, because I’m not using power guzzling short lived sickly yellow incandescents. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/19 "2014-03-28T14:22:52Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Never. The only purpose it serves is to let people pat their own backs for making a meaningless gesture. Exactly. If we use less electricity the hydro companies just raise the price so what’s the point? I can think of many other ways to conserve energy and help the environment than sitting around my house in the dark for an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715/20 "2014-03-28T14:40:11Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I won’t be observing earth hour because I’ve never heard of it, and because it sounds stupid. Yup. Wow, 50-0 against. That’s lights out, alright, just not in the way the organizers expected. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-observing-earth-hour/684715.md?page=2)