Readers Respond: Daylight Saving Time Confusion

Responses: 164

By Matt Rosenberg, About.com Guide

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...so that energy were saved. Since the 2007 change to dst, studies have consistently shown that it doesn't save energy, it costs businesses in lost wages due to the confusion about schedule changes, and it aggravates traffic management as people are driving at times and lighting conditions that they are not accustomed to. It is not inconsequential to people who live in areas that do not observe DST either as a significant number of them work in companies that require them to adjust the schedules to agree with the schedules of their peers in places that do observe DST.
—Guest Rusty

I always thought it came from farmers. Happy to be educated as to where the whole thing came from. Though I hate "losing" an hour of sleep in the Spring, it's not that big of a deal.
—Guest Dion

A guest said "There are many good and sound reasons for DST". I defy him to name just one. Good and sound? Get real! Not one study has shown that any energy was saved - which I thought was the goal - by this stupid inconvenience. Pick staying with one or the other but there is no reason to keep going back and forth every year.
—Guest Bill

|| Kyrgyzstan and Iceland are the only countries that observe year-round Daylight Saving Time. || And this accomplishes what, other that effectively moving them one time zone east?
—Guest Rich

Daylight Saving Time year round? What's the point of that? Wouldn't that just make it standard? It's all in our minds anyway. The sun comes up...the sun goes down. End of story.
—Guest Chere

I hate the time changes. Pick one and leave it that way. I do like it lighter during the evening when I can enjoy it, and I get up in the dark no matter what but I don't like going to work in the dark at 6:45. It's confusing and screws with our body clocks. Unless you go to bed at 8 it is still night time when you retire for the night. Why mess with every aspect of our lives to change the clocks.
—Guest Debbie

I love DST. I work full-time and love being able to work outside in my gardens until 9:00 pm. Lighter in the morning means little to me since I'm at work!! I wish it was year round...
—Guest Nanette

Work starts early in Arizona, as early as 5:00am and 6:00am for many people. It makes no sense to get up in the dark and go to bed in the daylight, which is what changing the time would do. If you don't like what we do in Arizona go back to where you came from and play with your clocks.
—Guest Sam

School children have a routine to which their body clock responds. Changing the time during the school year is hard on them, AND the parents that have to get them up and going!
—Guest Goetz

I've noticed over the years my sleep patterns start changing about a month before the start and end of DST. I start waking up about an hour later in the spring, and an hour earlier in the fall. I've never used an alarm clock.
—Guest tick-tock

Ben Franklin got it right when he invented DST in the 1700's. It worked well for the industrial section however the farmer's absolutely hated waiting an extra hour for the dew to dry off. I live in Arizona and I'm thankful for DST as it opens and closes the market much earlier.
—Guest tall6ft5

For those who feel DST is "antiquated", keep in mind that it's a relativly recent concept. In agricultural societies of past, "time" wasn't as much of an issue, as most people woke and slept according to the sun rather than a clock on the wall. Today with cell phones, computers, GPS's all tied so tightly to a time system, society feels it should follow suit. If the govermnet/businesses really want to save energy, they'd implement dual shifts. This would dispurse rush hour traffic, decrease the size of office buildings (since 1 desk could serve 2 people). The argument is lights, but how often are the lights in office buildings left on all night? Additionally, HVAC systems and computers, which run 24/7 consume considerably more energy. The estimated 40% reduction in desktops & space to light/heat, would offset the increase in power for lighting by more than 3 times. But now we're so attached to "time" that the idea of working nights (or even from home" just seems absurd to the GO
—Guest Pacific MIST

Noon is noon, except when we are on DST. I don't think DST does us very much good at all in today's society. The energy savings claims are bogus. Whatever energy is "saved" in the evening is used in the morning instead. Mostly I dislike losing my morning daylight when DST kicks in and having to travel to work in the dark....again. I do agree it's nice having more daylight in the evenings, but why can't we just leave the clocks alone and let those who want to time shift simply get up earlier?
—Guest GISMike

I have to agree that it is really hard adjusting to the time change, for me it's harder in the fall. I remember complaining to my grandfather years ago about the time change and he explained that it does have at least one positive effect. It puts our children at the bus stop during daylight hours. He was on the school board for 35+ years and loved the educating and protecting children. He wanted to keep the children safe and even brought the what strobe light for the top of the school buses into the Bell Co, KY schools in the 80's. This of course to make the buses more visible in the fog. He was a very intelligent man with great morals, I just hope I can be half the man he was.
—Guest Bobby

I don't see the need for DST in the summer. If it is going to be used at all, it makes more sense to me to have daylight saving time in the winter than in the summer; lights are used used more in the evening than in the morning.
—Guest mach37

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