Mass. may defect from Eastern Time Zone

[dixiehack]

Heard a blurb about this on the radio. Massachusetts is going to study switching to Atlantic time (with no DST) to avoid it getting dark so early in the winter.

Massachusetts Could Swap Time Zones for Later Winter Sunsets

Not sure how I feel about this one. As someone who has lived much of my life on the far eastern fringe of the Central zone, I recognize how depressing 4:30 sunsets are. But at the same time, it feels like there's something unseemly about constantly rejiggering the clocks to get the outcome just so. At a certain point, it's winter and it is supposed to be dark, right?

 

[Riptide]

Subject to Belichick's approval, of course.

 

[Batman]

Subject to Belichick's approval, of course.

They thought about doing this in Missouri, but Andy Reid insisted they switch to Samoa Time.

 

[Batman]

Considering Massachusetts is aligned east to west, and you almost have to go through it to get to every other New England state, how will this work? Are the other New England states going along with it? If you can move the time zone boundary to the New York border it would make some sense. Otherwise, it's chaos.

 

[LongTimeListener]

California is talking about this too.

Bill to end daylight saving time passes California committee

 

[cjericho]

Massholes.

 

[Cosmo]

California is talking about this too.

Bill to end daylight saving time passes California committee

I haven't been to California in more than a decade, but I do remember it getting dark super early, like 4:30ish, in the dead of winter.

 

[Earthman]

It would help The Saawx in October

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The problem with this idea is obvious. If it gets dark one hour later in the evening, sunrise will also be one hour later, meaning everyone has to get up and go to work/school in the dark. Parents hate this, believing it puts children in danger. This is why the effort to put the US on permanent daylight savings during the early '70s "energy crisis" failed completely.

 

[MisterCreosote]

If Massholes get "depressed" by darkness, they have bigger problems than what time it is.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Who wants to be outdoors during a Massachusetts winter in the first place?

 

[Jake_Taylor]

If Massholes get "depressed" by darkness, they have bigger problems than what time it is.

Seasonal affective disorder is a real thing and being exposed to less sunlight and being less active because it is darker are major contributors.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

I thought it was left field at Yankee Stadium where it got late early.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Seasonal affective disorder is a real thing and being exposed to less sunlight and being less active because it is darker are major contributors.

That would be one of the bigger problems I spoke of, unlikely to be affected much by an hour's time difference.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Seasonal affective disorder is indeed a thing, I have it. In November I am distinctly more miserable than any other month of the year. But fiddling with the time doesn't change how far your hemisphere is from the sun. FWIW, this SAD sufferer finds dark mornings far more depressing than early sunsets.

 

[Earthman]

Seasonal affective disorder is indeed a thing, I have it. In November I am distinctly more miserable than any other month of the year. But fiddling with the time doesn't change how far your hemisphere is from the sun. FWIW, this SAD sufferer finds dark mornings far more depressing than early sunsets.

Serious question - Is there an ideal part of the US to live that would minimize the effects of SAD ?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Hawaii? It's closest to the equator. Except for it, I guess Key West, but then you have alcoholism to worry about.

 

[Earthman]

Hawaii? It's closest to the equator. Except for it, I guess Key West, but then you have alcoholism to worry about.

I've known people who have moved to Hawaii and then felt trapped on an Island and
moved back . I guess Manhattan Island does not have same effect.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Charles Laquidara, a Boston radio guy, retired to Hawaii because his wife suffered from SAD. I think he moved back.

 

[Buck]

I know SAD is more common among women than men, but what percentage of the population as a whole suffers from it?
Is it a large enough segment that it is a significant factor in setting state policy?
I am not belittling those who suffer from SAD, but shouldn't it be a significant percentage of the population if that is the reason for changing that type of state policy?