Lights Off or On?

[Allegro]

Do you guys often turn off the lights when watching a movie or anime at your home?

For me, I find that any movie I rent or buy for the first time warrents a formal viewing. Especially if it's a good one.

It's kind of half and half with anime, since the episodes are short enough to not bother leaving the lights off for thirty minutes. Again, that depends on if it's a good series.

[everdred12a]

I prefer to turn the lights off. It's not for any kind of formal thing... I just do it.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I usually have lights on, but sometimes have them off. It depends. I prefer them off, but when my family wants to watch something they want them on.

[GrubbTheFragger]

lights off so i don't get any glare

[Lynx]

lights off for sure!

[termyt]

Termyt's disclaimer: Watching a TV in too dark a room can be bad for your eyes. A modest amount of light should come from another source other than your TV.

That said, I like to watch movies in the dark. I usually have a lamp on dimly behind me though. If for nothing else, that aount of constant light makes transitions from very dark scenes to very light ones less painful.

[shooraijin]

I'm not sure where you heard this -- there's no evidence to suggest this is true, or else everyone who goes to the movies regularly would also suffer. After all, it's a big TV in a dark room, more or less ...

About the only thing about those kinds of old wives' tales that *is* true is that people who do a lot of near work can become slightly nearsighted as the eyes adjust, and this may have been the root for some of the reading and TV myths that are out there.

[TheMelodyMaker]

My goodness -- I leave the lights on so I can see while I eat!

[Tenshi no Ai]

If it's TV, then doesn't matter if lights are on or not, but it's somehow irratating for me if lights are on, when you watch a movie at night.

[Ichigo_89]

Definately lights off so I can totally focus and get sucked into it. But yeah, when watching anime in my room, I usually have my desk lamp dimly lit. Woot, Termyt! XD

[Allegro]

I'll admit that it does get a little disorienting to turn the lights back on after being in the dark for a good two hours or so. I'm also not sure about the long term effects though.

Is it the same as saying that you aren't suppose to read in the dark without a good amount of lighting?

[mitsuki lover]

I usually have only the lamp next to my bed on.Unless the power goes off like yesterday night and then it doesn't matter.

[shooraijin]

I'll admit that it does get a little disorienting to turn the lights back on after being in the dark for a good two hours or so. I'm also not sure about the long term effects though.

Is it the same as saying that you aren't suppose to read in the dark without a good amount of lighting?

This, too, is a myth.

[Tommy]

Dark, with a giant screen and surround sound. I love my Entertainment System.

[ShiroiHikari]

I usually watch with the lights on. I dunno why, I guess I just don't think to turn them off anymore. During the day, I close the shades because the windows make the screen glare really bad.

[Sweet Mercury]

If it's anime, lights off, subbed, and a nice hot cup of Gyokuro.

[MasterDias]

That depends. If it's dark, I usually like to have at least one lamp on so I won't trip over stuff when I get up.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I'll admit that it does get a little disorienting to turn the lights back on after being in the dark for a good two hours or so. I'm also not sure about the long term effects though.

Is it the same as saying that you aren't suppose to read in the dark without a good amount of lighting?

This, too, is a myth.

I was told in english lit class that Milton went blind because all of his stories were written in dimly lit candle light :/

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that lightening can effect people who are prone to seizures. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those wanings at the begining of anime about "watching anime in a well-lit room" was the result of that Pokemon incident? (Only speculating here though...)
Even when I see fast blinking lights in the dark it seems a lot more extreme in the dark than in a "well-lit room" ^^

[Maledicte]

I like to see my food when I eat it.

[Stephen]

If its a horror movie...lights off. Anything else, I really don't care. As others have said...I like seeing food if I am eating while I am watching the movie.

[TurkishMonky]

lights off!

[Jack Bond]

I almost always watch with the light on. When my family is watching a movie, we turn it off though. I don't know why, but it makes me uncomfortable to have the lights off.

[shooraijin]

I was told in english lit class that Milton went blind because all of his stories were written in dimly lit candle light :/

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that lightening can effect people who are prone to seizures. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those wanings at the begining of anime about "watching anime in a well-lit room" was the result of that Pokemon incident? (Only speculating here though...)
Even when I see fast blinking lights in the dark it seems a lot more extreme in the dark than in a "well-lit room" ^^

I hasten to note that English lit teachers are not ophthalmologists

Lightning -- or any rapidly flashing light source or screen -- can sometimes trigger certain types of seizures, yes. Video games also carry this warning for that reason.

[Radical Dreamer]

I always have the lights on when I watch movies. I think I just find it more comfortable when I'm watching something with the lights on, especially during the daytime. However, if I'm in bed watching a movie or anime, then I will more than likely have my lights off. I guess it just depends on my mood.

[Godly Paladin]

Off, unless it hurts my eyes and I'm forced to turn on a dim lamp or something. Watching movies in the afternoon with all that glare is just awful, and I avoid it whenever possible. (Or just watch in my windowless basement.)

[termyt]

I'm not sure where you heard this -- there's no evidence to suggest this is true, or else everyone who goes to the movies regularly would also suffer. After all, it's a big TV in a dark room, more or less ...

Whether there is evidence to back the old wives tale up or not, there are several differences between movies in a theater and TV's

Most significant in my mind is the light source. In the movie theater, you are watching light reflected off of a screen instead of staring directly into a light source.

[shooraijin]

I wouldn't think the source would make a difference, only the relative brightness. Photons are photons.

[Scepth]

Normally, when I'm watching I keep atleast a bit of light on. Lights off when I'm watching scary movies.

[Night]

Lights on. For some reason, my eyes kinda hurt at times when they're off.

[Scribs]

off, whenever possible