They should use full-cutoff lighting.
- True?
Yes. - Sure?
No. It is an opinion. - What happens when I believe that thought?
- I feel they should use full-cutoff lighting. I have plenty of stories of why.
- I ask myself “why don’t they use it”? I make them wrong. I make them ignorant in my own mind.
- I fuel reasons why they should use full-cutoff lighting. It reduces glare, which is more comfortable and safer. It is more respectful for neighbors, pedestrians and drivers. It reduces light pollution so we can see the beautiful night sky. Astronomers have better working conditions. Animal life is not/less disrupted by artifical light. By lighting exactly what needs to be lighted, and not lighting the rest, it reduces energy required, which is good for own economy and for the earth. It doesn’t cost more than regular lighting. There are no good reasons to not do it, apart from ignorance.
- If I go further into the belief, I make them even more wrong. I tell myself they must be willfully ignorant since all of the reasons to use full cut-off lighting are so obvious, and especially the glare. Eliminating glare itself is more than enough reason to do it.
- I bring attention to the worst examples of it, including the “light bombs” most houses have where I live now. I tell myself it is a pain to walk around here after dark because of the glare. I cannot understand how they could approve of a new Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo which is – above anything else – a monument to light pollution and ignorance. And the same with the horrible 911 light pollution tribute.
- I feel hopeless in changing this at a larger scale. I feel like a victim of the ignorance of the masses.
- What do I get from holding onto this belief? I get frustration, self-righteousness, a sense of separation, victim mentality, hopelessness, frustration.
- What am I afraid would happen if I didn’t hold onto this belief? I am afraid I would be equally ignorant and oblivious as most others. How likely is that? Not very likely. I am very aware of this, and still would be without that belief.
- Who would I be without it?
- Clear. Interested in the situation in a more open way. Curious about why not more use appropriate lighting.
- Seeing us all on the same side, even if we may disagree on this.
- My first assumption is that people may not have heard about it, so education may be all that is needed, especially of the local authorities and sellers of outdoor lighting.
- Organizing dark sky/light pollution educational events, as I have in the past.
- Turnarounds.
- They shouldn’t use full-cutoff lighting.
- Hm. Well, they may not do because they haven’t thought about it, and are not informed about it. They may just do what they see others do.
- It helps me see my beliefs around this, and inquire into them.
- It gives me something to do, including something constructive such as when I organized the dark sky events in Madison.
- I also have to admit that seeing large cities at night from above often is a beautiful sight, such as that time when I flew over and landed in San Fransisco right after sunset.
- I should use full-cutoff lighting.
- Yes, and I do. I have been conscious of this at the house.
- I can also do it in a more metaphorical sense. By using my (limited) insights and knowledge in the service of beliefs, my thoughts (and feelings and actions) become a “light bomb”, disrespectful, disruptive, and a problem for myself and others. Far better to shine it more gently when and where it is needed.
- They shouldn’t use full-cutoff lighting.
Reflection: The most juicy turnaround here was the metaphorical one. When I believe this thought, I become a light bomb. I use my insights and knowledge in the service of a belief, and it becomes harsh, disrespectful, disruptive, and a problem for myself and others. It feels much better to shine it more gently when and where it is needed.