Hacker News Reader

Comment by Aaargh20318 | Hacker News Reader

Aaargh20318

We just moved into a new office and one of the best things about it is that we now have small offices and I can keep the curtains closed and the lights off all day. Why would you want more light, especially natural light ?

I never open my curtains at home either.

View on HN

And I can't get enough natural light. I hate artificial light, and require windows anywhere I work. When the temperature is right, I even sit on my back porch to work.

For me, sitting in the dark is depressing.

> For me, sitting in the dark is depressing.

I feel much better in a dimly lit room. Not pitch black but a twilight kind of darkness.

However, I am autistic so that may have something to do with it. I only recently realised this. Ever since I've lived on my own I kept my curtains closed and my room dimly lit, but I never made the link to my autism or sensory issues. It seems kind of obvious in hindsight.

For some reason things that make 'normal' people happy have the opposite effect on me, and vice versa. For example, socialising makes me feel depressed while the more time I spend alone the happier I am. I don't think I've ever felt lonely either.

I understand how you feel, I do the same thing but most of my friends think someday I am going to shoot up a school or something.

To many people NOT socializing doesn't compute.

^ This: I don't know how people do it, I'm using my computer in the dark at the moment with the screen being projected onto the ceiling. I can't think of another way I would rather use my computer really.

In a work environment? I find it hard to believe you spend 8 hours every day lying on your back staring at the ceiling. If you do, it absolutely can't be healthy.

My bad, forgot a probably pertinent piece of information. I am quadriplegic. Whilst technically yes I am in a work environment because I run my own company from home, you are quite correct that I am not in a work environment with other people.

Mea culpa, Mea maxima culpa.

"probably pertinent piece of information" - lol, quite the understatement!

I know, right? But I really, truly do forget sometimes. It's been over 10 years since I became quadriplegic, and I am old now so I'm allowed to forget things I think. :-)

>If you do, it absolutely can't be healthy.

Compared to what, sitting?

We already spend 8 hours "lying on our back" every day -- sleeping, and we have evolved for it. It also puts little pressure in our body compared to sitting for hours on end.

It actually quite a hard thing to quantify, if I sit up in my wheelchair for too long you end up with pressure sores but on the other side lying down for too long can affect lung function and muscle tone which can make it difficult to eat which leads to all sorts of terrible ickyness.*

I think once you become quadriplegic you have bigger problems than your position when using your computer, but overall user on your back is definitely better for me than sitting up in my chair.

* Yes, that is the correct medical term.

Using a computer screen in a lit room is far better for your eyes than using it in dark room. Natural light is a necessity for preventing myopia in developing eyes.

Not sure about the science here, but I have found the opposite to be true for me. I love natural light and crave it while I work. However, I have found that if the room is just a little too bright I will end up with severe eye strain and headaches after a day of work. Ambient light is the unfortunate cause.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com