Hacker News Reader

Comment by former-aws | Hacker News Reader

DST is an abomination and must go. It doesn't align with natural circadian rhythms.

That's the opposite of true. Getting light before the start of the waking hours but getting dark before you're even home—i.e., standard time—is unhealthy. Daylight time aligns to natural circadian rhythms better.

Objectively, more people are awake past 5pm than are awake before 7am.

Humans are the exception. Most animals return home as it gets dark. That is the natural pattern, something we are all primed via evolution. Your personal preference to get more light in the evening because you want to spend more time outdoors runs against evolutionary instincts.

People are ruled by the numbers on the clock, so we should shift the daylight hours during those hours people are awake to match the natural needs of the people.

But from where did the habits tied to the numbers come? Were they formed without reference to daylight?

Will most people always sleep before 7am and be awake after 5pm, no matter when there is daylight?

> and be awake after 5pm, no matter when there is daylight?

For this one at least absolutely yes because of work and after-school activities.

Hmm I would think the problem is changing the time twice a year? Even if permanent DST was a mismatch to our circadian rhythm, wouldn't that completely depend on how close you are to a date line?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com