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It has striked me interesting that when i go downstairs to get something, it looks foreboding until the lights go on. I began to wonder why we find light so comforting and not darkness. I don't believe in ghosts or anything paranormal. But, yet, darkness is creepy, yet light is nice and welcoming. Why is this?
Fear of the unknown. If a place is dark, you might not be entirely sure what's there, even if the place is familiar to you. When the lights are on, you can see everything. No threats, no fear.
I think it just has to with the fact that we're very visual creatures, and we become insecure when we're not able to see things around us - similar to the way a random sound, no matter how safe the source, can leave us jumpy. It's also probably because we simply don't know what's past us, whether it's safe or not. I don't know much else about this, though.
Very old survival instincts. Much harder to see a predator coming and defend yourself if your surroundings are poorly lit.
yea, now that i think about it, im usually scared of a robber stalking me in the dark when im in the dark with a knife.
fear of the unknown yes, but this doesn't always translate into darkness = unknown.Quote:
Originally Posted by BLUELINE976
I take great comfort in the darkness around me own neighborhood, as I know everyone is asleep and dreaming. the thought of which is calming, to me.
of course, darkness when I'm dis-confident of what's around me is very disconcerting.
wait whatQuote:
Originally Posted by gameoverlord345
http://pichars.org/store/4139_original_87582072.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by gameoverlord345
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Originally Posted by Seroquel
I'm exaggurating
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Originally Posted by no-Name
the stalker has a knife :P
Night=can't see anything=what is there?=oh crap there could be a stalker who wants to rape me in the dark=ahhhhhh
Light=ooo I can see everything=oh there's no stalker who wants to rape me=yayyyy no fear.
I don't think humans have very good night vision. Our eyes as well as our fears start playing tricks on us with shadows and in the darkness, and as has already been mentioned, survival instinct. I used to be really afraid of the dark my whole life and it tormented me as a child, but I finally made peace with it a few years ago when I began living nocturnally. However I'll always be a little afraid of the dark I'm sure. But as no-name mentioned, I too can take great comfort in the night. The moon is amazing, and the stillness...
It seems to me to just be another automatic emotional bias left over from when we lived in natural wilderness. Darkness obviously compromised survival much more then. Our culture and myths are obviously shaped by this instinct too so a whole other layer of this negative attitude towards darkness can be added on by the thought influence of our culture. You could also just not like being blind and stumbling around everywhere lol.
The moon gives off light. The moon although takes place during the night, is not of darkness.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pan
Yeah, that falls under the category of "no shit sherlock".Quote:
Originally Posted by Atras
No-name was talking about nighttime in his neighborhood, and I was talking about why I like nighttime in mine. I think the moon is pretty much always present at night, except during the new moon. But thanks for that clarification.
Hi guys I think it's because of our survival instincts, we can't see in the dark, so we get afraid, just thought I'd drop in there and inform you all of that.
LMAO!:cackle:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pan
Sometimes I wonder what the hell goes through some people's heads.
umm.... that was mentionedQuote:
Originally Posted by Marvo
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Originally Posted by Wayfaerer
yeaQuote:
Originally Posted by Supernova
My bad I misunderstood what you were saying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pan
No worries ;)
Ima chip in to the 'survival instincts' crowd.
Also, the brain develops by noticing patterns. Due to the films, stories, anecdotes and the like that surround us from birth, we notice that darkness is a common element of things with an emotional quality of fear. Thus the brain comes to associate these two things inherently.
When you go downstairs at night, you need the lights on to see where you're going. You probably feel scared and unsafe until the lights are on because you can't see what's in front of you, anyone would. When I know I'm in a safe place, darkness is my friend, though I do need to have the lights on to get a drink or go to the toilet in the night. I can no longer sleep with the lights on, I used to though, all the time.
"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." ♥
The darkness of night time is comforting. All the kids should be asleep. Hell, most of the neighborhood's asleep and it is most peaceful.
But pitch darkness, as in walking down stairs into a basement... as others have said: what the heck is down there? Did someone leave something on the stairs? Am I about to fall and break my neck? Could someone have snuck into the house who plan on ambushing me?
I used to be really afraid of the dark too and slept with lights on. Now I can't stand the slightest light or noise when I finally crash. When I was a teen, I always went for walks at night to sneak my smokes. If I became scared, my instinct was always to run. But I quickly realized that running causes extreme panic. It came to be that I would take deep breaths, clear my mind, and REALLY "open" my ears. Then I'd insult myself: "Hey, stupid, calm the heck down!". It eventually stuck and I wasn't as scared anymore.
But I still have a natural hesitance of heading into a dark environment. I think, that's just a smart thing. Be careful and aware but not terrified.
nice advice, im usually so panic :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Zhaylin
I am more at ease in dim light or dark than in light. Main reason is that my eyes are over sensitive to the light. I don't recall being afraid of the dark in my life, not even as a kid. But naturally, I am also more careful in dark because I cannot rely on eyesight that much. I think you can pretty much learn to like dark and banish the fear of the dark. Requires a bit of patience and work though. :)
You can't see in the dark. So anything can be in the dark. Like a mountain lion or Darth Vader. Or both. Darth Lion. :shock:
YouTube user Philhellenes made an interesting video on this subject. It starts around 1:20.
We're visual beings and want to be completely aware of our surroundings. It helps us feel more connected with the reality, whether awake or dreaming.
I just don't like to stump my toes.
I think this thread wins the award of "most obvious". Derp.
I HIGHLY doubt that the almost universal feeling of unease in the dark is due to any conscious thoughts about real dangers in the immediate surroundings, as some of you suggest. I also doubt that culture has much to do with it. People tell me all the time about things that are "dangerous", but it doesn't scare me.
This is obviously just a survival instinct from before we humans lived indoors. All other theories are quite ridiculous.
Well you've obviously never jammed your pinky toe into the corner of the kitchen door way on a midnight chocolate run.Quote:
Originally Posted by cmind
My kitchen does not have a doorway.
The mind can easily work itself up into all kinds of terror in the dark if you let it. I'm a very rational person, not given to irrational fears, and I haven't been afraid of the dark in my house since I was a kid - EXCEPT after I just watched a scary movie!! Sometimes that does make me a bit jumpy and I want to turn on the lights. Well, and then there's also the fact that I might step on my dog, but that's more common sense than fear. :cheeky:
But let me tell you... avoiding the dark outside isn't just an unnecessary, leftover trace from our ancestors! Depending on where you live anyway... there are predators out there, and they don't walk on 4 legs!!
HAHAHAHA. This made me smile. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by greenhavoc
"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." ♥♥♥♥♥
I normally find more comfort in darkness and always have
That was predictable.
Well, the easy answer is simply because we are diurnal. In the same vein, Nocturnal animals are uncomfortable in the light.
And now a little rant.
It also depends on your childhood/lifestyle. For example, me and my friends loved going for night hikes. We loved playing hide and seek at night. Basically, me and my friends loved playing after dark. Even as I got older, me and my step-brothers would pull all nighters and drive up to Othello tunnels and spend the night wandering through the old train tunnels in near, if not, complete darkness. And now, I find that not only do I completely lack any "fear of the dark"... but I do on occasion find it comforting or familiar. Now, don't misinterpret this as me being "emo" or a nightdweller or anything. I work 8 - 5. I'm as diurnal as anyone. But I'm just saying that I when I find myself in Darkness I'm never uncomfortable.
Some parents aren't as 'lenient' as mine. They'll never let there children out after dark. They give them big bright nightlights. So if you're raised in the light, you'll be more likely do be 'afraid' of or uncomfortable in the dark.
oh god i hate night lights :mad:
It feels creepy because you are defenseless, for not having the sense of sight.