Comments on: Three cheers for streetlights http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147 Feel Smart Again Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:46:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Doc http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147/comment-page-1#comment-19480 Doc Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:38:18 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147#comment-19480 A bit off topic, but relevant: Every time I hear someone complain about how crime is rampant in our streets and we need to build more prisons and lock up more people inside them (regardless of the cost) I suggest they read Charles Dickens with the caveat that he was simply fictionalizing real conditions. Turn of the (19th) century London had more crime and more prisoners, per capita, than any American city today. Dunno about the streetlights - there's none in my neighborhood (BFE South Carolina) and we have little to no crime. But all the hooligans and gang bangers or wanna-be gangstas know that every house around here has firearms and occupants quite willing and able to use them... and we have, as one bunch found out - none of lads died, but all carry scars - and police records. Heck, between my best friend and I we have more firepower than a lot of third-world countries, and are much better marksmen. A bit off topic, but relevant:

Every time I hear someone complain about how crime is rampant in our streets and we need to build more prisons and lock up more people inside them (regardless of the cost) I suggest they read Charles Dickens with the caveat that he was simply fictionalizing real conditions. Turn of the (19th) century London had more crime and more prisoners, per capita, than any American city today.

Dunno about the streetlights – there’s none in my neighborhood (BFE South Carolina) and we have little to no crime. But all the hooligans and gang bangers or wanna-be gangstas know that every house around here has firearms and occupants quite willing and able to use them… and we have, as one bunch found out – none of lads died, but all carry scars – and police records. Heck, between my best friend and I we have more firepower than a lot of third-world countries, and are much better marksmen.

]]> By: Sid Morrison http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147/comment-page-1#comment-19476 Sid Morrison Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:34:32 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147#comment-19476 I was a bit confused at first over what Thomas Hobbes has to do with whaling, but once I got past that, I enjoyed the post. As for what else street lighting is good for: www.junipergallery.com/images/full/3f05632u1.jpg I was a bit confused at first over what Thomas Hobbes has to do with whaling, but once I got past that, I enjoyed the post.

As for what else street lighting is good for:
http://www.junipergallery.com/images/full/3f05632u1.jpg

]]> By: El Tigre http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147/comment-page-1#comment-19475 El Tigre Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:32:56 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147#comment-19475 Apparently I'm the only one here with enough guts to speak up for the rights of nighttime eye-gougers. I'm sorry, what were we talking about? Apparently I’m the only one here with enough guts to speak up for the rights of nighttime eye-gougers.

I’m sorry, what were we talking about?

]]> By: Tdave http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147/comment-page-1#comment-19445 Tdave Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:27:22 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147#comment-19445 In 1949/1950 my grandfather built a house that was one street away from the lit area. My grandmother called the borough(Town) and asked if they could put in one more light near the house. The borough had an old unused pre-1920 style light in storage, the kind that look like an upside-down flower with a big bulb hanging from it, and put it on the pole near their house. That light was there until the late 80's when the borough said the bulbs for it weren't made anymore and replaced it with an ugly bright sodium vapor light. In 1949/1950 my grandfather built a house that was one street away from the lit area. My grandmother called the borough(Town) and asked if they could put in one more light near the house. The borough had an old unused pre-1920 style light in storage, the kind that look like an upside-down flower with a big bulb hanging from it, and put it on the pole near their house. That light was there until the late 80’s when the borough said the bulbs for it weren’t made anymore and replaced it with an ugly bright sodium vapor light.

]]> By: Sheldon Siegel http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147/comment-page-1#comment-19426 Sheldon Siegel Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:09:41 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147#comment-19426 Heck, a lot of that still goes on in most elementary schools in New Jersey. With or without lights. Heck, a lot of that still goes on in most elementary schools in New Jersey.
With or without lights.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147/comment-page-1#comment-19409 Melissa Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:32:38 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7147#comment-19409 I've suddenly lost all desire to complain about those bright parking lot lights shining into my apartment at night. I’ve suddenly lost all desire to complain about those bright parking lot lights shining into my apartment at night.

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