Roomate keeps turning off the light

ok so he's offspring. I still don't want to hurt his feelings.

Just as I get accostumed to the lighting level in the room-he walks by and dims it-like he doesn't know I'm right in the middle of doing whatever I am doing and the change in environment is jarring enough when it happens to be like a severe interruption to my train of thought.

How do I politely get him to stop doing that without my going ape ship?
I don't like to yell.

I've tried ever which way of addressing the issue. It's like....he forgets. Completely absentminded.
Subliminally he is thinking cost, and that's nice, but the power bill is a lot cheaper than the cardiac the snap jars to my controlled environment are threatening to bring on.
Besides, I can't see well.

I am about to start throwing things at him. Balls? wadded paper......
Walk in when he is somewhere, say cooking, and abrubtly turn off the light...

Hmm might be worth making up a lable to put on the light switch, maybe you could sort out between you a system, Like if your using the light thats on at a certain level then have a geen sticker on it, If thats not thee then he can just do as he wishes,

That of remove the dimmer and have a nomal light socket,

Another idea would be to invest in a lamp that sits beside you,

And if all else fails then Throw balls!

[edit on 14-11-2008 by asala]

Rig up a double-light on a double-switch.

If he turns one off, the other comes on!

Well Id recomend getting a good lamp. Something that you can put where you always sit thats going to give you enought light to do what ever you like doing.

Hiya Hug

I am a chronic light-turner-offer. makes my BF nuts. It's such a programmed thing really I don't even stop most times to consider why the lights are on.

He has tried to be gently encouraging. Still I habitually switch lights off.

The main problem area is around the computers. So I moved the light to his desk area...and he now controls the light. All other areas of the house are fair game.

My mother was a light Nazi and I was the same with my daughter..."TURN the LIGHTS OFF!"

If it's one central light with only one dimmer switch...you'll have to be blunt.

I'd like to think it's just a need for habitual darkness that plagues your room mate

Just say "hey can you turn that back up till I'm done... thanks."

If you usually read/write in a specific area maybe you can get yourself a desk lamp.

I pretty much walk around in the dark and only turn on a light in the kitchen...pouring hot coffee in the dark isn't a good idea.

it's more of an ingrained habit and I don't do it purposely to make my BF mad...I really just do it automatically. I have, after being reminded, been able to abstain from turning lights off for a few days but then it's right back to switching them off.

Another idea is stickem notes. "Leave light on...studying/working/reading etc etc..." and put it right ON the dimmer switch.

After reading your post I cans see how you'd be getting a might bit irritated by the lights being dimmed.

I don't think it's a lack of respect or thoughtfulness really, but more of an irritating habit.

Best of luck...

OH...hey...what would be cool...get a pair of night vision goggles. I'd love a pair of those eh? J/K

I have an idea watch for imformercial see if you can find the clapper,clap on,clap off

LOL

Man that's funny

Have you tried just sitting in the dark, before he arrives lol

Ok here's what you need to do.

The next time he does it, get up an adjust the light level back to what it was before, but make sure he notices you doing it! and then sit back down, but say nothing!

If A: He says "sorry about that" - that’s a good sign - progress has been made lol

If B: If he says nothing and has the audacity to adjust the light level back again - that’s a bad sign - Then either get a new flat mate or get out of there, fast! lol

Good Luck

I don't know. Something about writing the list...made something weird evolve, because from nowhere, just this afternoon he happily walks, toot ta toot ta toot.. in while I am practicing sitting in the dark at the computer.

And says, as he is dimming UP the light, "man, wow, I really LIKE this light...."

To which I react, "Yeah and I really like that light to.
I light it so much that when you turn it on when I am in the room and then turn it off I FREAK OUT"

And he was like...."Oh, dear, I had no idea... "

The light is still on. I've gone. I've come back. All is the same. I really love my son.

I'm taking advice and moving it to the desk though. The problem is, apparently had been, that I compute in the dining room and am so short as the ceiling lamp is a bear to reach and shares a flip switch with the fridge--so I don't when I can help it and rely on that one way over there.

Thanks all~the best

Ok thats a lot of probelms!

1: Your too short to reach the cieling lamp.

2: The cieling lamp shares a trip switch with da fridge lol

3: You compute in the dinning room, when you know you shoud'nt be

4: And last but by no means least your flat mate or son, is in love with the light switch lol

This is more serious than I thought! :bnghd:

Ok your short, it's not crime in fact it's quite natural, and even if you could reach that cieling lamp, you would probably short out the fridge. There's nothing wrong with computing in the dinning room, so stay put.

There's only one solution, you need to let you inner light shine lol

Light up the darkness



[edit on 16-11-2008 by Joecroft]

Duct Tape.

Seriously - the ultimate solution to all the worlds problems.

Grab a small piece, slap it over that lightswitch.

Problem solved.

reply to post by Joecroft


imaginary coffee has just blown out my nose.....
I wasn't expecting to be reminded of paperbags.....
or ab work outs.....
if I wasn't already so close to the ground it'd hurt when I fell off my chair gasping for breathe as I convulsed in laughter at reading that.

ah...feel good.


I can reach the dimmer switch

reply to post by GENERAL EYES


Naaah, he's got to walk with arms reach of me to get at it now, and he's an adult so I can swat at him. I guess I owe him a lamp. Duct tape-Gorilla tape, did work for our vegge fridge/dining room light 'switch' combo, at least the veggies won't get warm during moments of switch happiness.

reply to post by HugmyRek



Glad you came to a peaceful resolution. Congrats!

(and I now have yet one more use for duct tape. Thanks!)

if I wasn't already so close to the ground it'd hurt when I fell off my chair gasping for breathe as I convulsed in laughter at reading that.

Thanks

I was just trying to help, not give you a back problem lol

Man, here was I, doing simultaneous equations, revisiting Pythagoras theorem, contemplating Einstein’s theory of relativity and weighing up various psychological factors. When all the time, all we needed was.......

......DUCT TAPE!!! lol

It’s a crazy world sometimes

Way ta go General eyes