It isn’t “common-sense” lighting fixtures that is being debated here - it is the radical “no lights at all” attempts... and many of the “dark sky-friendly” lighting is worthless for its fundamental purpose - to light a given space.
And regardless of what anyone feels here (even if overly influenced by personal hobbies), this is, in fact, powered by the same types/groups as all the rest of the radical environmental movement (Gia -worshipping socialists).
I enjoy a dark night where stars and other celestial bodies are visible as much as anyone - but where does one draw the line? I have heard so many say that one person’s rights end where another’s begin - but how does that align with lighting? If I live where the neighbor wants a floodlight to illuminate their back yard - that light, by design, WILL somewhat light up mine - even if I would prefer it not to be (or don’t want the light coming in my window). I can get window shades and heavy curtains to help with the latter - but still -— my neighbor has a right to light his yard as well.
But lets not overlook some other issues with this whole lighting issue - the same enviro-nuts who want to reduce our “carbon footprint” push for lighting that is a lot less efficient - and will take more of - to illuminate a given space.
For many areas - good lighting is a primary and effective means of security. Discounting that, as some here have (calling in INsecurity) is immature and completely missing the point.
There has to be some middle ground - Just like the environment - we shouldn’t go out of our way to abuse it - but we shouldn’t sacrifice mankind or our safety either.
But if me having a big light prevents someone from breaking in and stealing my stuff, but at the same time - causes trouble with my neighbor who is a stargazer... I’ll still pick protecting my stuff.
Your not paying attention...There has been no middle ground...Did you notice the light domes from the cities now extends for hundreds of miles into the atmosphere and in all directions, completely washing out night sky's, even into many rural areas? And it's just getting worse.
Look, if people want to turn night into day, and plant street lights every 80 feet, and pay the taxes on them, I can't do anything about it.
Most burglars in this area do their "work" in the DAYTIME,simply because that's when people are not home.Most of the burglars get caught after breaking into about 3 dozen homes.
Burglars don't want to meet a possibly armed homeowner;home invasion robberies are another matter, and both rare and most often targeting "fellow" criminals involved in illegal drugs. .
You are also ignoring the simple fact that people no longer are sitting outside on the now-rare porch idly watching the neighborhood.People come home and turn inwards to watch the TV ,video game, or surf the internet.At least three of my seven nearest neighbors have their homes arranged so that they are usually in the rooms which face away from the road and driveway and have no dog,but they do have an insecurity light or three on a pole which lights up their trees,house roof and wall ,and the yard which isn't in view from their usual chair/sofa.
As for the neighbor floodlights ,although I moved from that city home years ago, simply replacing his two 150 watt floods with two 75 watt spots would have kept his yard brightly lit and ours shadowed and eliminated any need for our installing dark curtains for easier sleep.Do a search for melatonin and the effects of light on sleep.
Just because you enjoy loud jazz music doesn't mean you can force your neighbors to listen to it.
It's a matter of design. Most people light their yards from their home outward. I had a neighbor like that in a previous neighborhood. He could have lit the property from the property lines and shone the light toward his house. I'm sure it would have been more expensive but it would have been much more "neighborly".
Similarly, I suspect most people have never even considered designing their outdoor lighting to be "sky friendly".
One look at how the ‘dark sky’ movement is being funded should be enough to scare any American away from it.