I’m an old fogey who grew up reading physical books and newspapers but I absolutely need dark mode on backlit displays. I despise light mode.
Comment on Dark mode’s bright future: How dark mode will transform Wikipedia’s accessibility
Agrivar@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I’ve always been kind of curious: am I weird because I prefer light mode for web pages with a lot of text to read? Or is it more of an age-gated thing, like older people who grew up reading printed texts only prefer what’s familiar to them? I’m fine with YouTube (for example) having a black background and dark theme, but I even browse Lemmy via old.lemmy.world in light mode!
doubletwist@lemmy.world 1 month ago
dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 1 month ago
I think dark mode for me stops me getting as many migraines as I did on light mode.
The way I think about reading text is that on dark mode you’re looking for light (white text) in darkness (the black background), whereas with light mode you’re looking for the absence of light (black text) on a background of pure light.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 month ago
I don’t think you can make a universal statement of dark versus light. Some programs’ dark modes suck so I use their light mode. Some programs’ light modes suck so I use their dark mode. Hell, some programs’ high contrast modes are so good I use those despite not having any major (uncorrected) visual impairments. Take GitHub. Their high contrast mode is nice and not disgusting. IntelliJ IDEA’s dark mode is good. Eclipse’s light mode is good. It all just depends on the program.
And Solarized sucks ass. There, I said it.
Agrivar@lemmy.world 1 month ago
And Solarized sucks ass. There, I said it.
Hard agree.
NikkiDimes@lemmy.world 2 months ago
How old are you? I’m in my early 30s, definitely grew up with computers most of my life, and internet almost as long, but also read plenty of physical paper books, and I greatly prefer darker color schemes.
That said, I’m also a software developer so I learned long ago that dark mode is much easier on the eyes when coding for hours on end, so maybe I’m just used to it.
Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Having read lots of books, I tend to prefer printed text a lot. Yet I still use dark mode as much as possible; it’s the glare. It’s irritating to read something on a white, glaring surface. Paper doesn’t have that.
I’ll read Wikipedia on e-ink, but on LCD I’ll use dark mode.
suction@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Just use what you like, you don’t have to theorize about it
Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Hmm… Under normal circumstances, sure. But this is an odd thing to say in a conversation specifically about the subject.
suction@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Shut up buddy you’re not special because you use dark mode
JimVanDeventer@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Or is it more of an age-gated thing
Depends how old you consider old, maybe? Computers back in the day were pretty universally light text on a dark background. VIC-20 was an exception but then even Commodore backpedaled on that with the 64. But you might have had a different experience and are only remembering things like Mac OS or Amiga, or Windows, and maybe that has influenced your preference. 🤷♀️ To each their own, anyway.
naught101@lemmy.world 1 month ago
It depends a lot on your screen, and your lifting situation. Black on white is better in day light, white on black is much better on LED screens (as opposed to backlit LCD or CRT monitors).
suction@lemmy.world 1 month ago
No. Dark mode is just a new hype that’s why it gets so much traction. None of it’s alleged benefits can be scientifically proven, it’s nothing but personal taste.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 month ago
With OLED screens, pure black backgrounds are amazing for reading in a pitch black environment.
None of it’s alleged benefits can be scientifically proven, it’s nothing but personal taste.
Not to mention, they literally scientifically proved that dark mode extends battery life with OLED screens. dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3458864.3467682
suction@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Again, just use what you like and shut up
JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 month ago
You’re the one saying there aren’t scientific benefits when there actually are. You’re the one who literally said something factually incorrect.
Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 month ago
It’s easier on my eyes. Which is anecdotal, but a large enough portion of the population use dark modes for the same reason. That is not coincidence, and it’s not something I’d write off as merely being hype.
There’s nothing new about dark mode either. Wikipedia is just slow in the uptake. Besides Wikipedia, dark modes have existed for more than a decade.
suction@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Ok so just use it but stop making it your whole personality
Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 month ago
My whole personality? The fuck you smoking to be so hateful towards dark mode? We’re literally here talking about it. You decided to join in with a weird ass take.
Krzd@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Look at Answer in Progress’s video on dark mode, the initial question is a different one about design, but it goes a bit in the difference and dis- versus advantages between dark and light mode.
Wogi@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Light mode:
Cons: blinds you when it’s dark, is grating on the eyes, looks terrible
Pros: can be used as a flashlight in a pinchDark mode:
Pros: looks cool, doesn’t blind you, doesn’t hurt your eyes, easy to read.
Cons: cannot be used as a flashlight
AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
I prefer light mode because dark mode gives me a raging headache in under 10 minutes, not enough contrast or something, I’m not sure. It’s bad enough that if I’m pairing with someone and they use dark mode I’ve gotta frequently look away or do something like a shared follow mode where I use a light theme on my end - it sucks.
And maybe the science is old now, but in HS I did a report on eye strain and light backgrounds are typically better across the board. But who knows now.
Halosheep@lemm.ee 1 month ago
I’m with you on this. I prefer a dimly lit light mode to dark mode even at night. The white text always seems fuzzy and uncomfortable for me.
AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Do you have astigmatism? I’m beginning to realize this might be why it’s uncomfortable for me.
Agrivar@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Shit, I do have astigmatism in my right eye! You might be on to something.
n3cr0@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Light mode is likely just your personal preference, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
I used dark themes/color schemes, long before there was a dark mode for everything. I was surprised when it finally became a thing and the new generation of dark themes was flawless (good bye unaddressed bright backgrounds which make everything unreadable!). So I can continue sitting in the Dark while not being blinded by a bright screen.