Christmas light displays out of control, or am I a scrooge?

[kingsrings]

I just read an article in our local paper about a guy who has one of those mega-big Christmas light, etc., displays in his yard. This one used 100,000 bulbs. Am I the only one who thinks that these kind of displays are over the top and invasive to the rest of the neighborhood? Of course many, many people will be coming into the neighborhood now and seeing the lights, and probably inconveniencing and maybe even endangering the rest of the neighbors who are trying to go about their daily business. I love Christmas light displays just as much as anyone else, but I think that etiquette-wise, there should be a limit as to how big they are. Anyone else agree, or am I just a big scrooge?

[goblue2539]

That's kind of a hard one.  I totally see what you're saying, but they do have a right to do what they want with and on their property. 

I think if the light is interferring with someone's sleep schedule they might have a good reason to protest before something happens.  Otherwise, I'm afraid no one would take you seriously until something like an accident did happen.

[BatCity]

Believe it or not, I think this is one of those areas in which you need to let the neighbors handle it on their own.  If they don't like it, they can say something.  It may even be that he already has the approval of his neighbors.

A few blocks from us, we have a cul-de-sac that has become one of those Christmas Light destination streets.  At first I thought it was insane, but then I found out that they use the opportunity to collect toys and donations for a local charity from people visiting the street.  I wouldn't want to live on that street myself, and I'm sure there must be at least SOMEBODY on that street who could give a fig about all those lights, but people seem to enjoy it.

Lara

[fklwmn]

You're being a scrooge

Of course, this comes from someone who has never lived on a street with a display like that. I might change my mind if I did! But I just loooooooooove those houses so having one close enough to walk to (or see from my window?!?!?!? ) just mightmake it worth it to me :p

[sweedetobee]

OK - call me SweedeScrooge - but what a waste of electricity!     Really though, I love all holiday decorations (no matter what holiday), especially outside decorations, but we've seen CA have a major electric failure in the past couple years, NY had one in 03 (?) and then Chicago had one last year I think too. You'd think that people could get into the holiday spirit without wasting resources like that.

I know that holiday decorations didn't cause those events. But it's the point that our electric industry is blatantly inefficient, so why test it, you know?

Now that I'm off my soapbox, I'm sure I would love hte decorations unless I was a neighbor that had to invest in heavy duty curtains in order not to be blinded at night   

[kingsrings]

You're being a scrooge

Of course, this comes from someone who has never lived on a street with a display like that. I might change my mind if I did! But I just loooooooooove those houses so having one close enough to walk to (or see from my window?!?!?!? ) just mightmake it worth it to me :p

Bah-humbug!!  

Like I said, I do love light displays, but the really big ones just look obnoxious and way too bright for my taste. I have spent Christmases in New York since that is where my mother lives, and I noticed that in her area, light displays are very impressive without being so big, flashy, and grand. For instance, on one lawn there was a little carousel-type display of animatronic old-fashioned looking Christmas figurines that was so adorable. Another neighbor turned his small garage into a Christmas display of lights, figurines, little trees, etc. These to me are better-looking and more impressive than all the pomp and circumstance ones. And if I was a neighbor trying to get somewhere in a hurry in my car and traffic was all backed up because people were looking at the display, I would be annoyed.

[freakyfemme]

I just read an article in our local paper about a guy who has one of those mega-big Christmas light, etc., displays in his yard. This one used 100,000 bulbs. Am I the only one who thinks that these kind of displays are over the top and invasive to the rest of the neighborhood? Of course many, many people will be coming into the neighborhood now and seeing the lights, and probably inconveniencing and maybe even endangering the rest of the neighbors who are trying to go about their daily business. I love Christmas light displays just as much as anyone else, but I think that etiquette-wise, there should be a limit as to how big they are. Anyone else agree, or am I just a big scrooge?

Meh.....I think this is a "choose your battles" kind of deal.  I mean, obviously, say something if the lights are really bothering you, or if the display involves a gigantic musical Santa Claus that plays the same five tunes over and over again, and badly at that, or if there's a perpetual line of cars full of people coming to look at the lights and take pictures, and you can't get in and out of your driveway, but if it's just an eyesore, I'd say just close your blinds and lead by example by decorating your own house in a tasteful manner.

[mich3554]

I have one of those light displays on my street, and I utterly hate it.

Every year, the house goes waaaaay over the top.  Every year, there are idiots that stop in the middle of the street in their cars to gawk at the light.  I nearly rear ended one tonight that decided to stop.

Last year, a woman took her child out of the car and stood in the middle of the street to see the lights better.  Both were dressed in dark clothing and the house is lit up so bright, you don't see anything out of the circle of light.

Yep, I'm scrooge - but I don't want to hit one of the idiots.

[Venus193]

You'd never want to live next door to this guy:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/xmaslights.asp

The video clip probably doesn't quite capture the intensity of this display.

[Clara Bow]

I had a thread on the old forum entitled "Wreather Madness" about this very thing. I think they're tacky in the extreme, but someone may think my inflatable Santa and lit-up camellia bush next to him (I cannot get my hubby to quit calling it "the burning bush") is ugly so to each his own. Yes they're something of a nuisance, but it's only for a little while.
Besides, I think they're pretty funny sometimes. Like the guy near here with the lit up crosses in the yard surrounded by Christmas characters...wierd....

[Lady Vavasour]

Those bulbs must use up a lot of electricity.

[Venus193]

I suspect his electric bill was rather intense.

I can't imagine how dark his shades would have to have been to not be disturbed by this display.   

[madmusician]

It might be one of those neighborhoods where all the neighbors put on big displays so that families can drive thru and see their decorations, and all the neighbors compete to see who has the most crap in their yard.

[JeanFromBNA]

There was the Christmas light display put on by the Jennings Osborne family in Little Rock, Arkansas that made it to the U.S. Supreme Court via a lawsuit by angry neighbors.  In 1995, Disney bought their 4-million light display, and have showcased it at Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida between Thanksgiving and New Year's day ever since. 

[MsEva]

I would never decorate my house like that. I prefer simple white lights, although I compromised and let DH put colored lights on the bushes. However, seeing those big displays brings out the kid in me. I totally love seeing the biggest and brightest displays on other houses. I wish I could be so lucky to live near some houses that are over the top.

And yes, I still oooh and ahhh over fireworks too.