5 ms·

In what situation would you switch the lights on and off constantly to signal you need help? The only situation I can think of is that you're somehow too injure

In what situation would you switch the lights on and off constantly to signal you need help? The only situation I can think of is that you're somehow too injured to make noise or move, but you're able to reach the light switch?

MattGaiser 5y ago
Think elderly people who might have a lamp beside them in bed or who are stuck on the floor near a lamp, but wouldn't carry around a cell phone. I haven't heard a lot about it, but anecdotally have heard of it outside of HN.
- IgorPartola 5y ago
  I have heard of it in the context of domestic violence when a person locks themselves in a room without a phone and is trying to signal to the outside world that they are in trouble.
  - Moodles 5y ago
    Right. In the case they’re locked in a room without their phone and the domestic abuser doesn’t also notice them turning the light on and off, I guess it would be an ok strategy? But again, that seems pretty farfetched. I have heard of cases where they call 911 and “order a pizza” and the operator catches on though.
    - munk-a 5y ago
      I think if they're in a locked room being noticed by the domestic abuser isn't a huge concern of theirs since they have a locked door between them and the abuser.
      - Moodles 5y ago
        So why not make a lot of noise then?
- Moodles 5y ago
  Right. Even that’s a lamp, not a room light. It seems a little farfetched to me these days to be honest.
crazygringo 5y ago
I tried Googling it and can't find anything anywhere, neither as some official police recommendation, or even anyone talking about it as a commonly understood signal. Only circumstance I can imagine is if someone is kidnapped and they flash lights in an SOS pattern? Seems pretty unlikely they'd be by a street-facing room in the first place though.
- Moodles 5y ago
  Right. But then you’re hoping the kidnapper doesn’t notice you? Which means they’re not there? Which means you could just shout. And how can you use the light switch if you’re (presumably) tied up anyway? Alexa?
cutemonster 5y ago
> too injured to make noise or move, but you're able to reach the light switch? Sounds more likely to me, than someone getting a webcam and writing a computer program that switches off the lights when eyelids closed because he he blinks! :-) Especially if follows the international SOS code

MattGaiser 5y ago

Think elderly people who might have a lamp beside them in bed or who are stuck on the floor near a lamp, but wouldn't carry around a cell phone. I haven't heard a lot about it, but anecdotally have heard of it outside of HN.

IgorPartola 5y ago
I have heard of it in the context of domestic violence when a person locks themselves in a room without a phone and is trying to signal to the outside world that they are in trouble.
- Moodles 5y ago
  Right. In the case they’re locked in a room without their phone and the domestic abuser doesn’t also notice them turning the light on and off, I guess it would be an ok strategy? But again, that seems pretty farfetched. I have heard of cases where they call 911 and “order a pizza” and the operator catches on though.
  - munk-a 5y ago
    I think if they're in a locked room being noticed by the domestic abuser isn't a huge concern of theirs since they have a locked door between them and the abuser.
    - Moodles 5y ago
      So why not make a lot of noise then?
Moodles 5y ago
Right. Even that’s a lamp, not a room light. It seems a little farfetched to me these days to be honest.

crazygringo 5y ago

I tried Googling it and can't find anything anywhere, neither as some official police recommendation, or even anyone talking about it as a commonly understood signal. Only circumstance I can imagine is if someone is kidnapped and they flash lights in an SOS pattern? Seems pretty unlikely they'd be by a street-facing room in the first place though.

Moodles 5y ago
Right. But then you’re hoping the kidnapper doesn’t notice you? Which means they’re not there? Which means you could just shout. And how can you use the light switch if you’re (presumably) tied up anyway? Alexa?

cutemonster 5y ago

> too injured to make noise or move, but you're able to reach the light switch? Sounds more likely to me, than someone getting a webcam and writing a computer program that switches off the lights when eyelids closed because he he blinks! :-) Especially if follows the international SOS code