I control the lights!! yes i do!
Ok....about ten years ago I was walking the mile or so from the train station to my house late one night....

...when I walk under a street lamp. The light goes off as I walk under it. 'That's weird' I thought to myself and walk on. When I'm about 20 feet away it comes back on again.

The same thing happened with the next light.

...and the next light....

...and the next light....

By this point I'm both baffled and more than a little bit freaked out...and run the rest of the way home.

The same thing happened to me about four or five times over the following years. All late at night and on the same route home.

It even happened when a mate was with me. We tested it and the lights went off when I went under - but not when he did.

So are there aliens in the street lamps? Or am I just supernaturally in charge of the lights?

B*ggered if I know.
(stairpotato, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 15:54, 11 replies)

Hmm
You could remake that Michael Jackson video
(Milo Minderbinder, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:04, closed)

It seems there are quite a few people with the same ability on here
Not me personally, but I have read others stating exactly the same thing.

But whatever you do, don't all get together otherwise you'll shut down the whole grid ;)
(TheRiddler Hmmmmm... I concur., Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:12, closed)

This happens to loads of people
Google it, there are tons of references to it on the web but I haven't been able to find a real explanation for it.
(superfly78, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:16, closed)

Street lamps have light sensors that detect reflected light from the ground
(rather than ambient light, so they can't activate each other)

A person walking under them would likely reflect more light than the asphalt, particularly if they were wearing bright clothing.
( Digeridude Lord Wellington's Beef Trapeze, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:17, closed)

Happens on one light...
...right next to the station. I've got video evidence on my phone still I think
(fidsy, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:19, closed)

It could also be
that you're casting a shadow on the light sensor. Some of them are located near the base.
( Digeridude Lord Wellington's Beef Trapeze, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:41, closed)

hair colour?
Could it be a difference in hair colur that makes this happen? if its based on reflected light this makes sense.

Happens to me and I'm blonde. Anyone else? Could also count if youve got a load of shiny product in your hair.
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 17:45, closed)

shadows and light sensors
Wouldn't casting a shadow on the sensor make the light go on?
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 19:06, closed)

I only need to drive near them...
I don't have to walk under them. It only happens if the light is already a bit dodgy and flickering. It either goes off completely or comes on and stops flickering.
(Cryptoprocta has abandoned the username of Voodoo Mary, Sat 5 Jul 2008, 0:06, closed)

I tend to do this
But I have a pacemaker implanted, so it might be something to do with that.
( Duke Of Belmsford has got 99 records, but Jay-Z ain't one, Sat 5 Jul 2008, 0:24, closed)

this happens to me too
I've posted about this on here before... it freaked me out at first, but weirdly it only seems to happen if i am relaxed/happy/thinking about something else these days... if I am thinking "I'm gonna make the light go off" then nothing happens... but if I am thinking of something else or whistling a tune as I walk, then often the lamps will go off.

I've even had ones turn on in broad daylight as I approach.

SLI... Street Light Interference ... apparently...

though that doesn't explain all the other electronic equipment that plays up in my presence or the fact that I tend to blow lightbulbs when I push a lightswitch
( hygor gyrates with animatronic emptyness, Sat 5 Jul 2008, 1:08, closed)