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Re:Ask HN: Why are there so few artificial sunlight or artif... by nathanaldensr on Monday July 25, 2022 @12:49AM (#32220570)
Mimicking sunlight means providing all the wavelengths, including the harmful ones like UV. Some people may not be aware that e.g. lights[1] prescribed for Seasonal Affective Disorder can actually cause burns if used for too long. They are supposed to be used for short periods only.

The FDA does not regulate light boxes, so caveat emptor.

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affe...

Re:Ask HN: Why are there so few artificial sunlight or artif... by hackerlight on Monday July 25, 2022 @02:18AM (#32221105)
If we get one and it doesn't cause any noticeable burn/tan after a month of daily use, I assume we can conclude that the UV rays have been filtered out (at least to be equal or less than outdoors sunlight)?
Re:Ask HN: Why are there so few artificial sunlight or artif... by ilaksh on Monday July 25, 2022 @12:52AM (#32220584)
The thing is that UV is harmful if overexposed but also harmful when there isn't exposure. Humans require a certain amount of UV to be healthy.

So I think what is needed is actually carefully dosing with full spectrum.

Re:Ask HN: Why are there so few artificial sunlight or artif... by ShamelessC on Monday July 25, 2022 @01:23AM (#32220791)
> The [government] does not regulate [blank], so caveat emptor.

I find this point of view so rude, tone deaf even.

"caveat emptor" only applies if you personally believe humans are entirely responsible for their own actions and can't possibly be manipulated or scammed by others. That, or you think this is likely (and it is) but you simply don't care about these people and think that this is the market correcting for "dumb consumers".

Or maybe you think the laws of the land define how we should behave to one another? Anything not made explicit by "the law" is thus meant to be ignored? Not your problem?

I'm sorry, it's just the sort of thing some one who benefits from the lack of regulation would say. It sounds biased - like you're trying to justify some venture of your own that is also "unregulated, so caveat emptor".

Let me guess, cryptocurrency enthusiast?

Anyway I say all this because there _are_ better arguments against government regulation. But caveat emptor is just saying "fuck government regulation, it doesn't let me screw people over as much". You might convince more people if your do a bit of research (and maybe don't assume everyone simply agrees with caveat emptor - this is the tone deaf bit).

Re:Ask HN: Why are there so few artificial sunlight or artif... by samloveshummus on Monday July 25, 2022 @07:05AM (#32222854)
You seem quite mistaken about what "caveat emptor" means ("buyer beware"). The person you're replying to means we should be cautious about using risky unregulated light boxes, which you would seem to agree with.