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The LED Traffic Light and the Danger of "But Sometimes!"

Technology Connections · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Transit, cities & urban planningFuturism & technology and societyScientific method & science communication

What it is

Technology Connections explains how LED traffic lights, which do not melt snow, drew complaints and were blamed for accidents. He uses it to illustrate the 'but sometimes' fallacy against new technology.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Cited constantly as the name and example of the 'but sometimes' argument, where edge cases are used to resist better technology such as EVs and solar.

  • 7 people recommended it
  • 6 different months
  • 3 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “which actually does a fantastic job of explaining the pros and cons of LED-based traffic lights.”

    Fantastic explanation of pros and cons of LED traffic lights

    dlivingston, 2019-05 · Strong recommendation · in “Detroit’s LED streetlights going dark after a few years”

  2. “The one on traffic lights is way more interesting than it sounds! Everybody should check it out.”

    More interesting than it sounds, with a relatable ending point

    chipperyman573, 2020-02 · Strong recommendation · in “Brown: color is weird [video]”

  3. “I love Technology Connections' take on this line of argument [0]”

    Describes how people fixate on problems of new better technology

    lolinder, 2024-08 · Strong recommendation · in “China's total wind and solar capacity outstrips coal”

  4. “Technology Connections has a great video on LED traffic lights and how the concern about snow was overblown”

    Shows snow concern about LED traffic lights was overblown

    ChickeNES, 2020-03 · Recommendation · in “Lead-Free Solder Is Better for You”

  5. “I feel like Technology Connections did a better approach to the same topic of innovation”

    Explains 'But Sometimes' framing of new innovations and FUD

    jdmichal, 2021-01 · Recommendation · in “New Defaults”

  6. “The Technology Connections channel on YouTube has an excellent video on this”

    Explains LED traffic lights not melting snow

    M2Ys4U, 2021-03 · Recommendation · in “A call to improve London's lighting at night”

  7. “You may be interested in the video”

    Suggested as relevant to the discussion of tradeoffs

    someperson, 2021-03 · Recommendation · in “Solar Is Cheapest Electricity in History, U.S. DOE Aims to Cut Costs 60% by 2030”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: traffic lights, led, but sometimes, technology adoption, technology connections

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