Why Do We Change Our Clocks?

[gemz4the1]

I have always thought it was strange that the clocks go forward and back every year.  I find it pointless.  I can understand if it goes back one year and forward the next, but why confuse people by changing it?

Last night I knew they were going back, but this morning I forgot and wondered why my phone and clock had 2 different times on them.

Anyway, my main question is - why do they change?

I have Googled this many times but I can't find an answer that I understand.

Do other countries do it or is it just the UK?

[gemz4the1]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I generally change my clock if it's broken or I fancy a new style.

---

Fair enough if you want to live in a different time frame than everyone else in the UK

[anticpated]

Scientifically it's because the sidespin on the axis is slightly tilted, resulting in longer darkness and shorter light. Places like Iceland get very light because where they are situated.

From a common sense point of view, it's because with shorter afternoons you get less light and therefore it is safer for travel during daylight than on a dark night. Of course, not all work schedules follow this at all.

[Anonymous]

---

@gemz4the1 wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I generally change my clock if it's broken or I fancy a new style.

---

Fair enough if you want to live in a different time frame than everyone else in the UK

---

I set it to the right time though. Otherwise that'd be silly!

[jonsie]

So the title should be to 'alter our clocks' to fit in with your unique mindset @Anonymous 

[Anonymous]

---

@jonsie wrote:

So the title should be to 'alter our clocks' to fit in with your unique mindset @Anonymous 

---

No need to. That'd be pedantic! 

[Anonymous]

I thought it was for the farmers to have more lightr in the morning?

[Cleoriff]

As I mentioned on another thread...it was the farmers that caused a furore the one year we trialled NOT changing them....a lot of people hated it that year...

Me? I dislike dark nights and dark mornings...A bird of the summer I am...