[hschenker]

After coming back to the light background of the Hacker News web site, I have a mutation of my eye sockets.

I know this is completely irrelevant to the linked article, but using white text on a dark background is such a significant violation of readability and visual comfort (unless you're reading several such articles in a row) that I can't help but be completely distracted from the article at hand.

[jacoblyles]

The alternative school of thought is that staring at a white screen is like staring into a light bulb.

[ObieJazz]

Unlike most light bulbs, a monitor has a brightness setting that can be set to a comfortable level.

Also the metaphor of ink on paper is still with us in a big way. Dark text on a light background is the norm, light on dark is the exception.

[jacoblyles]

On the other hand, many people have their terminals and editors in a light on dark scheme because they got used to it from the legacy days when they had no choice. However, I agree that most people probably aren't used to it.

[jfornear]

I agree, the dark background is a huge distraction. I think I can see through walls now, though.

[dejb]

So you had a problem when coming back to Hacker News and you choose to blame that on the site with the dark background? If that is the case then you should be saying 'Wow I never realised how hard it is on the eyes to be viewing light backgrounds all the time. More sites should have a dark background.'.

Personally I find a dark background better on the eyes.