On: We’re forgetting what darkness feels like

[jamilton]

Huh, I just assumed everyone saw visual snow/noise in the dark, guess not. I was thinking of it like underexposed film grain.

I don't think I notice it that much with the night sky unless the stars are faint though.

[cubefox → jamilton]

I still think everyone sees a noisy image in the dark if they pay attention. Simply because the retina is underexposed. "Visual snow" usually refers to a more extreme condition where you see it even in good lighting.

[RugnirViking → cubefox]

I can't say that I do. Covered eyes or pitch black room, I don't see anything like "static", either stationary or moving.

[cubefox → RugnirViking]

Maybe you just don't notice it? It's most noticable in a dark, but not completely dark, room when the eyes got accustomed to the darkness.

To clarify, a similar case: most people are able to see Haidinger's Brush [1], even if they have never noticed it. Why? Because it's not very noticable, so they don't pay attention to it.

1: https://www.polarization.com/haidinger/haidinger.html