Ignorance is often the main ingredient in statements that many times unknowingly offend or spark an emotional response in people. Getting ready for junior year homecoming with my friends was turning out to be a very fun experience, as well as the excitement that came with arriving at the dance. In the midst of the dance strobe lights began to flash along with the music. All of a sudden I hear, “Wow, these strobe lights are going to give me a seizure”. After turning to see who’s remark this was, I realized it was an idiotic peer who had absolutely no reason to have a seizure as a result of flashing lights. Not only did this comment anger me, but my brother, who happens to have epilepsy sensitive to lights, was also present at the dance. It's incredible how simply hearing this statement that everyone else around me simply chuckled at and brushed off, took a huge toll on my mood and excitement. 
     There are several reasons that strobe lighting may cause people to have seizures; however, being a perfectly healthy teenager who attends a dance with these lights is not one of them. Approximately 2.2 million people in the United States live with epilepsy and about 66,000 deal with photosensitive epilepsy; strobe lights as well as any other flashing images or patterns can cause people with this condition to suffer a seizure. 1 in 26 people may develop a form of epilepsy in their lifetime, with many having it be prevalent their entire lives. For people who live with photosensitivity, frequency, color, area, and pattern can all cause a seizure. Sleep deprivation, fatigue, and long exposure to video games can also make people with this condition more susceptible to seizures. Furthermore, seizures caused by lights can range from staring spells (absence seizures), jerking of limbs, or tonic clonic seizures. Three to five percent of people with epilepsy suffer from this kind and are tested for light sensitivity during routine EEG tests in order to note the exact effect that it has on his/her brain. Nearly everyone has seen seizure warnings because of lights at some point, but do not usually give it much thought as it doesn't pertain to them. These cautions are posted on everything from video games to amusement park rides. 
     This situation plays out similarly to the movement to end the use of offensive words such as “retarded”. The perpetrators using these offensive words or phrases need to think before they speak about how their comments may affect others around them. The people who make comments like this are entirely uneducated; there is an extremely minuscule chance that someone were to randomly experience a seizure do to flashing lights. This was not a one time occurrence for me seeing that I have heard this “joke” many times. Every time it is uttered by someone who simply doesn't understand or care to think about the fact that it is nearly impossible for them to suddenly become photosensitive. At this point it should be obvious why this is insensitive and not even remotely funny. Seizures as a result of lights, or anything for that matter, are terrifying for the one suffering it as well as everyone around them. It is imperative that people begin to understand that photosensitivity is the sole reason for seizures due to lights, and that joking about something that can be a real danger for someone around you is despicable.

by Emma Simmons