The BA has a page on the Dark Side of the Moon.

He correctly points out that no side of the Moon is forever dark (in the sense of absence of light).

However the phrase "dark side of the Moon" does not actually refer to light at all. Time to consult with an unabridged dictionary:

Basically things which are unknown are "dark" in this context. Likewise consider the phrase: "in the dark." It is a noun this time, but referring someone not knowing something.

The far side of the Moon is hidden from us. Or at least it was hidden from us until space probes started taking pictures. Thus the far side of the Moon really is a "dark side." (Just don't commit an equivocation and assume that dark means absense of light.) Basically it is a case of confusing caused by an evolving language where words often have multiple meanings.

This issue came up in talk.origins recently and I just so happen to be looking at the misconception list and though I should bring this up.

To all the people that don't realise that there is no "dark side of the moon", 99% of them all think that 'dark' is referring to a non-light region. BA was aiming his page at people who have misconceptions with that particular issue, but you're probably right that before several decades ago, "the dark side" was probably referring to an 'unkown mystery'.

with regards

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I'm wit' ya.

Why don't we see the dark side of the moon?

Quick Question about the moon

Oh dear...

But I don't think I've made many converts.

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I agree that the term is unfortunate for today's audience since the word "dark" is genereally not used too often anywore as an adjective meaning unknown. And it does lead a real misconception which the BA debunks.
Mentioning that "dark" does not refer to lack of light in and of itself is a good lesson: don't take names -- especially old names -- too literally.

Well, it's not really "unknown" anymore either...

When I was a boy, in the '50s, there was some mystery attached to the 'dark side of the moon.'

Some writers even thought there may be evidence of life there.

Mind you, others laughed at this (of course) and made comments like "The moon has no water," and so on, but the moon may have a little water after all.

OK not enough for life, but a surprise nevertheless.

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You cannot create a truth by believing in a falsehood.

True. But then again how long have we known that the Sun is not the one moving and yet we still call it "sunset".

Names survive long after the reason for them goes away.