Thanks. Until this post, I wasn't sure who was going to go the farthest in losing their minds trying to defend Belichick on this. You're now clearly in the lead. If you think navigation aids can magically cure each and every weather-related tardiness, there's a psychiatrist just waiting for your business.
As for the military, let's just say that I've had enough experience there to know better than buy that argument of yours.
Edit: Just something I saw on another site:
Patriots Planet - New England Patriots Forums and Message Boards - View Single Post - Curran: Belichick throws the challenge flag
So, yeah.... weather was apparently a legitimate factor.
Frankly, Deus, I would like to see you bring a little more in the way of a substantive response rather than attempt to say I must being losing my mind to disagree with your conclusion on the subject. If that is the case, the board has become an asylum because I see few jumping to your defense. The simple response is find some management principle that says making rules and enforcing them selectively is an ingredient in a succesful enterprise. I don't make this argument out of love of Belichick, it's called Management 101 and you apparently missed that course.
Your premise appears to be there is one route in MA to travel from Point X to Foxboro, and if you live in another town and the one road is blocked, you just cannot get there from here. Interesting notion, but contradicted by every map I have looked at while living in the state for 20 years or so. Civil engineers have weird concepts in town planning about establishing alternate paths. And there are accidents in bad weather? Stop the presses. That is a revelation, and apparently a happenstance you wouldn't factor in while planning how to get to work the next day. I believe we should address all variables in planning, not just one, otherwise we live in your uncertain world and cannot predict a result.
And here's a thought: people actually buy houses based on where they work. I know, just plain loco. If you buy a house that's inaccessible, that is not an excuse for not making it to work. Your choice, your problem. If you buy a house far from work, you have opted for a lengthy commute. Still your problem, not your boss's problem. Should Belichick make geographical exceptions based on that choice? Should he keep 50 people waiting and hold them late because of that choice? Let's hear your reasonable approach that won't punish the majority. Private sessions for the 4 who show up late?
And navigation aids give alternate routes. They tell you where the accidents are, and where not to travel as far as routes go. I didn't claim they are magical transporters, but if you have the luxury of high ends cars, and I suspect everyone in that group has that luxury, those tools certainly speed you on your way. The point being you have plenty of tools to find a best route, so you are rock stupid if you proceed blindly into the snow when the problems of weather are well documented.
And I have no clue what your military experience is, but I have plenty (almost two decades) and tardiness never was a problem in any military command I have been associated with. If you have different experience, then you probably also know the effect a laissez faire attitude has on good order and discipline, and what carving exceptions out for those who don't toe the line does to overall morale. If you don't, then you likely don't have real experience and are just throwing argument out there to support an untenable position.
