Originally Posted By: dnewton3
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
I see lots of references along the lines of not that cold, moderate cold snap etc...
So, lets put things in perspective...
For Indianapolis, the low for date in question tied the record low at -12F, a record going back to 1887. -12F for Indianapolis puts it in the 30 coldest days in Indianapolis history dating back to 1884. Windchills that morning were projected to be as low as -35F. Indianapolis Schools were cancelled, among others, due to the cold temps and windchills. So for some of us, say Minnesotans, not that cold. For Indianapolis, it was cold. Deny the statistics if you want, but it was.
Many districts in Minnesota do have thresholds for canceling schools. For many in the Twin Cities, at temps of -25F or windchills of -35 or -40F or below, we cancel school. Oftentimes, this is based on the forecast, and sometimes predicting cold weather can be tricky - it often depends on fresh snowcover and clear skies that don't always develop. We had a day cancelled for cold last year on the forecast, then the temp didn't get as cold as predicted that night. Two days later, we didn't cancel, even though it ended up being colder that morning but the forecast was not that cold.
In the end, the OP is of the opinion everyone else is a wimp since he could make it work. I get the feeling that it wouldn't matter where a threshold for his company allowing work from home exists - the mere fact one exists at all make him superior to his fellow employees since he made it to work...
Even the national weather service acknowledges that local extremes matter - did you know that the thresholds for wind chill advisorys and warnings are different depending on where in the US you are? Explicitly in acknowledgement that extreme cold means different things in different places.
Go ahead an minimize the low temps as being what they were. I'm secure enough in my judgement to decide what is worth me venturing out and what isn't and I trust my fellow employee to do the same. This year I stayed home and worked at -16F one morning as black ice was pretty bad. A few years earlier, I went work at -35F because I had to... All about choices and level of risk. You do what works for you, I'll do what works for me, and promise not call you a pansy for making a good choice for you.
Indy area gets below zero a few days EVERY YEAR. This isn't Memphis or Atlanta. We're not strangers to temps below zero by any stretch of the imagination. Our record low was in 1994; -36F in Whiteland (just south of Indy).
Sure - it was cold. But so what? "Cold" is fairly easy to overcome with planning and layers of clothes! Tuesday it was -12F and work was called off. Friday it was -6F and not one peep was said. Both clear days with clear roads. Man up, put on an extra layer, go out and start the car up a bit early, and motor on.
Yes - I'm perfectly comfortable calling folks "pansies" (or whimps, or slackers, or whatever you all think is the most appropriate derogatory, but not crude, comment which can be made).
Life is not a participation trophy; EARN IT!
One thing I can say to this....it will never make life boring!!
