Can you believe the "Citadel" military school is only now allowing locks on cadets' doors?

Question

Uhmm, did we really have to have the Virginia shootings before it occured to anyone that unlockable doors were a safety hazard to these people? Yet again, we see stupid military tradition trouncing common sense. Tradition doesn't make something good, people; more likely it just means that a lame activity has been carried on for an extra long period of time.

Answer 1

Yes, I can. And even now they should only lock from the inside. The Citadel cadets live by a strict honor code, and one part of that is to not steal. Plus, if no one has a lock, if you steal from someone else, he can steal from you.

I agree that there should be a safety factor, and that's where locking the door from the inside comes from.

At basic I lived in an open bay, so I see no real problem with no locks in a military environment.

Answer 2

First, military tradition is not "stupid". It exists to provide structure and common ground to a very diverse group of people charged with performing a very difficult task as a cohesive team. You obviously would never consider such a lifestyle for yourself, but you reap the benefits because of those that have.

Second, locks are only intended to protect property, not people and if you believe that a lock is going to protect you from someone intent on causing you harm you are delusional. Do a search on "lock bumping" to see just how easy it is for anyone to defeat most common household door locks.

Third, Citadel's Code of Honor is the method used to protect property. You also probably believe that the Code of Honor at the U.S. Military, Navy, and Air Force Academies are "lame" as well.

Lastly, I'm willing to bet that you observe plenty of traditions that others would consider lame.

Answer 3

You obviously haven't a clue
There was no need because of thier Honor Code.
Has thier been an incident in the Citadels 150 year history
Yet EVERY ONE OF THEM knows how to fire a gun.
The reason for the locks is female cadets

The incident at VT took place because some Government Bureaucrat failed to enter his name into the computer for a weapons ban. Laziness

Answer 4

in military school, you're supposed to be abused. The goal is to break your independance so that you will follow orders. The drill seargents wil control every aspect of your life at school. There should be no need for locks if they are as competent as I hope they are. However, basic privacy issues also arise from this.

independant people hate taking orders from others.

tradition is radical reforms that have been refined over time. Think about the court systems. What's the tradition for judges?

Answer 5

I agree!