[bad_user]

   The latter, isn't an attempt to remove blame

I actually have a different view.

Excuse: "I'm sorry, but the traffic was bad".

Reason: "The traffic was bad << now fuck off >>"

    If the work would have mattered to you, 
    you would have found a solution

Over the years after getting my brain fucked for pennies and consistently treated as a resource that shouldn't question the powers that be, I get pretty cynical when I hear such words.