Why Do Minnesotans Stick Up their Wiper Blades?

It's been a snowy week in Minnesota, and when you arrive at work there about a quarter of the vehicles in the lot with their wiper blades sticking up -- but why?

Here's the disappointing answer: There's snow consensus. (See what I did there?)

Oh sure, there are some know-it-alls in your office that preach the theory that it makes it easier to scrape your windshield in the morning after a heavy snow. It can also prevent your wiper blades from freezing to the windshield.

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On the other hand, many experts say that lifting the wiper blades makes no difference at all, and may increase the wear and tear of your wiper arms by fatiguing the arm’s springs. (What?)

Seriously? Those are the best arguments we can make?

If there's no real benefit or problem with raising your wiper blades -- why is there even a hinge in the first place? (And why are we talking about it?)

Just for the sake of full disclosure, I like to raise my wiper blades because they are out of they way when I come out of the office at the end of the day to clear my windshield.