[Air-l] where did you go, out; what did you do, nothing

[Barry Wellman]

I am puzzled by the notion that most teens will do things to terrify their
parents. Are there data on that? Or is it just autobiographical
projection?

Speaking autobiographically, and from a distance of 50 years, I suggest
that most teens will try to avoid their parents' scrutiny. Terrifying them
would only bring more scrutiny.

"Where did you go?
"Out.
"What did you do?
"Nothing."

is the title, of a book about teen-parents relationships. By Robert Paul
Smith.
Published in 1959, which suggests that it was a general phenomenon then
for my generation. And still in print, according to Amazon, which suggests
some longterm relevance.

 Barry Wellman, with fond memories for the Fordham Flames.
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  Barry Wellman   S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology   NetLab Director
  Centre for Urban & Community Studies          University of Toronto
  455 Spadina Avenue    Toronto Canada M5S 2G8    fax:+1-416-978-7162
  wellman at chass.utoronto.ca  http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman
        for fun: http://chass.utoronto.ca/oldnew/cybertimes.php
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