I don't think I have heard it mentioned either, you can't forget about how video games, cable tv, and the change in family has affected things, either. As a kid, I spent almost all my time (unfortunately) involved in sports, just pick up games with the kids in the neighborhood. Other than some household chores, the guys in the neighborhood were always together doing something, and we didn't have video games or cable tv to watch. Today parents have their kids in every crazy activity, from karate to ballet to hockey to soccer and on and on. Kids have no time to just hang out and be kids, and they certainly don't have to be creative, we used to make up games, today all the thinking has been done for them, there is every kind of video game, a tv show for any interest, kids just arent' going to ride their bikes to the local hobby shop and hang out and find a whole new interest that'll be with them for a lifetime like they did in the past. That, plus the internet, and intenet shopping, have completely changed the outlook.