course i graduated hi8gh school in 1967, so i started in 55 or 56..can't remember which, but in very rural ne louisiana, we made our own entertainment, didn't have t.v. till i was in the 4th grade and then only 1 channel.
when i was about 10 or 11, 3 of my friends and i would camp out on the creek, and put out "set hooks" and run the lines all nite catching catfish. our folks didn't check on us and we cleaned and cooked what we caught or just ate the taters we brought.
also, at that age, i would hitchhike 25 miles to my uncle's house. we had no phone and neither did they and i might stay a coupla days or i might stay a week. My folks didn't worry about me. Then one day i would show back up at home. Like i said, different time, much different place and a so much different world.
I think what I am seeing is that we all grew up and learned about life without adult supervision or control.
Can't do that nowadays ...
Absolutely. I remember breaking a kid's arm playing soccer. He was proud because he had a cast, and I was proud because I kicked the ball hard enough to break his arm. A win-win scenario.