Teens & Messy Rooms - WSJ article

[cobrat]

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When DS and a friend decided to room together freshman year in college, I insisted that the friend come over and check out the extreme messiness of son’s room before they sent in the roommate request. Friend decided to room with DS anyway, despite being the only boy I know who actually brought a vacuum cleaner to school.

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<p>That may have been due not only to their good friendship…but also possibly because in their circle of friends…being messy is considered “par for the course” or “just an everyman” if one’s a dude. </p>

<p>Among some friends I’ve encountered over the years…some came from male subcultures(New England rural/suburban areas) where being messy is actually a virtuous expression of masculinity. That was first brought home to me once when a younger friend visited my apartment and insisted on thinking I was living with a woman because one room happened to be extremely neat, organized, and brightly/artfully colorful. He and some other of his friends were shocked when the room’s owner showed up and…turned out to be male.</p>

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@Mansfield

My mother did not like clutter. This presented a problem since she had six children. Our rooms had to be very neat. I was your typical messy teenager. One day, when I was out, my parents went into my room and didn’t like the mess. So, they opened up every drawer and emptied the contents on the floor. Then they went into the closet, took everything off the hangers and put them on the floor. I think they also took the sheets off my bed.

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<p>Is your family related to Douglas C. Neidermeyer by any chance? Did you strongly identify with that boy in the “We’re not gonna take it” music video by Twisted Sister?</p>