Behavior: Voices from the Heartland

Rolling with the punches," according to one student of Middletown III study, is a way of life in Muncie, Ind. Following are observations on that skill from four generations of a Muncie family:

Bessie Crawford, 90: "The Good Book says people are getting weaker, and you can see that right here. The young ones learn mischief from television, and now all they think about is going out at night. They do just as they please and figure things will take care of themselves. It'll come back to them."

Bessie's daughter, Mary Disinger, 73: "Kids today do just as they please, and no one can tell them different. They don't think about their parents the way we used to, and some day they'll regret it. Muncie's changed so much it's not really Muncie any more. Every day there's a break-in or a burglary. What's worse is that now they go after people too and beat you up on any excuse. It's just not safe to walk around."

Bessie's grandson, Bill Disinger, 50: "We know what's happening in the rest of the world. We can see it all on TV. It's just that a lot of things don't affect things much here. And people don't pay much attention unless they think it will affect them."

Bill's wife, Vivian Disinger, 46: "There were maybe a dozen couples I know that got married the same year we did, and we're the only ones still married. People say they still believe in marriage, and most of those folks got married again, but I don't know."

Bessie's great-granddaughter, Jane Disinger, 23: "My friends are bringing up their kids more the way our parents were brought up. We've seen a lot of kids go too far with drugs and stuff, and the ones who have babies now don't want that to happen to their children. I think we've realized that you need some rules and regulations. One extreme is not much better than the other ... People may think you're a little weird around here, but they don't bother you. The rule in Muncie is don't make waves. That means you not only keep your nose clean, but you don't cause a ruckus about what other people are doing. People around here will accept just about anything before they get upset. The important thing is to make sure things stay quiet and calm. No one in Muncie ever does anything drastic."