A recent Duke graduate asked his old man late one night when he went back home, "Look, I'm getting ready to go out into life. Tell me what you know. Go ahead, tell me if you know something."

For this touchingly child-like request, he received an hour of ramblings, a confession about how his old man had an affair with his secretary and how he hated his job, and he'd love to chuck it all and move out into a cabin in the woods, and he really despised his marriage, and he couldn't trust any of his friends.

"Man, you are messed up," said the son. "I'm supposed to be asking you for advice?" Now he's reduced to thinking for himself.