The boys today may be a lot more sophisticated. We used to grind it out more. I don't think these boys are as willing to grind out busywork, but I don't think that there's any virtue in grinding out busywork. One of the things I like about boys is, boys will take shortcuts. That's a good thing.
Men like to do things together, and then they talk.
If you want a boy to reveal what he's thinking about, get him to work on a car with you or go sailing. Go on a hike, and you'll have good conversations. One of the great lessons I've learned has been, don't look at a boys school audience and ask a rhetorical question. You will not get the answer you wanted. Never ask a rhetorical question.