What are your thought's on the "good ol' boys" system?

Question

i have recently been informed by someone (the gender is not important), that almost all the things i've done have been thanks to the "good ol' boys". I have not heard of them before, as far as my knowledge goes, it is some magically law office in the sky that makes sure i get ahead in life.

I always figured it was because i payed attention in school, kept an open mind to many things, pursued interests, made all the correct payments on bills, been mildly intelligent in running a business, and ahve tried my best to give help to those who needed it.

Now, does this system exist? If it really has been the good ol' boys helping me, i believe i owe them a letter of thanks.

Answer 1

No doubt it exists in a few workplaces today, but it's not some kind of nation-wide underground war room.

Answer 2

I think there are some cliques that, if you belong to them, you are more likely to get ahead and have your flaws overlooked, thanks to your connections.  Eg. It is my opinion that George Bush would not have been elected as governor and president if his daddy had been a small farmer who made a living selling organic goat cheese.

Edit: this is not to say that I think any white male who happens to be successful belongs to such a group.  Just to be really clear here.

Answer 3

"The good ol' boy network describes a system of social networking and perceptions alleged to exist prevalently among certain communities and social strata in the United States. Although the term originated in the South, these networks can be found throughout the U.S. and the rest of the Western world. It is typically taken to refer to informal legal, judicial, social, religious, business, and political associations among white males ("good ol' boys"); however, in modern times can be composed of either or both sexes. In some areas, the good ol' boy network is said to still exert considerable influence over many aspects of local government, business, and law enforcement. Usage of the term can often imply a wrongful exclusion of others from the network; however, often the emphasis is on inclusion of a member, as in, "doing a good ol' boy a favor".

Some negative effects of the good ol' boy network are its exclusion of others, leading to leaders of a community possibly limiting business transactions to other elites, or to friends or acquaintances from within the network, to give friends better deals, and generally to reinforce traditional power structures over any other elements in the society.

Perceptions of religious and racial prejudice also endure, and the good ol' boy network is sometimes seen as unique to WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants), with Catholics, Jews, and minority groups excluded. The network also functions like any other social network inasmuch as governmental, business, and professional connections and concessions often develop via mutual friendships and introductions established through the network."

Typical of the good ol' boy network are cops - who can't be trusted to investigate misdeeds by their own members!  Indeed, in Canada the RCMP are referred to as "Members" - if that doesn't say it all... taser, anyone???

Hope that helped.

Answer 4

I'm appalled for I am a modern Feminists and we sustain society.  We are the liberators and supporters of all that is good.  We strive to advance humanity (by writing highly anti-male literature).

Without us modern Feminists there would be no social decorum.  We are the ultimate arbiters of what is good because we are smarter, better and more enlightened than anyone else, and we choose to selectively ignore self-evident truths in the interest of promoting our hate-driven philosophy to young, unwitting minds and we advance anti-male policy throughout the world to ensure that men (inherently evil beasts) don't keep oppressing us in 2008 AD.

We modern Feminists do so much for society that it's too difficult for words to describe.  An example of how much I've benefitted society as staunch modern Feminist is yesterday, I re-defined the term "corn" so that it wouldn't oppress women, because it's horribly misogynistic.

Answer 5

Based on reading your answers to questions, I would say you do not need the good 'ol boys network to get ahead.  Though I have worked places where there was a GOB network, for the most part I think they are defunct.  Of course, there are still the GOB's of country music.

Relax, I do not even know you and can see that you have earned the things you have achieved because of your own efforts.

Answer 6

It does exist because there are the "dumb old boys" out there.

Let us look at your score card for yahoo answers; you are answering many questions, and in turn, many are picking you for best answer.  That is why you have succeeded.  It shows in your history even during a game-like experience such as this.  

So, tell those that said it to look at their lives and see where they stand in their own personal games such as this and their work experiences.

Answer 7

Lol nice.

yeah, i'm preeeeettty sure the "good ol boys" network was invented by radical branches of feminism to try and come up with a reason for more men being in good positions that suited their interests.

Every man gets a magical break, we have things easier because of this mysterious society.

This enables said radical branches to cry and petition the government for a "level playing field".

Lol it would be kinda nice if we actually did get a break, i'd be so much farther ahead in my career.

Answer 8

Racist & Sexist. Need I say more?

Answer 9

this really depends on the definition you would give this "good ol boy" system... seems like its mostly friends or acquaintances doing favors for others while also benefiting somehow. This could pertain to a great number of groups and "circles", regardless of race or gender.

With that being said, if you truly have worked hard and achieved things for yourself, you owe no system thanks, if anything they owe you thanks for being one of the few people that actually does have a goal and the work ethic to achieve it, therefore not attributing to this "lower bar syndrome" that is detrimental to the few true entrepreneurs left...

in other words, do your d a m n thang!

Answer 10

They've never helped me. You need to be born into a certain class to benefit.

Answer 11

Privileged, conservative, Christian white men who only approve of the same qualities in other people, and dislike anyone different.  ( George Bush )