Nepotism Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- What we know as nepotism, favoring a relative for a job or a position of power or really any advantage, because they are your relative, is surely absolutely core to how human societies work today and probably always have. But nepotism and generational access aren't the carrot and stick of dynastic interests and actions alone- normal people are not only affected by nepotism, but are just as prone to it as the ruling class. Let me tell you why.
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The nepotism itself isn’t the thing that really riles me up, it’s the attempt to lie to themselves and us mere mortals that it had no effect on their lives and careers.
not just that but a lot of people who got the opportunity easier than other are bad at their job, like they aren't even trying
(at least most that I met)
Brryce Dallas Howard, for instance, it's a very good director (the best Mandalorian episodes are hers and she saved the book of Boba Fett) but obviously when someone auditioned her for the first time, they did it because "let's see if this famous director's daughter is any good". Most people won't get that chance.
Wait, so you mean getting a million dollars from your dad and his entire Rolodex of contacts _doesn't_ make someone self-made? 🤨
@@Linkale_ That's why some people (usually entertainers) will change their name to distance themselves from their parents to avoid the favoritism, or at least to avoid the criticism of nepotism.
Euan Blair, Tony Blairs dad is currently doing the roads pretending his name and even his stint at Bristol University and Yale whilst living in luxury didn't get him where he is.
Well of course a member of the Rockall-Schmidt video essayist dynasty would make this observation
I am a hip-tang enjoyer and I will teach my children to follow the same route.
Spot on. Definitely one of the great video essayist houses. I know I can’t afford a hyphen.
“Heir”
@@jtgd * Scion
@@kkupsky6321" break your hymen with my hyphen " the ads used to say
As a clinical laboratory technician, I can confirm that having a relative in the field is enormously important: it's the only way to know this job exists.
That's the kind of nepotism I can get behind
I aspire to being a clinical lab tech, ..... no joke..... it was harder to get my first lab job than it was to get my B Sc.
I can see companies crying "no aplicants! people are useless.... we cannot find workforce"... when in reality they asked their staff if any kids wanted a job.... this happens way more than anyone would say in public.
@@effexon as a Mexican I thought it only happened in former Spanish and Portuguese colonies
The only person from my undergrad who got this job did in fact have a relative in senior position bring her in. BEFORE she graduated
If I could do it all over again, I would make sure I'm born to rich parents
Then you wouldn't be you.
@@HOTD108_Minor details
The only problem is trying to choose _which_ rich parents to be born to. 🤔
Honestly, I like the working class graft. It's the kind of thing I learned from my dad ... oh.
You’re more likely to be born homeless somewhere in a developing country than the product of rich parents lol
As a medical student this is so true. No one in my entire family works in the healthcare industry; my dads a tradie and my mums a teacher. However, speaking to my colleagues reveals that they all have parents who are doctors.
I'm glad to say I've fought against nepotism all my life. I refused to accept the same job my father was working as, and as a result I've been unemployed my whole adult life.
Suck it nepotism!
😂
:)
That's realistic. Well done.
The joke's on you (well, your kids), because it's not just actual jobs that people are more likely to inherit from their parents; being unemployed or on disability and such are ALSO more likely to carry over to children. 🤦
@@I.____.....__...__ except that I can't have kids and I technically already did that duty by assisting in raising my sisters, both which have jobs.
But more importantly, I think the joke was lost on you here: the result is unemployment. So far my entire adult life, no matter what I've tried or done thus far. So nepotism would had made me, have had a job at least.
Hence the note in the end, of being unemployed.
I command you to laugh now x3
Good on you being a leech on society ❤
Most folks I know don't mind some good ol' fashioned nepotism to help take care of the family and friends. They *mind* the corruption that often comes with blind loyalty for getting a job you didn't deserve, they mind the incompetence, they mind *the lies*. And the self-delusion that they'd have the same level of success if they hadn't got that help at the beginning.
I agree. I don't think nepotism is inherently a bad thing, however the corruption that can frequently stem from it definitely is.
Yeah that's where i draw the line
nepotism is inherently bad because its depriving someone else of opportunities from an unfair competitive advantage out of their control ie where they are born and who they are born to
I have a buddy who I really respected, who became a cop. And when I asked him why police don’t pull each other over and give each other tickets, he said “professional courtesy.”
It was then I learned that he thought he was above the law and I lost a lot of respect for him, and the police in general.
Police are ABOVE soldiers 🙄🤮👎
You're really easily influenced huh?
@@bigduke5902What?
@@jaketwigg1065Nevermind him, he’s just a bitter arrogant retired cop talking.
applied for a job at a hospital once where my mom worked as a nurse. I asked the hiring manager how i did. She said, having a mom who worked at the hospital worked in my advantage over other applicates. :|
After mentioning that my mom was a nurse the interview became more chill conversation
We had some tea and talked about my life and I was told when I would start 😂😂😂😂
@@zimboy9921 I feel like perhaps the owners of these businesses should apply to positions to their own businesses to see how hiring is done
@@ZacharyBittnerthere was a reality TV show about that, undercover bosses. Haven't seen it since it came out so I don't know if it's any good though.
@@FargothsSecretHidingPlace that was more shit working at their businesses, not getting hired though. I'm also suspicious of anything TV related like that.
Impotent anger has been my default since 1990. Thanks Georg for the refresher.
I feel like I'm gonna explode here!!!!
@@lachlank.8270 So this is what it feels like, when doves cry
Can confirm. Good contacts far more economically effective than brains, talent, and hard work.
Around here, people literally ask “well, whose boy are you?” when you go looking for a job.
But also the institutional KNOWLEDGE you're going to have is going to be much higher than your peers
@@forzaacmilan36 thats not a better metric than hard work, knowing how the bureaucracy functions is something that should be stamped out, not perpetuated by people understanding how to maneuver it
At my blue-collar workplace, just about everyone there got the job because they were suggested by a friend or parent who worked there already.
Hereditary privilege, inherited wealth, and the discreet quarantining of influence is certainly not a bug in the system... it's a feature.
When it comes down to it, it has only been class that has ever mattered and will only ever matter. When accusations of race or sexism are made, 99% of the time it is classism.
Even with nepotism there's no guarantee you will succeed. It definitely gives you a leg up but people complaining and using it as proof of their own failure is pathetic.
>inherited wealth
How outrageous that a parent would give money to their child! As soon as a child is 18 their parents should be legally barred from ever helping them!
@@Clownacy Inheritance should be heavily taxed
@@gabbar51ngh Saying you've succeeded to due nepotism without actually saying it.
It's the kind of thing that eventually leads to a French type revolution. Then people forget, nepotism starts up with a different group, and we're right back where we started.
Wouldn't necessarily lead to French revolution type thing if there's a decent constant influx of newcomers.
The late John McCain really beat the odds. Both his father and grandfather were both Admirals and the best he could do is become a captain. As a pilot he seemed to have skipped every landing class
Dang, so Trump was right...
He killed many sailors in the USS forester. There is some TH-cam videos about it.
Just found this guy and watched 3 videos. Dry, hilarious and no bullshit assessments on some important topics. Love it.
In my dad'a hometown, a political dynasty still occurs since no other townsfolks tried to file their candidacy because they primarily dislike complicated lawmaking and political paperworks
Starts from some sort of bottom
The people in power make it appear complex which is how they stay in power.
The smaller the town, the easier to prevent change. 😕 The corrupt sheriff of Turtle Lake, WI was sheriff for several decades because the place is small enough that nobody bothered to challenge him. Travis Heinze was traveling through the town on a cross-country road-trip and took a nap in his car in the parking-lot of a public-park while it was raining, and the sheriff literally ran him out of town like in _Rambo._ 🤦 People complained and he was finally fired. 😒
I think what makes Nepotism so immovable as a societal force, is this. If I was a famous director, and my kid wanted to act, well, of course I'd help their career. It's when Nepotism acts on a country's political and legal framework that it becomes an issue.
@@swarmpope9608except it’s a bit bad when your country is run by the incompetent, self interested elite
I, too, agree that nepotism is only a real problem when white people do it
I thought long time as we know these things so well, sociologists + psychologists etc should know extremely well, that why not societal design is made with this in mind? ie new fields with low barrier (no work experience needed) are given to youth fresh outta college, not to compete with 70year old hollywood studio execs or 60yo engineer company with everyone there 50yo+... very hard to get into those. IT is those job adverts where could almost smell they are lying, they are not taking anyone or it is given to someone already. These theatrics are bad.
These people aren't endowed with some amazing genetic talent, it's access to the right education, resources and connections
The tool of the usurping conqueror(s) has always been scarcity and obfuscation.
Little know fact: Georg's father was a youtuber when Georg was a child
Georg has gotten away scot-free from several controversies just because his dad is the TH-cam overlord, so unfair.
Here is the thing not many ppl understand about the human condition. Corruption (and nepotism is a kind of corruption) is hardwired into us, that is the base state. This point needs to be understood, corruption, the preference of ourselves and the preference of the ingroup over the outgroup is an undenyable and inevitable reality of any society we ever had or we can even imagine.
Ppl will always, prefer those who they like for whatever reason (because its family member, it's a friend, good looking, sympathic, has similar interests etc.) and this will forever influence their decision as to who to put into the position of advantage when the opportunity arrives.
We can try to fight this, we have to fight this, but it will always be an uphill battle, as we are just not that englightened to be able to not put our own circles in front of everyone else.
Exactly, this is also why every single utopian attempt failed spectacularly. A perfect society will always be impossible until we, somehow, become perfect.
Just as bad behavior can be taught, so can good behavior. Assuming otherwise is foolish to say the least
All fine until the last paragraph. There's no way to fight this, if you try you already lost. The perfect anti-nepotist is a hermit eunuch.
So many of your essays are good Georg, but this one was a stunner. Very sharp, very thought provoking. Really, fucking on point.
Agreeing with the most of this, I still want to point out that having friends and maintaining good relationships is generally a good thing. There is rather a problem in the dis-connection of the unprivilliged, not in the connections of the privilliged.
🙄 WHO keeps it DIS connected🤦♀️🤦♀️???
Both have connections. Just that the poor tend to connect to each other for emotional reasons. While the rich connections are made mainly for business. You get what you put in.
The most important decision that a career minded individual can make if he wants to improve his odds for success is to choose the best parents available
Nepotism is just such an incredibly natural human way of functioning you can never get rid of it
If u had a business and some mate of yours or brother or cousin wants the job of course you’re gonna give it to him over others, cause u know him and like hanging around him
Yeah it's literally part of evolution. Emulating your parents successes is the core of learning for most social animals.
Only if that job requires no skill though.
That's why I can't really begrudge nepotism.
I do feel like it should be treated as it's own separate path/thing than the natural course however. Don't pit the CEO's son up against regular employees for a promotion when it was never gonna be a fair competition to begin with. Either just give it to them, or keep them out of the running. Don't kid yourself.
Nepotism isn't even inherently bad. It dominates in circles which require high trust like politics, business and entertainment industry.
Doctor or lawyer isn't really good example. Sure a lawyer's son has advantage of being a lawyer but he still needs to be somewhat smart enough or interested in studies to pass the competitive gruelling tests.
Seen many children of lawyers, doctors, engineers,etc being not the same at academics as like their parents.
I guess that aint too bad, it becomes bad when managers and higher ups are chosen that way instead of qualifications and other useful things needed. Like they said, never know if it is just reason to spend time with someone.
The nepotism and in-the-club-ism is pretty hilarious. I've seen it at the Executive level, in the trades, in agriculture, everywhere. At the higher levels of jobs it's annoying because nepotism doesn't always breed competence.
The fact that it also extends to lower classes also proves that the Internet will not solve this. Ghost Gum's video proving how much of a failure the anti-work people on Reddit were is a textbook example of many textbook examples of people being idiots regardless of class.
Thing is if they're too incompetent, they usually lose out because they will bring the business or company down. Profit motive keeps them in check essentially.
I was one of your first patrons, the 2 dollar tip. Since 2015 or 16. Had to stop all paytreon, gotta get new vehicle so tightening the belt till then. In the rare case you see this, it wasn't because of any content issue edit patreon but it's funny so let's leave the misspell
I appreciate the support, enjoy your new vehicle
Finally, Georg explains it so I can benefit from it
It is not talent but opportunity and self esteem which is the main differences. Imagine expecting to make a movie rather than earning the right to.
Children of the rich shouldn’t be allowed to work in anything until there families are poor again
The best content creator on TH-cam. Thanks Georg
'The Family Business' is very prevalent in European history. There's a good reason so many of our last names are based on trades
These videos always really upset me and ruin my day. Please keep it up, cheers
😂😂😂😂😂 😢😢😢👍
It would be interesting to see some sort of measure of nepotism rates compared to the top marginal tax rate year by year. It wouldn't be a cure-all, but it would be at least a start if these families had less insane amounts of wealth to throw around.
Literally got my job at a wedding venue because my sister worked there. And she started working there because her boyfriends mom worked there. And she worked there because it is owned by the church she goes to.
i had a girlfriend in uni doing law, who's dad was an instruments tech, i'm an engineer, and what she had picked up sitting talking to her dad over the years gave her a better understanding than some second year apprentices.
My dad who was a welder would not allow me to work with him in the garage. I felt so dissapointed when he insisted on making a sculpture out of copper wire for me instead of helping me make one which was an elementary school assignment I too was asked to complete too with the help of my parents. Unlike my sister Sharon who became a welder who could only find a job welding while being a part time stage hand in the U.S. Maybe only because my father thought I was more fragile than my late sister who was 2 inches taller than me while being good at skiing downhill. Before she married.
reading books is extremely inefficient way to learn things... doing by hand or better yet listening experiences, stories of people... .wait aint that what ancient people at campfire used to do.... they didnt need multiyear colleges or fancy diplomas to do nice buildings and many other things.
@9:40 - It's actually Sluber-szhay - all Frenchy. The used to make petrol fuel dispensers and I used to service them
I married into a family who has significant connections in the medical field more recently (my father-in-law was in charge of both an EMS system and then a hospital system just because he was one of the original founders of the paramedic program for the area). I've been tempted to go back into healthcare just because of those connections (originally left the field before the pandemic because of the harassment with my coworkers was so bad in my home country)
nt
Dare I say it, but the way you describe your father-in-law makes him sound like he might be legitimately qualified for his role.
Dear George, you are one of the most unbiased and smart youtubers i have ever seen. The first video i saw of you was the Terminator changes video but since your political correctness video i have been fascinated by the way you articulate your expositions. Well done!
Good stuff, Georg. Keep it up.
Great video! Didn't realize how deep the nepo tree went.
I watched this video in the past, but it was still helpful to know when you recorded it.
i love that you zoomed in on the court reporter talking into that device. shit... I could do THAT!
if you had been my teatcher i would have learned so much more
thanks again, a bit late but still current stuff so
love
Which came first, I wonder, nepotism or realization we don't actually live in a meritocracy? 🤔
Nic cage was part of the poorer working side of the Coppola family. His father was a literature professor.
My parents owned a bar and I am an Automation Engineer. It's not impossible... But there were a lot of barriers to break!
I started on Navy ships for 15/hr with a EE. No one else that I worked with had formal education, it was a union job and it looked good on a resume.
I then went to a manufacturing site as a controls technician.. this was a tough job to get, but I took advantage of this opportunity wholeheartedly!
I was promoted to engineering after two years. It wasn't the engineering job I wanted, but it was a foot in the door.
I then switched employers to a local engineering firm. A lot of luck was involved, they just opened the office and needed people badly.
I took full advantage of this opportunity, and after only two years moved from Engineer 1 to Engineer 4. I think all of the real world experience was invaluable. They can shove that EE for the most part.
Hopefully my kids (if and when I have them) have an easier time than I did.
it is not what you know, it is who you know....
I thought it was who you blow?
there's very little substance to conspiracy theories when you accept that:
- individuals will do unscrupulous things for money, fame and power
- people generally want to help their friends and family succeed
- groups are defined by shared values, goals and cultural backgrounds
- companies are duty bound to increase shareholder value
- society worships beautiful and charismatic people
- life is easier when you have any/all of the factors above working in your favour
The stupidest aspect of most conspiracy theories is the idea that the rich and powerful are trying to keep their manipulation of society a secret. Nope. None of them are hiding their agendas at all. If anything they overshare.
Nepotism actually explains and proves a lot of conspiracy theories.
Even though you're correct, I try not to think about nepotism too much even though it's widespread... I don't want to be ungrateful for my humble parents
Just watched my first, second, now third video from you in a row, excellent content my man, thank you.
Fresh sub 👍🏻
Thanks, welcome to the channel
So those of us with shitty parents are royally screwed, no pun intended.
Son toke over their Dads Farms since Humanity became settlers.
Used to be the natural way of things!
Profesions weren´t created till much later when people started specialising and even then Son toke over (inherit) Dad bisuness.
My goodness...Cousin Jorge' is quite sharp in this one.
Very cutting indeed. **sips coffee with pinkie up**
Would I end nepotism if it meant losing Cage? Maybe we could keep Hollywood nepotism and lose the rest.
As long as things can be fixed without breaking further things, and so long as we are cautious of the nepotism among revolutionaries, then we may be able to fix things.
As a native stateb islander, the cop pba courtesy cards are assuredly a thing. Ive always carried one in my younger years for emergencies. Many kids i knew growing up in school abused them
My father was a plate moulder. My mother worked as a care giver. I became a librarian at a prestigious university. I was smart and lucky. No nepotism, but that doesn't mean that, because of the universities I attended didn't give me an advantage, because, I know they did, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been to get anywhere in my life.
If nepotism includes children following in the vocations of their parents, it appears to be built into western society. Note how many common family names are based on occupation: Smith, Miller, Taylor, Thatcher, Baker, Fletcher, Chandler, etc. In preindustrial Europe, and probably much of the rest of the world, it would be perfectly natural, and not at all unethical as the term "nepotism" implies, for a son to do the same work as his father.
Good stuff, as always.
i think its pretty cool youre doing a show with your wife. this channel is one of my favs!
Well explained! And your sense of humour isn't lost on me 😅
My mother has always wanted me to become a doctor since she is one. In stead I took different fields to study. Together this is 10 years that Ive studied at uni/collage. Ive still no idea what to do with my life
Thanks for keeping it real Georg. As a service industry worker, I hear the oddest things from my affluent guests. They sound so genuine in wanting me to vote and make a difference. They call it "an obligation to society ". I call it a delusional waste of my time and insulting to above room temperature intellect.
Edit: spelling error of the host
Being anti-nepotism will only doom yourself and/or your offspring to a life of failure. It's really late for some of us to understand and embrace it at this point.
I am NOT sVcking ARSE for NOTHING👎!! I'll breathe plain old AIR before I BOW to🤡🤮👎
My dad was a marijuana farmer with a paint store.
He suggested I become a teacher.
Did you take his suggestion?
Incredible work as always, sir
I worked for my local small government for a time, and the chief of police (who has a history of suing his former employer in an opportunistic way IMO) gave me a lapel pin with the unspoken insinuation that I would get out of a moving violation if I flashed it when I got pulled over.
The end of the video is so saccharine and unwarrantedly optimistic it became amusing
The final bit earned you this like
Social mobility requires such presence of mind and determination: I'm the son of a milkman and dinner lady and now work as a portfolio manager earning probably x times what they did.
My high school year (1999) had less than 20% gaining 5 GCSEs including maths and English which resulted in probably less than 10 people going on to university after A-Levels.
I went to Oxford and then Manchester for the BA, MA, PhD biz, self-funded the postgrad stuff through working, I cannot think there are many 1980s gen who have or could have done the same as me.
Brilliant video. You put it all together perfectly, thank you
This is why you will never see societal push to end nepotistic behavior in workplaces:
The people with all the power are the people who embrace nepotism.
Very optimistic take on the potential for lawyers to fight corruption in this country lol
The best person should get the job
Great stuff mate
This situation runs rampant here in south Florida.
I love your videos. Well done.
Remember Fantales lollies with their wrappers? You'd eat the toffee while opening the tiny wrapper to decipher the tiny writing, which told interesting "tales" about the Movie Industry's Most Famous Stars. It killed the time on long family car trips. We'd find ourselves cooing with nana over Hollywood factoids, and 99.999% of it was which famous child came from which famous parents and grandparents. These days it strikes me as just how entrenched it is in plebeian consumerist culture to be taught to accept that nepotism is an admirable thing, as all of this were natural and never to be questioned.
This is a must on US HR culture a must! Its like 2 people both of them hate a group of people yet one is seen as a bad person the other is seen as a hero
Ending with the Nepo wife plug = priceless 😂
My grandsons look forward to your childrens content.
I don't get your point. Brooklyn Beckham is a gifted photographer and chef. Simple as that.
Fresh and fantastic ❤
I still don’t understand Neopets
its pokemon on your web browser
@Roofhack I thought it was a hand h3ld thingy but before hitting enter I remembered they're called tamaigachi or something like that. It's a vague memory, sir but it checks out
@@flywheelshysterI believe in its high of popularity there was a few crappy handheld Neopets spinoff games. The main site is still around (sadly even tried to get into NTFs not too long ago)
The best, you are just the best.
I get the feeling that George is very bitter about how his life turned out. I can relate. I have to correct my thinking every day. "At least I'm not dead, there's still time!", I tell myself.
It's rough out here.
I think you might be projecting. He doesn’t give off bitter vibes at all.
I mean, most people will live average lives
Despite making up 2% of the US population and 0.3% of the military, gems make up 50% of Brigadier General and higher ranks (senate appointed, which are also filled with gems). Now _that's_ nepotism!
Put a cap on inheritance, anything over goes to the public good. Imagine what the world would look like.
I am living for the vitriol and disgust with which you recount the saga of the Murdaughs
Most surnames originate from words for jobs. If your father is a smith, chances are you will be a smith.
Mmm🤔😂🤣
Georg, thank you!
Please do a special vid on Frasier. Just do seasons 1 through 6, plus that episode with Picard. Forget the rest.
maya hawk, john david washington and kim jong un are my favourite nepo babies
Can confirm that, even in low level employment, being a relative of someone in that field can get you an interview, and potentially a job, much faster than just happening upon a job listing and applying for a role with the correct qualifications. To pretend nepotism doesn't exist, at any level, is simply naive.
My comment is that I hate Jason Swartzman's face. Also his acting, and his music. Have a great weekend.
How ironic is it to have the family name Murdaugh when you are a murdaugh-rer?
Reminds me of that Dan Aykroyd's movie, "Nothing But Trouble".
I believe nepotism has to deal with race as well. I worked on a government conttract doing IT, and a Spanish woman had a team of Spanish people from Mexico and three blacks Americans. It was just odd to me