From my understanding, Nebraskans are nice if say your car were to break down on the highway. They'll help you out. But if you were to walk into a bar, people who be very nervous around you. It took me a while to understand this but I know that Lincoln and Omaha aren't like most cities. Many people who live there are only 1 to 2 generations removed from a farming community. That reinforces the small-town culture of the cities. So if you're an outsiders, it's really difficult to actually make friends there. I also don't think the niceness applies to minorities either. Lincoln is a pretty white town and many people have no friends of color nor have many meaningful interactions with them. In regards to the "good 'ol boy" system, I cannot speak on that personally but can see how opportunities for employment and social mobility might be restricted to life-long residents who have local connections.
Gregory | Bloomington, IN | Report Abuse