Is there any truth in the Six Degrees of Separation?

[HTacianas]

"Six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps."

Do you believe that all people are separated by six or fewer social connections? Say Kim Jong Un. Suppose you have an uncle in the air force stationed in Korea and his landlord is Kim Jong Un's cousin. That would be three degrees between you and Kim Jong Un. Or something similar anyway.

Do you believe that you are no more than six degrees away from anyone else in the world?

 

[JackRT]

I first heard this theory about 50 years ago and there seems to be a whole lot of truth in it. I think my first challenge was President Eisenhower. After a little thought I recalled that I knew a local pastor who was in seminary with Jesse Jackson who knew President Kennedy who knew President Eisenhower. That's four. Now if it was an African Bushman living in Namibia it might be more problematic.

 

[Chesterton]

I think it depends on how you define a "social connection".

 

[HTacianas]

I first heard this theory about 50 years ago and there seems to be a whole lot of truth in it. I think my first challenge was President Eisenhower. After a little thought I recalled that I knew a local pastor who was in seminary with Jesse Jackson who knew President Kennedy who knew President Eisenhower. That's four. Now if it was an African Bushman living in Namibia it might be more problematic.

Makes me wonder if your local pastor knows anyone who's been a missionary in Namibia...

 

[HTacianas]

I think it depends on how you define a "social connection".

It means you know someone who knows someone who knows someone...

 

[Chesterton]

It means you know someone who knows someone who knows someone...

In that case I don't think it can be true.

 

[FenderTL5]

"Six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps."

Do you believe that all people are separated by six or fewer social connections? Say Kim Jong Un. Suppose you have an uncle in the air force stationed in Korea and his landlord is Kim Jong Un's cousin. That would be three degrees between you and Kim Jong Un. Or something similar anyway.

Do you believe that you are no more than six degrees away from anyone else in the world?

The first time I heard this premise, it was the late 80s maybe 90s. The subject was actor Kevin Bacon. Depending on how you count, I'm one or two away (I haven't worked with him, but a person I worked with has).

As for anyone in the world? It's likely not very many but I don't know that it is as few as six.

 

[HTacianas]

In that case I don't think it can be true.

I think there might be something to it. But I suppose that the more people you know might have a lot to do with it.

 

[timothyu]

From various personal experiences I would say there is some merit.

 

[HTacianas]

The first time I heard this premise, it was the late 80s maybe 90s. The subject was actor Kevin Bacon. Depending on how you count, I'm one or two away (I haven't worked with him, but a person I worked with has).

As for anyone in the world? It's likely not very many but I don't know that it is as few as six.

I'm descended from the Harrison family of Virginia, which makes me related to three presidents and that guy on Pawn Stars.

I am one degree away from at least one Civil War veteran, depending on how you count.

There's something to it.

 

[Chesterton]

I think there might be something to it. But I suppose that the more people you know might have a lot to do with it.

I don't think it can be true for all people, as you put it in the OP. For support I'd reference the people of North Sentinel island.

 

[HTacianas]

I don't think it can be true for all people, as you put it in the OP. For support I'd reference the people of North Sentinel island.

I see your point. But even they "knew" that guy they recently killed. He was somebody's cousin who was somebody's cousin...

 

[Jonaitis]

Interesting theory, I've never heard of it before.

I don't think it can be true for all people, as you put it in the OP. For support I'd reference the people of North Sentinel island.

But, when someone (like John Allen Chau) does in fact reach them, that person who knew them will be a connection to the outside world.

 

[lismore]

Do you believe that you are no more than six degrees away from anyone else in the world?

Yes. My cousin was a TV Producer and sat on interviews with well known individuals including Trump before he was President. I'm two away from Donald Trump

 

[Chesterton]

I see your point. But even they "knew" that guy they recently killed. He was somebody's cousin who was somebody's cousin...

Well each of us only have so many cousins. And I've had cousins in life I never even met.

But, when someone (like John Allen Chau) does in fact reach them, that person who knew them will be a connection to the outside world.

But you can probably count on your fingers how many people have "reached" them. And how many people did those people know? I don't know, maybe I'm writing from the perspective of someone who doesn't have many friends.

 

[redleghunter]

"Six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps."

Do you believe that all people are separated by six or fewer social connections? Say Kim Jong Un. Suppose you have an uncle in the air force stationed in Korea and his landlord is Kim Jong Un's cousin. That would be three degrees between you and Kim Jong Un. Or something similar anyway.

Do you believe that you are no more than six degrees away from anyone else in the world?

Like the Kevin Bacon thing?

 

[Jonaitis]

But you can probably count on your fingers how many people have "reached" them. And how many people did those people know? I don't know, maybe I'm writing from the perspective of someone who doesn't have many friends.

Among the Andamanese, the lesser known Jangil disappeared somewhere between 1907-1920 and remain an extinct people to this day. Most likely they made no contact with the outside world for generations.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Isn't this the implication of social networks? I can track my irl social connections to President George W. Bush in two steps (although I have multiple paths to him anyway). Ditto Bibi Netanyahu, two degrees. I can track myself to President Reagan in three. Between those three individuals, I have lots of different ways of socially "connecting" back to Hitler through six or fewer degrees.

I'm not unique and I don't have special connections to powerful people. The rest of you can do the same thing. You may not realize that or you may not know the paths to take. But you can probably all do it.

And yes, we can track our social connections to some dude in Namibia as well. You might need all six degrees but you can do it.

 

[JackRT]

Yes. My cousin was a TV Producer and sat on interviews with well known individuals including Trump before he was President. I'm two away from Donald Trump

You have my sincere condolences.

 

[Carl Emerson]

We have about 1500 different languages in PNG just North of Australia. Pretty much each valley has a different language. Social connection between people groups there is close to Zip. How anyone could claim to have any social relationship with an individual in one of these stone age tribes by the rule of 6 ? in may cases the neighbouring tribes cant understand each other.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.