Are we really that close?

I thought this was an interesting article.

It discusses the "6 degrees of seperation" theory which, personally, I have mixed thoughts about. But it was an interesting read, nevertheless.

Recreating a famous experiment done in the 1960s, 40 parcels were given to people randomly picked around the world, as part of a BBC programme testing the "six degrees" theory.

They then had to try and get the parcel to a scientist called Marc Vidal based in Boston, via someone they knew on a first-name basis.

Three of the parcels made it to Mr Vidal, and on average took six steps to get there.

Organisers of the experiment believe the other 37 chains broke because of the apathy of individuals who failed to send the parcel on.

One that made it started off in the remote village of Nyamware in Kenya, where Nyaloka Auma gave it to her aunt in Nairobi.

Margaret Owino then sent it to a friend in New York state who used to live in Nairobi, who in turn sent it to another friend in Boston. Eventually it arrived in the hands of the right person, through seven people in total.

I don't know if I could have gotten a parcel to Boston. lol. I actually sat and thought about it for a while. I personally don't know anyone anymore in Boston. But then.... hang on.... I have uncles who are business men and university professors. As I pondered this, it didn't seem so far fetched after all.

Besides, it's not about who I know, but rather, who the next person knows. At any rate, I don't know I'd care to test it out myself. The experiment was a curiousity though. From Nairobi to the US? That's pretty far, and pretty random.

Tnen again, just how random is it? How do you pick these volunteers? If it's a scientific experiment, won't your test subjects be rather educated? I somehow cannot see, fathom or imagine that some rural villager has enough contacts for some place that far. I can easily picture lots of Singaporeans who would need rather more than 6 or 7 contact points :)


Anyways, like I said, I have mixed views on this topic. Will ponder further!