# Are you within 6 degrees of separation from me? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597 "2004-10-28T01:31:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/1 "2004-10-28T01:31:50Z")
Here’s the scheme I’ve come up with to see if everyone can come up within six degrees. First, I will allow a very loose interpretation of what constitutes a connection between two people. That is if you are close enough to a person to actually lay eyes on them. Not see them on TV. Not be at a football game and know they are in the crowd, but close enought to see and recognize then. I’m going to list some folks that I have seen in person – primarily politicians and sports figures. They’re the best idea I can come up with who might link easily to those you have seen. Here are some of the people I have laid eyes on at public events. Disclaimer: I don’t know any of these people from Adam, I don’t mean to suggest I have even a trace of a personal relationship with any of them. : Al Gore Bill Clinton Dan Quayle Barbara Bush Prince Charles The Dalai Lama Senator Russ Feingold US Rep. Tammy Baldwin NAACP Director Kweisi Mfume HHS Secretaty Tommy Thompson Former DC Mayor Marion Barry Michael Gorbachev John Kenneth Galbraith Assorted Chicago Cubs from the 60s and 70s teams, including: Ron Santo Don Kessinger Glen Beckert Ernie Banks Billy Williams OTTOMH I can’t come up with more names, but I saw most of the team of that era play at one time or another. Just a couple of other toss-ins:: Carlos Santana Barbara Streisand I suggest that if you’ve seen your state senator or representative you can link to me pretty easily. Those of you I’ve seen or who have seen me at ChiDopes, we are one degree apart, If you’ve seen one on my list we are two degrees apart. If you’ve seen somebody who’s seen one of the list, we are three dgrees apart. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/2 "2004-10-28T01:47:51Z")
I went to a Santana concert. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Calliope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Calliope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calliope)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/3 "2004-10-28T01:51:09Z")
I saw Al Gore here in Nashville during the 2000 election and I shook the hand of Tipper. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/4 "2004-10-28T01:53:40Z")
> [@Mithril](#): > > I went to a Santana concert. Does that count? If Carlos was up on stage and you saw him-- absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/5 "2004-10-28T01:54:40Z")
I think it should be mutual, i.e. that A and B know each other if both know each other’s names and have spoken to them in person. On that basis, I know that I’m two degrees from: John Howard (Prime Minister of Australia) All the state premiers in Australia Peter Jensen (Anglican Archbishop of Sydney) Arnold Schwarzenegger (Governor of California) Bob Taft (Governor of Ohio) I suspect that I’m within 3 degrees of everyone in Australia, and four degrees of everyone in the US, given how well politicians link up with each other and with the voters. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/6 "2004-10-28T01:56:19Z")
I went to UW - Madison, so yeah, almost certainly. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/7 "2004-10-28T02:19:50Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I think it should be mutual, i.e. that A and B know each other if both know each other’s names and have spoken to them in person… Screw that, that’s too hard. I have echanged words with 4 of the people on my list. I’m reasonably sure none of them would remember me. I have shouted at all of the Cubs. I’m damn sure none of them remember me. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/8 "2004-10-28T02:23:58Z")
> [@Lamar Mundane](#): > > I went to UW - Madison, so yeah, almost certainly. Springstein is putting on a street concert for John Kerry tomorrow on the Capitol Square. I’m gonna go see it I might even stick around long enough to see Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/9 "2004-10-28T02:31:31Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I think it should be mutual, i.e. that A and B know each other if both know each other’s names and have spoken to them in person. On that basis, I know that I’m two degrees from: > John Howard (Prime Minister of Australia) > All the state premiers in Australia > Peter Jensen (Anglican Archbishop of Sydney) > Arnold Schwarzenegger (Governor of California) > Bob Taft (Governor of Ohio) > > I suspect that I’m within 3 degrees of everyone in Australia, and four degrees of everyone in the US, given how well politicians link up with each other and with the voters. [hijack]And you’re in Central Ohio??? Huh? I’m from Ohio and live in Kentucky… but my third cousin is the editor-in-chief of the Canberra Times, who has probably met all the state premiers of Oz as well.[/hijack] I’ve seen Al Gore in person as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/10 "2004-10-28T02:38:51Z")
Well, you’re definitely within three of me because I’ve met Jean Chrétien (our former PM) who has definitely talked with Bill Clinton (I would hope!!). ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/11 "2004-10-28T02:54:52Z")
My friend’s mother has gone to see the Dalai Lama. I have seen several longtime WI state representatives, and Ronald Reagan when he spoke in Oshkosh in 1985. I personally know Justice Wilcox on the WI state supreme court (and am distantly related by marriage; a piano that once belonged to his grandmother is in our guest room). So I guess we have 3 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/12 "2004-10-28T03:05:59Z")
Bill Clinton shook my Dad’s hand while they were both using urinals. Freaked him the hell out. So, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/13 "2004-10-28T03:09:40Z")
My Russian government and foreign policy professor (now sadly retired) has seen Gorbachev speak on multiple occasions, and has met with him a few times, so I guess that’s three degrees. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/14 "2004-10-28T03:15:11Z")
My boyfriend got to see Michael Moore yesterday. I’m sure Moore’s met at least a few of those people. So, yes. Would that be four degrees? If I decide to go to a rally tomorrow that Joe Lieberman is going to speak at, it will be three degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/15 "2004-10-28T03:19:10Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > My boyfriend got to see Michael Moore yesterday. I’m sure Moore’s met at least a few of those people. So, yes. Would that be four degrees? > > If I decide to go to a rally tomorrow that Joe Lieberman is going to speak at, it will be three degrees. I forgot. Michael Moore should be on my list. I saw him speak a couple of years back on the UW campus. That’s 2 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![NoPretentiousCodename](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/16 "2004-10-28T03:21:58Z")
I have personally spoken with Utah state rep. Margaret Dayton (middling chance she might know my name, or at least my face), who I am certain knows former Utah gov, turned EPA honcho Mike Leavitt (sp?), who I am certain has spoken to “Dubya” (seing as how he was the one to make the hire), and I seem to remember something about him being in some political race of some sort with Al Gore… So what’s that… 4? 5? We have Family friends who attended school in WI, so I am sure we are within 6 degrees even if we go strictly by personal friends. I can also connect my self to Kevin Bacon, using only film actors (excluding myself, natch). I was an extra in a movie with The Fonz (Henry Winkler) who was in Water Boy with Adam Sandler who was in Mr. Deeds with Steve Buscemi who was in King of New York with Laurence Fishburne who was in Mystic River with Kevin Bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/17 "2004-10-28T03:36:55Z")
OK, here goes… My girlfriend, Kim, shook Dubya’s hand at a recent campaign stop so that would be 4 degrees? ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/18 "2004-10-28T03:38:51Z")
I went to high school with Steve Richetti, who was one of Bill Clinton’s attorneys during the impeachment stuff (and worked in the White House with him for years) so I guess that 3 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/19 "2004-10-28T03:43:35Z")
1. Maybe closer. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597/20 "2004-10-28T03:56:51Z")
a few of my close encounters… Former TN Gov. Don Sundquist (while he was in office) Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell all of Riders in the Sky (some of 'em recognize me, too) political satirist Mark Russell (got my picture with him years ago) Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop Robin Williams (saw him on the UNC campus filming ‘Patch Adams’) I’m sure there’s more I’ve forgotten. And by these loose rules, I’m also probably two or three degrees from anyone ever on Saturday Night Live, Letterman, and Chris Rock. Also a whole bunch of country/western/bluegrass musicians. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-within-6-degrees-of-separation-from-me/271597.md?page=2)