mr john smith?

Factual Questions
1

Hello -
How many people name John Smith do you think there are in the world? I am sure there are ways I could find out, but they elude me right now.

2

Hi, bez, and welcome to the SDMB.

You’ll find that a lot of your potential friends here will be put off by your wording a question the way you have. Allow me to suggest a possible alternative:

The advantages of asking your question in this way are:

  1. It’s appropriate to the “GQ” forum, in that it seeks a factual answer (“How do I do this?”).
  2. It lets other Dopers know that you’re interested in fighting your own ignorance, not just looking to have us fight it for you.
  3. Hi, Opal!
  4. You’ll understand what #3 means in a few months or so.

Again, welcome aboard!

3

I think a much more interesting and challenging question would be: When men named John Smith check into hotels for extra-marital encounters, what name do they sign in the register?

4

Checking http://www.switchboard.com , there are 464 John Smiths in Virginia.

Multiplying by 50, there’s 23200 John Smiths in the USA. :D:D

Your milage may vary.