# Six Degrees -- a game of names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 8, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360 "2007-02-08T15:29:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/21 "2007-02-08T21:05:35Z")
Jeff McCracken Mike Kaiser Jessi Poppe Cassandra Taylor Christine Johnson Steve Perry Marne Ellis Kerri Corkins Tracy Whaley ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/22 "2007-02-08T21:14:12Z")
Kerry Hull Tom Booker Phil Wright Roger Allen Ben Hopkins Dan Perez Jon Owen Gail Sutterfield Nel Millen Marcee Smith Neva Mikulicz Leisa Townsley Cynthia Pettit ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/23 "2007-02-08T21:39:43Z")
For those that got a “hit” with my friend Mark Moran. Sorry, but this was a different Mark. Something of a nerd (this is NOT a pejorative). Asked a popular girl to dance. She said yes. Next day, Mark wrote her a letter insisting that they go slowly in their new “relationship”. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/24 "2007-02-08T21:41:19Z")
> [@](#): > > How about: > > Jeanette Perry > Mary Wright > Dave Parks > Don Meany > Craig Taborsky > Michele Yanuzzi > Valerie Stevenson > Mike Pfeifer > > That list includes former classmates and former Navy friends. I know a Mary Wright in Massachusetts ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/25 "2007-02-08T21:48:40Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] Jon Owen [/QUOTE] Hit. John Owen is our family therapist. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/26 "2007-02-08T21:52:58Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] Hit. John Owen is our family therapist. [/QUOTE] Nope … mine doesn’t have an “h” and he’s a stay-at-home dad. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/27 "2007-02-08T22:02:53Z")
I can’t believe no hits for me! I’ve known a male and a female Lynn Shields. Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/28 "2007-02-08T22:21:49Z")
No hits for me on any of these. Here’s my list (with the odd names I remember, just for fun and yes they are all real): Joseph Self Cedar Fir Douglas Fir Joanna Sloan John Patterson Eric Mumpower Melissa Metzgar ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/29 "2007-02-08T22:23:57Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] Kerry Hull Tom Booker Phil Wright Roger Allen Ben Hopkins Dan Perez Jon Owen Gail Sutterfield Nel Millen Marcee Smith Neva Mikulicz Leisa Townsley Cynthia Pettit [/QUOTE] Hit! I went to elementary school with a Roger Allen. I only remember his name because I guess he was one of the first people I’d met with what sounded like ‘2 first names’ to me. And I sort of have a hit with NinetyWt’s list. My husband used to work with a Pat Coleman. My list John Mancini Frank Rizzi Steve Reynolds April Showers Mike Beninda John Ferguson Rosie Tagano ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/30 "2007-02-08T22:25:56Z")
[QUOTE=Litoris] John Patterson [/QUOTE] I knew _of_ a John Patterson, but I never met him. He was the father of someone I used to date. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/31 "2007-02-08T22:31:09Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] I knew _of_ a John Patterson, but I never met him. He was the father of someone I used to date. [/QUOTE] The one I know is only in his mid-30’s, so unless you are dating a 14 year old boy (I know he has a 13 or 14 year old son now), it’s most likely not the same one, but a very common name. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/32 "2007-02-08T22:48:08Z")
[QUOTE=psycat90] I went to elementary school with a Roger Allen. [/QUOTE] I used to play D & D with him back in Tulsa in the early 80’s. He’d be in his late forties now. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/33 "2007-02-08T23:13:22Z")
I don’t recognize any of the names previously posted, but I will try my list Ronald Flatley Archey Bushey Richard Rose Carol Donaruma Scott Bennett Marvin Metz Jennifer Hodges Renee Comstock Scott Fulton Robert Goodwin That is my list. Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/34 "2007-02-08T23:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=Litoris] The one I know is only in his mid-30’s, so unless you are dating a 14 year old boy (I know he has a 13 or 14 year old son now), it’s most likely not the same one, but a very common name. [/QUOTE] Wow…so many problems with that, I don’t even know where to begin. 🙂 Suffice to say we aren’t discussing the same person! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/35 "2007-02-09T00:05:09Z")
[QUOTE=Sgt Schwartz] I don’t recognize any of the names previously posted, but I will try my list Ronald Flatley Archey Bushey Richard Rose Carol Donaruma Scott Bennett Marvin Metz Jennifer Hodges Renee Comstock Scott Fulton Robert Goodwin That is my list. Sgt Schwartz [/QUOTE] I know a Robert Goodwin. He goes by Bob and was my boss when I worked in the supermarket industry here in Boston. He must be in his mid-50’s now. My list. 1. Shane Ballard 2. Michael Hall 3. Scott Silver 4. Andy Silver 5. Debbie Pace 6. Jeremy Pace 7. Kit Pace 8. Renee Priest 9. Yvette Smith ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/36 "2007-02-09T00:07:56Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I know a Robert Goodwin. He goes by Bob and was my boss when I worked in the supermarket industry here in Boston. He must be in his mid-50’s now. My list. 1. Shane Ballard 2. Michael Hall 3. Scott Silver 4. Andy Silver 5. Debbie Pace 6. Jeremy Pace 7. Kit Pace 8. Renee Priest 9. Yvette Smith [/QUOTE] Not a hit. The Robert Goodwin that I knew would be just short of 40 and joined the Air Force. Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/37 "2007-02-09T00:13:34Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] I don’t know any of the previously mentioned names. Here’s my list: Shih-Young Kim [/QUOTE] Did Shih-Young Kim go by Shawn (or Sean)? I was in high school with a Shih-Young Kim who did. If Shih-Young is the Korean equivalent of Mike or Steve, you’re going to get a lot of hits on this one. Noah Easterly Katie (or K.T.) Davidson Dan Wolf Ted Sears Joe Carmody April Pedrick All people I knew from somewhat different parts of the country, with different social circles. See if I can get a hit. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/38 "2007-02-09T02:32:51Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] If you know anybody with the same name as anybody on this list, say so and say when and where you know them from. Then make your own list. We’re bound to get a hit before too many iterations. These are real people that I knew as a kid. Gerald Henderson Wayne Patrick Bobby Nummy Errol Vick Steve Cummings Mike Breedlove Kay Wadsworth Julie Alexander Sandra DeRamus Carole Pierce Jane Yarborough Sylvia Paul [/QUOTE] The very first one on the list, Gerald Henderson, played for the Celtics in the 80’s. And by googling, I see his son, Gerald Jr. now plays for Duke University. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/39 "2007-02-09T05:24:05Z")
[QUOTE=Jurph] Did Shih-Young Kim go by Shawn (or Sean)? I was in high school with a Shih-Young Kim who did. If Shih-Young is the Korean equivalent of Mike or Steve, you’re going to get a lot of hits on this one. [/QUOTE] I knew him in elementary school, up until 6th grade, so I couldn’t tell you what he went by in high school. He had a younger sister named Wei Wei, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360/40 "2007-02-09T12:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] The very first one on the list, Gerald Henderson, played for the Celtics in the 80’s. And by googling, I see his son, Gerald Jr. now plays for Duke University. [/QUOTE] Great. Not the same guy, though. You remind me that I had intended to Google that list of mine, but got distracted and didn’t. FWIW, my list would all be geezers in their 60’s by now and more than likely puttering around in Alabama or not too far from there, although my generation has had a tendency to get away from home. Safe to say, I haven’t seen a one of those folks in at least 40 years. Much time passed before I met my second Gerald, though. None of them have played b-ball to my knowledge. I’m a bit surprised that these lists haven’t produced more hits than they have. Way over half of the names are slightly common to very common. And as I type this there have been 24 unique posters with at least 5 names each, or better than 120 individuals listed with less than a dozen hits, less than 10% hits. Kinda gives a raised eyebrow to the Six Degrees hypothesis, even though that’s not the way Six Degrees is stated as a general rule. Still, it’s a little surprising. I wonder how big a list of my own acquaintances I’d have to post before I got at least one hit from everybody who’s posted by now. No big deal; just curious. Any of you had any thoughts on the relatively small number of hits? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-a-game-of-names/391360.md?page=3)