Is the world really that small that we are connected to everybody through six intermediate chains? In 1967, Stanley Milgram a social psychologist instructed an experiment that members of any large social network would be connected to each other through short chains of people who share mutual relationships. The small world problem is commonly in existence in everyday social interactions with people. In my own life I have been part of the small world problem by meeting people and having similar acquaintances. The experiment of finding your target through intermediate contacts through web mail connecting people in chains can give you an understanding how small the world is, but it might not be giving you the most accurate response. The small world problem can be important to some people while having no significance to others. .
The small world problem is a reoccurring theme in people's everyday conversations. How many times have you heard people talking about somebody that they both have in common? It is something that is socially acceptable to talk about when meeting someone. I was unaware of the experiment that is going on at Columbia University. But, I have received many chain letters in my life, but those do not satisfy the requirements of the experiment because they usually never have a marked target. .
An example of this small world problem in my life starts with the Seattle Pacific Men's basketball team. Chad Williamson, a player on my team, got recruited to play from Burlington. Chad's step-brother happens to be one of my good friends from home. We did not know this until we met at school. Chad knows Luke Ridnour, a Seattle Supersonic who is a high school basketball legend in the state of Washington. My cousin was Luke Ridnour's coach in high school. So, two chains connect me to Mr. Ridnour. Now when dealing with this example you would think this is limiting our chain to the state of Washington.