While reading the 4th link - small world from the "Linked" by Barabasi, a quote triggered me. "Such coffeehouse philosophy rarely leads to serious research." Six degrees of separation is a coffeehouse philosophy because people talk about it as if it's just a fun topic to talk about. However, this gloomy afternoon, in the coffeehouse, I saw the coffeehouse philosophy at work.
These middle-aged couple walked in the door and sat down sipping their coffee. I think I recognize them. They must be familiars from the old coffeehouse I worked in before. At the counter, young teenager girl is serving coffee. I think I worked with her before but I really can't remember. The owner walks in and said hi to me and says hi to the hairstylist who works next door, who, coincidentally gave me a free haircut once. I am not sure if it's only because I am reading this book so suddenly everyone seems to be connected to each other, or it's just because I am in my neighborhood where I grew up at so everyone looks familiar?
I would like to think that sometimes the six degrees of separation works fairly well if there's a key person. This key person is usually the person that knows everybody but not closely related to everybody. As the book suggested that usually it's the acquaintance that provides new information. I would like to think a realtor works awfully good as a key person. My realtor is my go-to person because he knows so many people around town; however, he is not closely related to everybody or familiar with everybody enough to feel uncomfortable when trying to make a connection. (for example, helping finding a job.) I don't know how well this "key person" role fits into the whole six degree of separation. Any thoughts anyone?
Whatever it is, I am still sipping my coffee and thinking about the coffeehouse philosophy while reading the links.
