Frigyes Karinthy, a Hungarian poet wrote a short story entitled “Chains” in 1929 and
hinted (rather jokingly) at a novel idea: all of us could be connected to each other via a
mere six-step link. Many years later, an American (who else) snatched up his view and
churned out a play which eventually became an overnight success at the time. Because
of this, the 6-step connection gained popularity, and from there, things snowballed. For
one, the “Six Degrees of Separation” became a serious theory, and papers and
academic discussions on it sprouted left and right. Hollywood movies about it were
made, and even a popular song of the same title hit the airwaves twelve years ago.
That reality of having ‘friends of friends’ (ad infinitum) on your social media account will
attest that the 6DS theory might indeed prove to be correct. True believers say that
because of our growing inter-connectivity brought about by technological advances,
such as the internet, six degrees might even be lower, at like five or four degrees.
Experiments in the US in 2001 by mathematicians and computer analysts alike, point
out that the degree of separation results in both their e-mail and Twitter experiments
were actually down to 3 to 3.5 respectively. Sad to say, there has been no report yet of
a worldwide testing for the 6DS because that would have really been interesting.
For one thing, I’ve experienced it myself. My mate has a friend who lives in the
Netherlands, and he has recently married. To her surprise, he had wedded, of all
people, her Davao-based officemate. This Dutchie, unbeknownst to me, happens to be
the second-degree relative of my longtime friend, who in turn is the godson of my
parents. That’s only four degrees right there, but the synchronicity of it all just boggles
the mind. It’s a small world.
Then while in Perth Australia many years ago, we were introduced to lady, who brought
us to a quaint pinoy restaurant. She introduced us to a waiter whom we befriended. As
all introductions go, he got around to saying he once lived in Davao. Okay, that was
cool. Then he said, he lived right in our own suburb, same block as ours, and surprises
of all surprises, used to reside in the lot right in back of our house!
As all these may amuse us and hint at a rapidly shrinking world, there is likewise a
sense of foreboding that goes with it. Not only does this tell me to be wary and expect
the unexpected as I now realize why Buddha preaches that we be fair and kind always.
It’s better to be careful in all dealings, for you never know, the next person from across
the world we clash swords with might turn out to be a relative, a future in-law, or worst,
a future spouse. And you know how that goes.
As my favorite TV show likes to say, the night is dark and full of terrors.
