Years ago, my mother - who was allergic to shrimp but never reacted to any other seafood - had a serious reaction to (of all things) conch fritters. While she was vacationing in St. Croix. My sister called, all upset, saying she was in the hospital and the doctors wouldn't let her leave. I, of course, immediately began thinking I'd have to fly down and escort her home. All for nothing - it turned out the doctor wouldn't let her leave the ISLAND, so while I was fretting, she was lying on the beach.

I think I'm 2 degrees (I'm never quite sure how that works; would LMM be 0 degrees, then the person I know is 1 degree, then me?), because I knew the choreographer in high school.

Yep, that's how it works. (I'm also two degrees -- the older sister of one of my friends was friends with LMM in college.)

I'm 2 degrees (I'm never quite sure how that works; would LMM be 0 degrees, then the person I know is 1 degree, then me?), because I knew the choreographer in high school.

It would make more sense to me that you would be one, because you're measuring separation. So the person who actual personally knows them is not separated. You are separated by one individual from whatever famous person.

It would make more sense to me that you would be one, because you're measuring separation. So the person who actual personally knows them is not separated. You are separated by one individual from whatever famous person.

You're measuring connections. You are yourself, so you don't need a connection, so you're 0 degrees from yourself. You can then draw a line to everyone you know, and that's one line, so you're one degree from them. They draw lines to everyone they know, and so on. Then you count how many lines you need to walk along to get to whoever. (The terminology for this was taken directly from a mathematical thing.)

So the person who actual personally knows them is not separated.

Well, but they are. They know them but they aren't them. Separate, but only one degree. Makes sense to me.

Basically, from a mathematical perspective, there always needs to be a way of measuring your relation to yourself, and that's usually 0.

That's how I think of it too, Hil, though I am far from a mathematician. But I was more excited than I should be- and theatre really is a small world

there always needs to be a way of measuring your relation to yourself, and that's usually 0

Now you have me curious. When would it NOT be zero?

Timelies all!

Tomorrow we head to Baltimore for Balticon. It's Balticon 50, and the author Guest of Honor is George R.R. Martin. It'll be interesting taking the little guy around....

Now you have me curious. When would it NOT be zero?

Pretty much, if you define it to be.