If the associations are
unrestricted, I think it would be difficult NOT to make a connection between two random people in six steps.
Platapus to Vladimir Putin four steps
1. Platapus (as a lowlife military analyst) briefs Four Star General during Desert Storm
2. Four Star briefs SecDec Cheney during DS
3. VP Cheney meets with President Bush
4. Bush meets with Putin
When the relationships can be unrestricted, It probably would never take six steps to link anyone of us to any international celebrity or politician.
Platapus to Neal Armstrong (First man to walk on the moon and world famous recluse) Three steps.
1. Platapus knows Andrew B who is one of the directors of a large space industry NPO
2. Andrew briefs Buzz Aldrin who sits on every fricking board for space industry
3. Aldrin walked on moon with Armstrong
As you can see, making the connections when the relationships are unrestricted is easy. Now the tough question is when the relationships are restricted in some way.
Either solely social, or solely professional etc. Then it gets a bit harder and will take more than three steps to link low-lifes like me to the important people.
