Off topic, topic, who do you know?
 

Who do you know? Its an interesting question. Ever wonder how you end up meeting someone you know, or someone that knows someone you know? Its a very big world out there, so how is this possible.

How is it possible that I can go to NYC and run into someone that I know from Indiana? Like I mean NYC is a very big place.

How is it possible for a Porsche nut to go to almost anywhere and meet people that know someone that they also know?

I first thought of this when looking at my ansestory. Like I am related to about 50 percent of the founders of this country. Family has been here a long time, but how is it possible that the group is so small?

I have heard that there is some kind of theory about this kind of thing, but I haven't actually seen it myself, so, is it real?

It goes like this. Certain groups of people have common interests. Those common interests sort out and reduce the people to small groups, small enough that everyone knows someone. For example, Ham radio. Ham radio has only a few hundred thousand members nationwide. If you further sort this group to the ones that like a certain ham band, a certain kind of radio communication, you get groups that are only a few thousand, spread over the nation. People in this group communicate and meet each other, and thus Know each other.

I understand this also goes for political groups and so forth. Like there are only so many left leaning wacos in the world and consequently they all know each other. Its like they met in court, defending themselves for drowning their girlfirend, while driving drunk.

Whats your experience?

Do I know you?

I was running through Heathrow while trying not to miss my flight to Amsterdam and ran into a friend also from Southern California. It is a small world out there.

I'm still relatively new back here in Kentucky and alot of people come up to me and think they know me...{You look familiar...Do I know you?}...happened today in fact.

Is this the question asked when Jack becomes a "John"? :p

I had about nine people recognize me at Parade last week. Not people I have previously met before, but they recognized me by name. Two of them I had previously done business with before, but never in person. The others had only heard of me through reputation.
I can't travel anywhere without seeing someone I know, or meeting someone who has at least heard of me, if the right conversation pops up.

I was in DC in July of 05. While walking down a street, I heard the familiar tone on a 911 exhaust. I spotted the car and watched it pass. It was a silver 3.0 Carrera and I knew Noah (911 Parts Mod) split time in DC and also had seen pics of his ride on the BBS. I saw the Vermont plate, knew it was him, and yelled out "NOAH!". He pulled over and we spoke for a bit.

Small whirled.

Other than that, I don't know Jack.
Well, maybe I spent a fews hours with J. Olsen back in the day.

It seems I see people in airports all the time that I know. I saw two guys waiting for a flight in Albuquerque that I used to work with.

Having said that, I think the point is more that we - as a group of Porsche owners - comprise this relatively small community where via the internet, we "know" people all over the world. It's kind of a Porsche "7 degrees of Kevin Bacon" thing. I know this guy and he was friends with so and so and he bought his car from this other guy who was friends with Norbert Singer's daughter...blah blah blah...

Mike

Re: Off topic, topic, who do you know?
 

I cannot walk down an avenue in the big city and not see someone I know... Happens all the time.

We are always surrounded by people we "know" (friends of friends & etc.) or those we actully do know - and dont recognize them.:cool:

My father was in the Navy, and we were stationed in Misawa Japan. I've since run into a couple of people that were there or knew someone that I knew when I was there and someone that I knew lives a couple of miles from me right now. So there's a connection from half way around the world.

I have a couple for you.

One time, when I was doing an internship in Albequerque NM, I went out to a nightclub for a few drinks with the guys I awas staying with. While there, on the only night I went out in the month long internship, I ran into the older sister of a girl I dated in HS, who was in town for a few days on business.

Another time, I went to a bar in Sacto that I had never been to, with some people I just met, and it turned out that my 5 year HS reunion was being held there. Bear in mind that I had somehow gotten dropped off the mailing list(probably because of my disagreeable temperment).

Very trippy, went up to the bar, and ran into a guy from my college chem class, turned around and bumped into a friend from HS. Then saw another guy when I went to the bathroom, very wierd was what I was thinking. One fellow asked where I had been that day, to which I responded, I went to school, then to work, then to hit the bars. Turns out the reunion was that day, with the after party held at this bar I happened into, go figure.

Small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it.

Sort of spookey in a way. Why is this???

Seriously, "Why is this?" It's because our current lives dictates that we move around in wider circles than before, and because of that we know more people. Our jobs have grown, our interests and hobbies have grown, and as families and friendships grow, therein lies many reasons why nearly everywhere a person goes, they could meet someone they know.

Heck, I might even know you, though I wouldn't admit it. ;)

A few years back I was flying home from Italy. Venice to Heathrow to LAX. On the Heathrow to LAX leg one of my college professors whom I hadn't seen in seven years sits down in the same row as my then girlfriend and I. He is Polish, and was coming back from a trip to Poland.

Another time on a trip from the O.C. to D.C. I ran into a friend of mine from high school in the airport in Dallas. He had moved to NoCal, and I hadn't seen him in years.

I think this kind of stuff happens all the time.

I recently got contacted by an old friend whom I grew up with and lost touch. Out of nowhere I get this email from the guy, asking me if I'm who I am and proceeded to tell me who he is.

Considering it's been a good 12+ years since I've seen the guy, he now lives in Boston (!) as a chemical engineer and just happened to find me by -THIS BBS.

It appears that a co worker or friend of his pointed out my car during a BS session about cars around a work computer. Then, they look at the name, and location and then it was instant WTF?!

Sure enough, it was me...

rjp

I just remembered another time I was flying from Kentucky to Pittsburgh to Orange County and saw John Force get on my plane. After a few minutes he got up and came and sat behind me and we talked for quite awhile and he signed my Street Rodder magazine. I didn't know him before this flight but he is one of my favorite drag racers along with Garlits, Muldowney, Prudome, but I had already met them.

I've met John a few times myself. I have one of his dead pistons from his car..