We live in a small world: our mentors are awesome

[member 428835]

Hi PF!

A particular mentor (can I name who?) helped me A LOT years ago. After many (I'm talking hundreds of posts on one thread) conversation changes a little from technical to friendly. My schooling was brought up, and I told this mentor what school I attended. The mentor asked if I knew professor XX. I did, in fact, I've taken a few courses from this particular professor, and was VERY close to having them on my PhD committee.

Fast forward a few years, I'm grading for professor XX, and they ask me if I know the physics forum mentor [professor XX addresses them by name]. I do! Professor XX then tells me they and a few other fraternity buddies meet about once a year at their alma matre to catch up. Professor XX had many good things to say about the mentor, how they stayed pure in science, incredibly bright, and overall amazing person.

I just thought I'd share this since I think the odds of such an overlap are incredibly slim.

 

[pinball1970]

Hi PF!

A particular mentor (can I name who?) helped me A LOT years ago. After many (I'm talking hundreds of posts on one thread) conversation changes a little from technical to friendly. My schooling was brought up, and I told this mentor what school I attended. The mentor asked if I knew professor XX. I did, in fact, I've taken a few courses from this particular professor, and was VERY close to having them on my PhD committee.

Fast forward a few years, I'm grading for professor XX, and they ask me if I know the physics forum mentor [professor XX addresses them by name]. I do! Professor XX then tells me they and a few other fraternity buddies meet about once a year at their alma matre to catch up. Professor XX had many good things to say about the mentor, how they stayed pure in science, incredibly bright, and overall amazing person.

I just thought I'd share this since I think the odds of such an overlap are incredibly slim.

Not that slim? Cool post.

 

[Orodruin]

The internet is smaller than you think. I have found students asking for help on homework I clearly constructed several times. Good story nonetheless.

 

[member 428835]

The internet is smaller than you think. I have found students asking for help on homework I clearly constructed several times. Good story nonetheless.

That's amazing! I'd be tempted to toy with that, tell them that problem is ridiculous and that their prof must be a jerk

 

[256bits]

Is this a situation of how many persons in a room could have the same birthday?
Or maybe closer to, how many degrees of separation is anyone away from the Queen of England problem.
Statistical bias might be in play.