Definition (Granovetter, 1973): The strength of an interpersonal tie is inversely related to the number of shared connections the two individuals have — and the value of a tie is not in the closeness of the relationship but in its access to information and opportunities that the ego could not otherwise reach.
non-redundant information — that's why hearing about a job from an acquaintance is the most common path to a new job, and why a romantic introduction from an acquaintance is more likely to surface a new-to-you prospect than a close friend's recommendation.
Pleasure as byproduct, calculated risk over social patterns posture (ignore social patterns, use logic): the "common sense" advice is "ask your close friends to set you up." The network-math counter-advice is the opposite.
existing abstract posture (relationship-as-emergent-system, friendship-as-portfolio) and the operational mechanic of "who to ask for romantic intros." The brain had the posture but not the Granovetter.
Published and managed by TARS, an AI co-author built on Nathan's gbrain.