| Submit your comments on this article |
| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| I Don’t Consider Myself an Alarmist, But... |
| 2003-08-26 |
| The flash mob is just the latest in a long streak of group hysterias EFL A crowd of 100 or so suddenly shows up at a designated location. Each person removes one of his or her shoes, and beats it on the ground several times. Then they put their shoes back on and quietly depart. Reportedly, this stunt, which occurred the first time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has surfaced in cities such as Vienna, Tokyo and New York, and is being referred to as a "flash mob phenomenon." Evidently these amorphous crowds are organized by Web sites and e-mail lists to stage brief, harmless buffoonery in prearranged public locations. Afterward the performers fade back into the woodwork. How perfectly pointless and wonderful. At this silly point, nobody seems to know who concocted that prototype stunt in Brazil, or why — or at any of the other sites. Sometimes there just aren’t any answers to humankind’s big questions. Oh, yes, things could be lots worse, folks. Just imagine if one of these mobs hits your town, and they all turn out to be retired streakers from the infamous 1970s. Isn’t it all such great fun? Those crazy kids. Does anyone else see TARGET written all over this? Why go looking for victims when you can bring them to you ? |
| Posted by:Anonymous |
| #11 In response to an electronic message, a group of people gather in one place to engage in some pointless activity for a short period of time... Sounds like my last job... |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-8-26 3:20:53 PM |
| #10 Larry Niven - "Flash Crowd", early 70's... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-8-26 3:08:01 PM |
| #9 If your coworkers were enlisted in one of these, this would be a useful technique in making sure your favorite stall is free for your morning costitutional. |
| Posted by: Steve D 2003-8-26 2:45:31 PM |
| #8 "Does anyone else see TARGET written all over this? " Pfft, as others have said, it's hardly difficult to find crowds. You may not consider yourself an alarmist, but I think you really should so consider it. :-) This sounds just like fun. And Tom, the shoes-thing is just one random example. The crowd may a lot of other stuff. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-8-26 2:21:13 PM |
| #7 Not me. I'll only be impressed when the do that with several thousand people, cause millions in property damage, and everyone gets away without so much as a ticket. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-8-26 2:19:23 PM |
| #6 I'll be impressed when they don't require days' worth of pre-planning and use teleporters to get to the location. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-8-26 12:51:03 PM |
| #5 Well flash mobs and organizing one are a bit more advanced than what is written. Personally I thought it was brilliant (or at least the first few times it is). Anyone remember the Falun Gong and how they spooked the chinese government by being able to stage a synchronized demonstration in multiple cities, en masse? Organization and more over flash organization scares people, or at least it scares those people in power. What it does, is demonstrate the lack of intel on movements and plans that any opposing organization has. It's very Sun Tzu really. The problem here is that those people who are doing it haven't really put it to a use that will do anything. What we are seeing is the ability to conduct a "quick strike" protest or demonstration. However, by itself it's not enough, but it is a good tool to have. IMO. -DS "the horns hold up the halo" P.S. There are also other applications for this ability to coordinate. I'm impressed that it has been done, by normally rag-tag grab-ass people. |
| Posted by: DeviantSaint 2003-8-26 12:48:58 PM |
| #4 This is what China is so worried about. If it should spread to the countryside it could be a real headache. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-8-26 12:34:34 PM |
| #3 Not only does this have TARGET written all over it, but the banging of shoes is a middle-eastern thing, so who thought this up? |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-8-26 12:26:09 PM |
| #2 proof that all those time-saving gadgets and appliances have unleashed an easily-led, bored crowd of brainless fools on the Earth with WAY too much time on their hands |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-26 12:15:21 PM |
| #1 Why go to all the work of sending e-mails when there is a perfectly good daycare center right down the block? |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-26 11:38:23 AM |