Flash Mobs

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A mob scene just made for being there

The latest big thing from the Internet: Creating a crowd on a moment's notice for no particular reason. It's a hit in New York, and the practice is starting to get around.

By Maureen Ryan | Tribune staff reporter

The Internet has spawned a gaggle of new verbs -- Googling, surfing and flaming are words most of us are used to hearing in everyday conversation. Now you can add "flash mobbing" to that list. In recent weeks, New Yorkers have been using forwarded e-mails to coordinate "flash mobs," or not-so-random crowds that appear and dissipate within a matter of minutes. Is it performance art? The cutting edge of a new social movement? Or just an easy way to flummox carpet salesmen?

To protect the planned serendipity of each event, participants aren't told exactly what the mob is supposed to do until just before the event happens. For the most recent New York happening on July 2, participants passed around an e-mail telling them to assemble at the food court in Grand Central Station, where organizers (identifiable by the copies of the New York Review of Books they were holding) then gave mobbers printed instructions regarding what to do next. The result: Shortly after 7 p.m., about 200 people suddenly assembled on the mezzanine level of the Grand Hyatt Hotel next to Grand Central Station, applauded loudly for 15 seconds, then left.

The Web site Satan's Laundromat has photos of the mob in action (satan slaundromat.com/sl/archives/000081. html); another site (moistandtas ty.com) has a funny picture of a bewildered hotel guest wondering what he has done to deserve the ovation.

"I can't quite pinpoint the moment the idea came to me, or even why," said the event's organizer, Bill, in an e-mail (Bill says he doesn't want to be identified beyond his first name). "At some point it just occurred to me that it would be funny to create a series of inexplicable mobs [his preferred term]. . . . The idea is that purely through word of mouth, a huge group of people can gather for no reason whatsoever."

FULL STORY”

“Holy crap, that's the most stupid, ridiculous thing I have ever heard of.”

“Its brilliant!

Maybe someone can bring back the creativity of the Judson Church movement....it's getting a bit boring around here these days.”

“I hope they convene in the wrong place and freak people out then get a Riot police shower of rubber bullets and pepper spray.”

“It sounds pretty cool to me. I wonder about a flash hike...”

“Off a cliff would do!”

“It's very silly but what I like about it is that it breaks up the monotony of the day.”

“Just be careful not to run afoul of the "Patriot Act" and Herr Ashcroft's Gestapo.

These mobs could be considered a terror threat!”

“Thats what most of these so called protesters are doing anyway! Protesting just for the sake of protesting. They act so upset about some issue but they plan a protest like they are planning a block party,see em on the news all laughing and passing cookies around lol nobody really gives a crap anyway so whats the dif??!! Streamweaver”

“I know! Just ask that professional agitator Phaedrus.”

“"Thats what most of these so called protesters are doing anyway! Protesting just for the sake of protesting. They act so upset about some issue but they plan a protest like they are planning a block party,see em on the news all laughing and passing cookies around lol nobody really gives a crap anyway so whats the dif??!! Streamweaver"
Streamweaver
03:07:19 PM
07/28/03

Shows how good our country is that people have the time, freedom, leisure to protest.

Shut the F%&$ UP!!!!”