I know it's been a while since we talked about flash mobs, but something is still bugging me about the readings. I know flash mobs have been going on for the better part of a decade now, but I just really started hearing about them maybe two to three years ago. From what I gathered, flash mobs are exciting acts of complete randomness. I also gathered that the participants of the flash mob are the only ones who know about it ahead of time.
However, in the readings all three authors explain how flash mobs have taken a dangerous turn, where innocent bystanders are getting shot or mugged. But what I'm questioning is, why are these violent acts considered to be by flash mobs? Isn't this just organized crime? How is these acts any different from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929? The seven men who were shot didn't know it was going to happen and the men who did the shooting organized it well beforehand. As Urban Dictionary puts it (and I know it's not the greatest source, but bear with me), a flash mob is "a group of people who appear from out of nowhere, to perfom predetermined actions, designed to amuse and confuse surrounding people. The group performs these actions for a short amount of time before quickly dispersing." I agree with all of the above, especially that they are designed to amuse. Obviously nothing is amusing about getting beat up, having your wallet stolen, or worse, getting killed.
No comments:
Post a Comment