"Flash Mobs"

[bluestateguy]

Reuters) - New Yorkers often become part of unexpected mob scenes -- huge crowds on subway platforms, at clothing sales, or at free concerts in places like Central Park. Now they are doing it on purpose, for fun. "Flash mobs," in which people show up at an assigned place at a certain time, perform some brief acts, and then leave, have descended on stores, a hotel and even a piece of a park in New York.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030725/od_uk_nm/oukoe_life_mob_1

This is kind of creepy. It sounds like something from a dark Stanley Kubrick movie.

[shockingelk]

1. in Minneapolis

The refer to a "flash mob" in Minneapolis - is was a group of people who gathered in front of the screen at a screening of one of the Lord of the Rings movies at the Mall of America to "move like robots".

A "flash mob" I would like to see at the 2004 Republican kick-off at Ground Zero: hundreds of people mixing Sea Monkey colonies yelling, "VOTES! VOTES! VOTES!"

[AlienGirl]

2. It reminds me more of street theater

a la the Yippies.

Tucker

[mrfrapp]

3. Creepy?

"This is kind of creepy. It sounds like something from a dark Stanley Kubrick movie"

I fail to see how you arrive at that .It's street theatre, that's all.

[Skittles]

4. these are the same f***ing morons

that fall for fads. Stupid, easily-manipulated people. It's scary; it's only a matter of time before criminals have the same idea.

[Paul1574]

7. they already have....

its called swarming..(like bees i assume.)

similair principal too ~ people are suddenly surronded (obviousyl by suprise and are totally outnumbered) and robbed

[Richardo]

5. Evoke's Larry Niven's "Floating Riot Clubs" (1974)

Description: In a future when people commonly use teleportation to travel instantly to any point in the world, a sale at a department store might draw bargain hunters from all over the planet ... followed by reporters, pickpockets, political activists looking for a crowd, and anyone who think it might be fun to show up to a riot.

First Published: 1974 A Hole in Space

Publisher: Fictionwise.com

www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook4449.htm

While not a product of teleportation, still eerily parallel...

[zizzer]

6. HEY!

" And at a high-end shoe store in Soho, they acted like tourists from Maryland. "

I resemble that remark!

Zizzer, proud Marylander

[ForrestGump]

8. Can the Flasher Mobs be far behind?