Flash mobs

[chopnhack]

Anyone concerned about this rise in mob activity lately? I am talking about in the U.S. Don't see much press coverage on it either, which is more concerning!

[atgcpaul]

Yes. We've had two incidents in our area that have received national
attention where several youths just raided convenience stores, stole items,
and overturned displays. The overturning of displays was more worrisome to
me because that showed a complete lack of respect for property.

It's only a matter of time before this escalates...

This is a sorry state of affairs.

[dbhost]

I am wondering how soon before the lawyers get involved. The bulk of these things are being facilitated by social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I would suspect they may hold some partial liability for this.

[Mildoc]

I wish they would NOT get a lot of media coverage. Just encourages more.

[Black wallnut]

Sounds more like a riot than a flash mob. It seems that much of the deterrance has been removed from our justice system. I think the problem is we need to change peoples hearts as to what is right and good.

[cabinetman]

This is what I thought a flash mob was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBsjEV_Ndss&feature=fvst

.

[Black wallnut]

This is what I thought a flash mob was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBsjEV_Ndss&feature=fvst

.

Great link Cman! that is exactly what I think of when I read flash mob.

[chopnhack]

Interestingly enough the demographics were homogeneous. Without getting political or racial, its time people awaken to the fact that they must be responsible for themselves. Furthering this welfare state does only more harm and allows the government to rule the people and not the other way around...

[Kristofor]

I am wondering how soon before the lawyers get involved. The bulk of these things are being facilitated by social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I would suspect they may hold some partial liability for this.

Lacking solid data, I call shenanigans on the reporters (and British MPs) who are perpetuating this belief. I think this is largely another "summer of the shark" perception/reporting issue.

While I would agree that there are at least some occasions where this new technology has played a role, clearly hoodlums and thugs have been known to roam in packs and intimidate or knock over places long before the advent of social media.

[dbhost]

Lacking solid data, I call shenanigans on the reporters (and British MPs) who are perpetuating this belief. I think this is largely another "summer of the shark" perception/reporting issue.

While I would agree that there are at least some occasions where this new technology has played a role, clearly hoodlums and thugs have been known to roam in packs and intimidate or knock over places long before the advent of social media.

To a certain extent you are correct. And mind you, there have been shenanigans coordinated with all sorts of communications technologies, dating back to hand carried letters / mail. Ever heard of the American Revolution? Sort of a very early flash mob right? More recently, in the 1970s, and 1980s, teenagers would organize "race nights", or illegal drag races via CB radio. (not that I know anything about that personally...). This is really nothing all that new, just a different route to the same destination... The thuggery shown while it may be able to be organized quickly over social networks, it can also be TRACKED by law enforcement whereas say the channel rotating organizers of the friday night drags had very little to worry about unless the badly understaffed Police Departments had somebody recording every bit of static and transmission that came in on all 40 AM, 40 USB, and 40 LSB (for those that don't know what I mean, there are a couple of different kinds of CB radios, most just do AM transmission, some do what is called Single Sideband, which means they eliminate the carrier wave, and operate on the upper, or lower half of the sine wave, meaning you can literally shove 3 unique signals onto the same frequency region, so you would have Upper SideBand (USB) or Lower SideBand (LSB).). Scanners could have potentially been a problem for some, others not so much...

My point originally wasn't to blame the Social Media outlets per se.... But that legally speaking, since they provided the means for organizing, they may potentially hold some liability. It would probably be a tough argument, but a well enough inspired lawyer seeing deep pockets, particularly of Facebook, may be inspired to file suit, with or without merit.

[MikeMorgan]

The other side of flashmobs:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bec_1300830472