Before encountering this article, I considered flash mobs to be a fun, street-art experience which illustrated the potential of the Internet and text-messaging to accumulate large numbers of strangers into a unison performance. The tongue-in-cheek mass snowball fight in Washington and kitsch Glee advertising came directly to mind- but certainly not aggressive packs of teenagers assaulting pedestrians and vandalising property (Urbina, 2010).
Although Temple University psychologist Frank Farley believed these dangerous mobs were little more than a "youth fad with a short life" (templecuttingedge, 2010), it is interesting to consider the way the mind changes when part of a 'pack mentality'. "When large numbers congregate with no clear agenda, and bad behaviour is initiated by some, 'social facilitation and 'emotional contagion' helps spread the bad behaviour", Farley assesses. Similar cases are seen in violent gangs, in which the extreme action of one individual quickly escalates into acceptable behaviour of the entire group.
In 2009, a Moldovan anti-Communist flash mob organiser Natalie Morar was officially charged with "calls for organising and staging mass disturbances" in an attempt to overthrow Government with a 'Twitter Revolution' (Hodge, 2009). In many ways, a flash mob's online organisation, collaboration and physical assembly of a mass of individuals is akin to the way in which Egyptian revolutionaries garnered the initial numbers for the January 25 uprising. The Western world threw their support behind the public movement to overthrow Mubarak- many saw the revolution as the uprising public as 'David' overpowering the 'Goliath' of political oppression- a rhetoric which culminating in U.S President Obama calling for an 'orderly transition' for Egypt (Lendman, 2011).
Urbina highlights an opposing voice in the recent applause (in the wake of the Egyptian revolution) for online and mobile connectivity. It is essential to recognise that these are merely communication tools; for example, a kitchen knife is only dangerous when put in the wrong hands.
Although Temple University psychologist Frank Farley believed these dangerous mobs were little more than a "youth fad with a short life" (templecuttingedge, 2010), it is interesting to consider the way the mind changes when part of a 'pack mentality'. "When large numbers congregate with no clear agenda, and bad behaviour is initiated by some, 'social facilitation and 'emotional contagion' helps spread the bad behaviour", Farley assesses. Similar cases are seen in violent gangs, in which the extreme action of one individual quickly escalates into acceptable behaviour of the entire group.
In 2009, a Moldovan anti-Communist flash mob organiser Natalie Morar was officially charged with "calls for organising and staging mass disturbances" in an attempt to overthrow Government with a 'Twitter Revolution' (Hodge, 2009). In many ways, a flash mob's online organisation, collaboration and physical assembly of a mass of individuals is akin to the way in which Egyptian revolutionaries garnered the initial numbers for the January 25 uprising. The Western world threw their support behind the public movement to overthrow Mubarak- many saw the revolution as the uprising public as 'David' overpowering the 'Goliath' of political oppression- a rhetoric which culminating in U.S President Obama calling for an 'orderly transition' for Egypt (Lendman, 2011).
Urbina highlights an opposing voice in the recent applause (in the wake of the Egyptian revolution) for online and mobile connectivity. It is essential to recognise that these are merely communication tools; for example, a kitchen knife is only dangerous when put in the wrong hands.
References:
Hodge, N. (2009) Activist Charged for Inciting 'Twitter Revolution'. Retrieved 22.4.11 from http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/04/activist-charge/
Lendman, S. (2011). Egypt's Revolution: Obama Backing Regime Change? Retrieved 20.4.11 from http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2011/02/01/egypts-revolution-obama-backing-regime-change/
Templecuttingedge, (2010). Flashmobs: The Good and The Bad. Retrieved 20.4.11 from http://templecuttingedge.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/flash-mobs-the-good-and-the-bad/
Urbina, I. (2010) Mobs are Born as Word Grows by Text Message. Retrieved 22.4.11 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25mobs.html?_r=1