MOB #5
07/24/03
Mob #5, tonight, was particularly unphotogenic, perhaps by design as a reaction to the last one. Hundreds of people perched on a stone ledge in Central Park, facing Central Park West, and made bird noises. I would have liked to get a picture from Central Park West, though -- let me know if you see any.
Mob participants approaching the park on 81st Street:
Most of the Mob:
A couple of spectators on Central Park West:
Why did the mob cross the road?
There are some nice crowd shots at Moist and Tasty. Ginger, as usual, has a nice writeup of her mob experience. I agree with Fancy Robot: I want an audience, preferably one composed of tourists; we've had enough inexplicable mobs with no one to see them besides reporters and salespeople. When's the Times Square mob?
( MOB #2 at Macy's | MOB #3 at the Grand Hyatt | MOB #4 at Otto Tootsi Plohound | MOB #6 at Toys R Us )
8:13 PM | Comments (32) | TrackBack (5)
Comments
Tight, I've got to get into this. Too bad I live in KY...
Posted by: WavyGravy at July 24, 2003 11:54 PM
Grrrrr I got the third and forth mail forwarded!!! Damned chain broke on the fifth.
Posted by: MARS at July 25, 2003 12:10 AM
mo' bloggin' the mob on Glowlab:
http://glowlab.blogs.com/news/
cheers-
Posted by: Glowlab at July 25, 2003 12:41 AM
People need to synchronize their watches or follow the crowd (rather than initiating anything). All of the transitions happened 2 minutes ahead of schedule.
Posted by: Ben Dreyfus at July 25, 2003 01:30 AM
i mayjust have to move to NYC
Posted by: David Lawson at July 25, 2003 10:46 AM
It seems to me that while this is all fun, harmless and interesting for now, that it is just a matter of time before a fight breaks out and the mob becomes a true mob/riot, or that someone decides to use these flash mobs as a distraction while a crime occurs, ie at the shoe store, shoplifters go wild while the mob stands there and in 15 seconds they lose 20 pairs of $100 shoes. Maybe it would be better if these mob's stopped while the intrigue is on and nothing bad has happened. It sounds wonderful, but it also sounds like exploitation city if anybody worked it out. Perfect crime.
Posted by: Anonymous at July 25, 2003 11:42 AM
I'd say only attend mobs that are in open, (mostly) public areas... I agree, if I were a store owner I'd be terrified if I got hit by a flash mob.
Posted by: Jogar the Barbarian at July 25, 2003 01:05 PM
What struck me most was the parade (described well by Ginger http://www.speakeasy.org/~ginger/blogger/blogger.html) of people going to the mob location **as a mob**
I deliberately crossed the street and walked in the other direction (my tiny head is just over the left shoulder of the brunette in the white shirt in your bottom photo) and looped around to the site on my own.
While the idea of a flash parade is cool, I thought the last mob did a better job of turning an unassuming street scene into a mob.
Posted by: Trespasser at July 25, 2003 03:42 PM
we'll be in the city from 8/9 until 8/13 any chance of a mob happening during that time? how will i know?
Posted by: virginia at July 26, 2003 11:42 AM
i live in hialeah (city nw of miami, florida) would like to know how to get started on a flashmob
i wish i were back in my hometown(manhattan) to be able to participate
have fun i think this is great
Posted by: Bertha at July 30, 2003 11:40 AM
Hey. Boston Mob #1 just went off. See URL above. ;-)
Posted by: Claudia at July 31, 2003 07:42 PM
Or, you know, below. Above this, at any rate.
Posted by: Claudia at July 31, 2003 08:11 PM
Gotta join you. Let me know more information.
Posted by: miu at August 1, 2003 01:42 PM
Looks like fun. The mob seems kind of anglo to me. Barely a person of color in it. The organizers need to get some non-anglo contacts to spice things up a little. Maybe give tasks for different people to do once they get there. Also those mobs would be a perfect place to organize the revolution. With that many people willing to make "art", just think how many of those people might actually want to change the world--one mob at a time.
Posted by: Jasmyne at August 1, 2003 01:56 PM
All of you, get a life, this thing seems pretty damn stupid to me, just meeting with no reason than to just be in a crowd... Get some friends, might be a good start, freakz
Posted by: Someonebetterthanuguys at August 4, 2003 01:11 PM
Lovely mobs. Here's hoping our local lone star mob goes off w/o a hitch.
Posted by: Wisteria at August 5, 2003 01:04 PM
You may want to take a look at these entries. He's vulgar, but makes some good points, especially in the second post.
http://incestuousamplification.blog-city.com/read/167188.htm
http://incestuousamplification.blog-city.com/read/172377.htm
Posted by: Jer at August 8, 2003 04:04 AM
How utterly stupid, inane and pointless. Oh, but I guess "that's the point", huh? I suppose I'm just not hip enough to get it. Please do something with your lives, like move out of your parents house, get a job, and guys, shave the 'burns. Lambchops = losers. And gals, shave the armpits.
Posted by: billybob at August 8, 2003 09:33 AM
You have no right authority title or dominion, you are like sheep who have gone astray and you follow a "shepherd with a twisted crook",as only some one with a twisted mind would concieve of something so intimidating & antisocial, you are (or you should be) responsible citizens, you are being used, dont fool yourself into thinking you are important, you will held accountable for actions if you continue to go "flash mobbing", there is no excuse for your behaviour.You are being manipulated. Dont follow a loser.
YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: paul at August 9, 2003 01:45 PM
Man, i am so glad that you guys are doing this. i have had the idea for a while, but no followers. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
Posted by: megan at August 11, 2003 05:07 AM
Can i tell u something?
You are playing with fire...any given day u can be an easy target of terrorists or any other organization.
If I were you, I wouldn't go to so many mobs. Just think for a while...are you completely sure this is not a strategy to hurt a lot of defenseless people? Maybe it is not. But some groups can see it so.
Please...don't forget you are in NYC!!!
Bye!
Posted by: Friend at August 11, 2003 10:54 AM
how do i get in to this ..im in NYC
Posted by: Moony at August 12, 2003 07:04 AM
lol i find it funny ..ill do it @ least once .
Posted by: moony at August 12, 2003 07:05 AM
lol i find it funny ..ill do it @ least once .
Posted by: moony at August 12, 2003 07:05 AM
I absolutely LOVE THIS!!! I'd like to get in on it! Can I bring the kids???!! I'm in Southern Connecticut. Any flash mob organizers there??? Please email me and let me know!
Posted by: jenali at August 13, 2003 07:49 AM
Art? Miscellaneous Madness en mass? Anyways...
Talking to the media is the kiss of death. Let them get the aftermath but not so much as a sniff of the calm before the random storm.
Sure, have a diarist or inside camera document it but don't give in to the lure of the lens. We are the faceless public not actors. We have little statement to make, we need people not to expect the unexpected it will become dull very quickly otherwise.
I've done this before in the states and you should never talk to the media. It portrays us as an organization and we need to appear as random as possible, not organized. We will arrange everything to a tee of course but we should never give the impression to the public bystanders that we pre meditated everything. The magic comes from the reaction. It must remain a surprise at all costs.
That is our weapon... Random
Amadeus
Posted by: Amadeus Hellequin at August 14, 2003 01:28 AM
Hi, I live in Miami Beach and will like to organize a mob flash in the Aventura Mall just for fun. The goal is to gather at least 100 persons in the Armani Exchange store and everybody ask to speak with Giorgio. It will be really funny if you think about it, if anybody wants to join please confirm it in this post. The date will be 09/09/03 at 6 PM. See you there.
Posted by: Mob 182 at August 23, 2003 02:29 PM
Fri, 21 Nov 2003
Dear fucks,
I deeply interested in what you flash mobbers are doing - not because i think that FMs represent anything good or exciting. Rather, you people are the very epitome of the ability of technology to create strange and temporary sythetic personalities and experiences. Your actions have no meaning, zero. Yes, it is a demonstration of how technology can bring us together, and perhaps flash mobbing will be used to some purposive end. I'd really be heartened if i were to see a gathering to help the inner city poor or to demand higher gasoline prices or to stop another field from turning into a high-class-only housing subdivision. Perhaps FMs might be a proving ground for better things in the future. But why not use the time NOW to effect change, and not jsut "pretend" to be spontaneous when in reality it is highly dependent on organization? Have all the easy fights and issues been resolved, making you [mobbers] think that we are free to play around like this while the world is on fire? There are still innumerable issues that neeed desparetely a physical human presence, and not just emails or signatures or $5 donations to the Sierra club. Get it together - you obviously have no problem doing that - but instead for something that you can brag about, not just laugh about
-Julius
Posted by: Julius at November 21, 2003 11:45 AM
Why can't I upload a reply?
Posted by: Amadeus Hellequin at July 28, 2004 09:22 PM
Let me educate you; FM started when people were demonstrating against the war in Iraq. New York's finest were arresting demonstrators on sight. To get round this the protesting groups used tech, namely sms text messages & email to organise 'Flash Demonstrations' as a way around getting arrested. The crowd would disperse at the first sign of rozzers, sorry police, & evaded them every time since using this method.
Soon afterwards members of the group pointed out that it might be fun to gather in this way for other reasons & Flash Mobbing was born.
Posted by: Amadeus Hellequin at July 28, 2004 09:35 PM
yall should try simultaneous farting after a long day of garlic eating. that should facilitate rapid dispersment.
Posted by: noble savage at October 13, 2004 08:28 AM
Anyone know when the next flash mob will be happening in NYC? We are filming a documentary and wanted to take part. Only a small crew...no other media will be notified.
Thanks!