New German Fad: Pointless Mobs
 

Pretty funny...

Berlin Journal: "What: Mob Scene. Who: Strangers. Point: None."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/04/in...ERL.html?8hpib

"The telephone-wielding crowd was the latest incarnation of something called flash mobs. Called into being on short notice by Web sites and e-mail distribution lists, flash mobs meet at an appointed time, engage in some organized spontaneity for a few minutes, then rapidly disperse. The activities are innocent, if mysterious, and tend to bring together loose groupings of surprisingly conventional looking young adults."

It's going on for some time on the East Coast USA and now in San Francisco. Same as you describe.

Kids all over the world are ingenious about thinking up new fads, aren't they? Just when you think you've seen it all...

Not so pointless, and not just for young, but mysterious fits. Get on the mailing list & go to observe if you don't want to be an official part. It's good for bar business & people have a lot of fun meeting for 30 minutes max. Search yahoo.com for flash mob or a smart mob in your town.

Capo,

Eventhough I am not so young, I am willing to see this catch on in Seattle. What do you think...Fodorite Flash Mob? Just a thought.

DT

Does this mean we all get together and flash ourselves at other people, then run like mad? Hmmm..... I haven't done that in years! LOL LOL

I think this sounds fascinating, and fun, all the more for being totally pointless. Shall we organize one in Washington, DC? What would all those K Street lawyers think?

A little frivolity never hurt anyone.

The only problem with doing a "Fodors Mob" would be the incessant argument beforehand about WHICH "must see" corner to meet on, what mode of transport to use to GET there, and WHAT to wear if we ever Do get there!

LOL Intrepid.....hey, check out your Marc David Miller thread.

One in Rome in June and another one last week.
People going inside Messaggerie Musicali, a music/book/media store in Via del Corso, asking for unknown titles and than suddenly clapping altogeter.
It lasted for no more than 12 minutes.

Reminds me of something a few friends and I did several years ago....

We showed up at a Shoney's restaurant late at night, all dressed in our bathrobes and slippers. Stayed a little while, then left. Man we laughed at their expressions, LOLOL.

Ahhhh, youth.

This was hilarious...

I went to the last mob in NYC--involved assembling in Central Park and making bird noises. Just got word about the next NYC mob--this Thursday. You can get info at www.cheesebikini.com.

A new fad, please. Congress has been doing this for over 200 years.

Well, it's a lot better than throwing Molotov cocktails.

LOL you guys

Hey, speaking of Flash Mobs.....they're in London now!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3134559.stm

There was something on Yahoo about one in NY, but it's gone now.

There have been several recently in Cambridge (at Harvard Coop card section), NYC (at Toys R Us), Seattle, Chicago..... They've taken place at book stores (where everyone had a coughing fit), parks, etc. I think one involved everyone in a department store having set their watch alarms to go off at 11:03 am or some such. Once in a while, someone calls the police, but they're often confused about the exact charge.

Sort of a nice break in news -- a benign absurdity instead of all the malignant ones around us.

I love stories like that, Cassandra. Nice to know there's still some genuine silliness in the world! (She says, as she listens to Jack Benny, lol)