Today I discovered something new, flash mobs. From what I gather they just go to businesses and disrupt business? That's what it seems to be. They do not get permission from the businesses they disrupt, and what's worse is that children get involved. It doesn't seem like a form of protest, but just a tactic to disrupt business.

I think this should be illegal, if it's not already. Further more, I do not think children should be involved in this.

What's you thoughts on this?

Do you mean the Flash Mob dancers? I think they are fun and the ones I have heard of are usually done in public places not on business property. I admire those who can learn the dance moves over the computer and have the courage to do it in public with a bunch of strangers

Yes, that's what I mean. They don't seem fun and friendly to me. Their agenda seems to be to disrupt business illegally. They are very rude and manipulative to workers and management of the establishments they attack as well, it seems.

I haven't ever seen any of them be rude or attacking anyone...

I did.

Sorry that happened hun, the ones that happen here are for making people smile and putting a little bit of sunshine in the viewer's day.

I think they're just made to create a disturbance. Maybe they do it just because, or maybe there's another reason for it, I'm not sure.

I think there's more ethical ways of making people smile and feel good though.

just like anything, what started out to be fun, has given
some the opportunity to use it for disruptive means. we've
had small stores here "mobbed" by teens for the purpose of
filling their pockets and leaving. and they've been successful.
sad.

But was this started for fun, or was there some other agenda behind it?

When they started a few years back, they were for fun. Sucks if it is now for other reasons..

Flash mobs have nothing to do with disrupting business. That is a groups of younger teens using the pretense of the flash mob to commit acts of vandalism, theft and assault on occasion. They are usually referred to as flash robs or some such. True flash mobs are for entertainment only and quite harmless, but like a lot of things, the wrong people can easily abuse them.

IDK it just seems strange that they would create fake documentation to make it appear as though they got permission to do their dancing when clearly they did not, and when asked to leave they refuse to do so, and are rude about it.

Also, they chose to do their dance in front of the registers, disrupting business.

They they are more likely what kartagane said... a flash "rob".

Sorry it ruined your day.....

Here are a few links to good ones...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=7EYAUazLI9k


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

They are possibly protestors then. Don't ask what they are protesting because oftentimes I don't think even they know. I know several of them have hit big businesses, events and rallies in recent years protesting whatever hot topic is gong on at the moment or something of the sort.

It very possibly could have been a group that was "flash mob like" that may have some sort of agenda. IDk

dumbest fad ever!

can’t wait for someone to discover that flash mobs cause cancer or something equally life threatening...

I don't wish that on them, but it would be nice of them to refrain from such things. They should take into account that more people are going to be disturbed and disrupted by such nonsense than actually enjoy it.

Seems they may have good intentions, but the delivery is all wrong.

I meant as a deterrent, sorry, I figured it was implied...

Eileena is right. Someone started to call certain group crimes flash rob. I saw it on TV (CBS I believe) too and we were really concerned that this is going to start giving a bad rep for flash mobbers who have nothing to do with it. This is really bad journalism that confuses the public who may not even know what a flash mob is.

There are many flash mob organizations. I have been a proud member of Flash Mob America (FMA) for the last 3 years and can only tell you about my own experience. It’s a non profit organization. The organizers are extremely friendly and their main purpose is to spread joy and support meaningful and social causes or awareness to charities.

FMA functions by directly supporting organizations that are campaigning for a positive cause. They accomplish this through organizing mass gatherings and performing choreographed dances that relate to the theme of the charities or social causes. Often FMA participants will help raise funds for events through their performances by bringing attention to the campaign they are volunteering for.

Some of the causes I have supported with our performances was: the Red Cross for their disaster relief education program, Heal The Bay’s Coastal Cleanup efforts, raising funds for families of Cystic Fibrosis, the Haiti Relief, PATH, Child S.H.A.R.E in support of homeless families, and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. The very last one was a marriage proposal.

I look at it as a community service. And no, they do not just show up without making prior arrangements. Where do you think the music is coming from? It’s all arranged after permission is granted from whatever cause it is they are supporting. They do not disrupt businesses because generally they don’t go to businesses unless of course a particular business has partnered with them for whatever profit or awareness purposes.

Yes, some people don’t like them. It brings a lot of joy into my life both participating and witnessing one. I don’t find a 2 and half minute public performance that brings smiles to peoples faces disruptive. The participants put a lot of time, sweat, effort, and practice into learning the choreography.

They seem very fun and friendly! What's with the incredibly negative attitude toward flash mobs?