My friend Chris Babcock has had some funny posts on facebook lately and more than a few have been related to the El Paso Times' "flash mob" event. The irony in what the El Paso Times is trying to do is quite hilarious. The complete failure to connect with a younger generation due to the fact they don't have any real access anyone in that generation that might advise them is just sad.
If you don't know what a "flash mob" is, don't be embarrassed. If you're reading this political themed blog, you probably don't sit around all day waiting for a text message telling you to go to a specific place at a specific time and start acting silly. Kids with nothing better to do participate in these "flash mobs" and they went from fun to a way to commit a crime that is impossible to stop in mere minutes. So goes the use of all social media - what starts out as "good" is always turned into "bad."
Quick digression please because I think it's important to talk about social media and the effects of it on our society.
Just look at Facebook for a minute. The intent was to connect people who know each other, but might be far away from each other. It's an easy way to check in on your friends or loved ones at your convenience. It didn't take long for the platform to become a place where people trolled for sex. Not all of the trolling was as nefarious as grown men pretending to be younger in order to lure in teens for sex. Regular guys and gals started looking up old flames to see if there was any spark left. The amount of "Facebook divorces" are increasing at an extremely rapid rate - if you believe the bevvy of divorce lawyers offering seminars on the subject. What was once full of good intent is now being used to bring out the bad.
------okay back to the "flash mob" ------------
The entire idea of a "flash mob" is that it is an organic developed call to action with little or no planning. It's a spur of the moment situation where only the people organizing the event know when, where and what is going to happen.
What the paper is doing by planning a "flash mob" is the antithesis of how the whole damn thing works. The premise is laughable! At least it's laughable to those of us who actually know what a "flash mob" is.
The El Paso Times comes off as the old square guy trying to be cool to his kids and failing at it. I think it's funny that nobody over at the Times has figured it out.
Although this "flash mob" that isn't has been an endless source of laughs for me, as well, it's actually being put on by El Paso Parks and Rec, not the Times. Though the Times still deserves blame for going along with the farce and acting like they are reporting on a "flash mob."
Posted by: Jay Koester | July 27, 2011 at 10:59 AM
It would be interesting of anyone sees any 1st Amendment issues here...I bet you wont see these rules at all parks...everything is covered but prayer.
Rules Include:
-Performance must not contain material that infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity or intellectual property.
-Performance must not include brand names or trademarks
-Performance must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous.
-Performance must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual, or promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
-Performance must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of, or contrary to the laws or regulations in the City of El Paso or the State of Texas.
-The City of El Paso or the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department is not responsible for any bodily injury or harm.
Posted by: Carl Starr | July 27, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Thank you for the clarification, David. Had no idea what this was.
Carl, stop making everything a legal issue. Enough is enough!
Posted by: Diana | July 27, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Carl you can thank our local bar association for the posted disclaimers and the loss of swings, seesaws and monkey bars from our playgrounds. Parks & Recs idea was a good one - promoting spontaneously getting out and getting active. I'm not the person who would normally participate, but it was fun. The promotion and execution was a bit awkward considering the recent use of flash mobs for criminal activity. IMHO, the Times was the wrong promotional vehicle - sadly, the target audience just doesn't read newspapers.
Posted by: dot | July 28, 2011 at 09:42 AM
sounds like to me "flash mob events" are for people who dont work or dont have shit to do.
Posted by: angry | July 28, 2011 at 10:34 AM
thanks dot, in one way I guess a true flash mob would not be sponsered, certianly not by the government and few rules and of course no disclaimer
maybe because iam getting older i dont really understand flashmobs...i understand fads and cools, to me flashmobs seem like meetup.com gone wild
the criminal aspect discussion is more interesting, flashmobs could become gangstalking
Posted by: Carl Starr | July 28, 2011 at 10:38 AM
When I think of flashmobs these come to mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
Posted by: Tim Collins | July 28, 2011 at 11:15 AM
sounds like to me "flash mob events" are for people who dont work or dont have shit to do.
Posted by: angry | July 28, 2011 at 08:34 AM
Like people who read & post things on blogs!!! ;)
Posted by: Mike Armstead | July 28, 2011 at 04:50 PM
i posted from work and during my break. what did you today ? im still at work and about to leave and responded to your post.
Posted by: angry | July 28, 2011 at 07:27 PM
Good response, Mike. "Angry" clearly needs therapy. So much anger. Tsk! Tsk!
Carl, do you work? You seem to have a lot of free time for a lot of nonsense. Go to the next Flash Mob and have fun!
Posted by: Diana | July 28, 2011 at 09:39 PM