7/30/2003: Net-organized mob silliness

Undertoad · 07-30-2003, 11:42 AM

It started out as a fun idea, now it's been picked up by Reuters and all the cool kids are doing it. It's MOB, or "the mob project".

Apparently it started with messages like this, in which anonymous web readers are encouraged to meet, at an exact time, and follow the directions of a pseudo-leader to create some sort of bizarre "flash mob".

The image above was a shot of the fifth such event. In this one, NYCers were told to perch in Central Park near the American Museum of Natural History and make bird sounds.

How quickly the web culture moves: although it looks like the first example of this project was done in June, already there's a web site for similar things in a city near you.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-30-2003, 12:41 PM

Sounds like a good way to sell drinks or bread or promote your casino/business. Just what in hell is a "truckers hat"?

Elspode · 07-30-2003, 12:43 PM

Uhh...this is actually kind of cool, in a pointless, frivolous sort of way.

99 44/100% pure · 07-30-2003, 01:15 PM

"Mommy, how did you and Daddy meet?"

"Well, dear, we were at Grand Central Station, building a tower out of bagels . . ."

DNK · 07-30-2003, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Just what in hell is a "truckers hat"?

A trucker hat is a ball cap that has mesh as the back half. Here's a pic...

GBA

DNK

glatt · 07-30-2003, 02:05 PM

Lemmings.

The participants have no idea why they are doing this. They think it's all good clean fun now, but what if these are just dry runs before the anonymous organizers use them for some evil plan? They would make the perfect distraction while a crime is committed.

Even if it isn't an evil plan, it's just a matter of time before rowdy people start getting involved and causing problems. Like the stone throwers at peace marches.

Happy Monkey · 07-30-2003, 02:39 PM

Every "new" idea can be used by criminals... The human race is doomed.

Bitman · 07-30-2003, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by glatt
Like the stone throwers at peace marches.

Nah, I think water balloons would be much more fun.

Guey · 07-31-2003, 10:23 AM

Mouth Breathers anoynamous

warch · 07-31-2003, 11:23 AM

There is an absurd espionage quality that's fun to see. I am reminded of sheep poetry plans.

Griff · 07-31-2003, 11:30 AM

Sheep Poetrywas a great step forward in Oggs development.

headsplice · 07-31-2003, 01:31 PM

Why would you do this? Well, why not? This reminds me of my bygone days of youth marching up and down the aisles of Kroger singing the Spam Song and then leaving the grocery store.
Absurdity for absurdity's sake is sometimes not pointless at all (dada-ism anyone?).
Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean you should mock it. *coughgueyglattcough*

07-31-2003, 01:35 PM

Sorry? No Prize THIS Time? Please KEEP TRYING? AuuugGuUgUhU HhEHHH!

warch · 07-31-2003, 01:53 PM

Hey, I remember WANGO TANGO!

glatt · 08-01-2003, 08:13 AM

Some random person on the web says "go to the park and make bird noises" and so you do? Yes. I'll freely mock anyone that does that.

Headsplice, I admit that I don't fully understand it, but that's not why I mock it. I mock it because the participants don't even understand it. A clearer example of lemmings would be hard to find. While the lemmings do appear to be having fun, that doesn't change their lemming status.

I somewhat admire the person(s) who are organizing this. If they can get this many people to blindly follow them, they are going to go places in this world.

07-30-2003, 11:42 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	7/30/2003: Net-organized mob silliness It started out as a fun idea, now it's been picked up by Reuters and all the cool kids are doing it. It's MOB, or "the mob project". Apparently it started with messages like this, in which anonymous web readers are encouraged to meet, at an exact time, and follow the directions of a pseudo-leader to create some sort of bizarre "flash mob". The image above was a shot of the fifth such event. In this one, NYCers were told to perch in Central Park near the American Museum of Natural History and make bird sounds. How quickly the web culture moves: although it looks like the first example of this project was done in June, already there's a web site for similar things in a city near you.

07-30-2003, 12:41 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Sounds like a good way to sell drinks or bread or promote your casino/business. Just what in hell is a "truckers hat"? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-30-2003, 12:43 PM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Uhh...this is actually kind of cool, in a pointless, frivolous sort of way. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

07-30-2003, 01:15 PM	#4
99 44/100% pure Infrequently Astonished Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Baltimore metro area Posts: 324	"Mommy, how did you and Daddy meet?" "Well, dear, we were at Grand Central Station, building a tower out of bagels . . ." __________________ Overcompensating for the 0.56% that is irredeemably corrupted.

07-30-2003, 02:39 PM	#7
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Weep for the future Every "new" idea can be used by criminals... The human race is doomed. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

07-30-2003, 02:05 PM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Lemmings. The participants have no idea why they are doing this. They think it's all good clean fun now, but what if these are just dry runs before the anonymous organizers use them for some evil plan? They would make the perfect distraction while a crime is committed. Even if it isn't an evil plan, it's just a matter of time before rowdy people start getting involved and causing problems. Like the stone throwers at peace marches.

07-31-2003, 10:23 AM	#9
Guey Writer of Writings Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 14	Mouth Breathers anoynamous

07-31-2003, 11:23 AM	#10
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	There is an absurd espionage quality that's fun to see. I am reminded of sheep poetry plans.

07-31-2003, 11:30 AM	#11
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Sheep Poetrywas a great step forward in Oggs development. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

07-31-2003, 01:31 PM	#12
headsplice Relaxed Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 676	Baaaaaa..... Why would you do this? Well, why not? This reminds me of my bygone days of youth marching up and down the aisles of Kroger singing the Spam Song and then leaving the grocery store. Absurdity for absurdity's sake is sometimes not pointless at all (dada-ism anyone?). Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean you should mock it. coughgueyglattcough __________________ Don't Panic

07-31-2003, 01:35 PM	#13
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Sorry? No Prize THIS Time? Please KEEP TRYING? AuuugGuUgUhU HhEHHH!

07-31-2003, 01:53 PM	#14
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Hey, I remember WANGO TANGO!

08-01-2003, 08:13 AM	#15
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Some random person on the web says "go to the park and make bird noises" and so you do? Yes. I'll freely mock anyone that does that. Headsplice, I admit that I don't fully understand it, but that's not why I mock it. I mock it because the participants don't even understand it. A clearer example of lemmings would be hard to find. While the lemmings do appear to be having fun, that doesn't change their lemming status. I somewhat admire the person(s) who are organizing this. If they can get this many people to blindly follow them, they are going to go places in this world.

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