Clarion
Flash mobs: not that badThursday, June 07, 2012 By Elizabeth Fields
On Friday, April 13, Lloyd Center’s Nordstrom was invaded by a flash mob of teens that proceeded to steal stuff from the popular store. This is the second time that this store has been hit. It used to be that flash mobs were just about singing and dancing in large group. Now they’ve escalated to performing acts of crime. Flash mobs are defined as “a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression” (Oxford Dictionary). They have become very popular thanks to movies like “Friends with Benefits” and Ellen DeGeneres who featured one on her show. Everyone does it from adults to high school students. When flash mobs first became popular, they were usually large groups performing something zany for the entertainment of others. Now that the fad has turned sour, people are starting to think banning the whole concept would be a good idea. The Cleveland City Council in Ohio has decided to do just that, banning any kind of flash mob that could turn into a riot. This new law wouldn't be necessary if flash mobs weren't used as an excuse to steal stuff or harm anyone. Every week, there’s news of a new flash mob that someone organized that brought smiles to people’s faces. Many Cleveland students have even been a part of one. It’s a great way to bring together a bunch of people who would usually never interact with one another. Taking away that kind of get together by banning it would ruin this new found dynamic. |