Freeker Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's become a case of mob rule in New York. A growing flash mob craze -- when crowds organized by e-mail turn up in unexpected places -- brought a mob late on Thursday to the flagship Times Square store of Toys "R" Us, where a giant dinosaur roars menacingly at customers. The mob of some 300 people gazed at the dinosaur, as if transfixed, then fell to the floor screaming and waving their hands in the air. As store staff hurried to call security, the mob dispersed as quickly as it gathered. The flash mob was the sixth in New York and the latest in a string that has popped up around the globe. Organized by e-mail, recipients are invited to arrive at a certain place, at a certain time, and receive instructions for a particular mobbing event. On Thursday evening in London, Britain's first flash mob -- a crowd of more than 200 people -- marched to a furniture store selling sofas with instructions to make mobile phone calls in which they praised the merchandise. The New York-based Mob Project started in June with a man named Bill who sent an e-mail to some friends. Since then, it has spread across the nation and to many cities in Europe. Europe's first flash mob hit Rome last month when a group gathered at a bookshop and peppered staff with queries about nonexistent books. At Toys "R" Us in New York, Maria Peters, a tourist from Texas, said: "They just picked me up off the street and gave me directions. "It was just like a big mind game," she said. Other New York sites that have been mobbed are Central Park, where the crowd tweeted like birds and crowed like roosters, and a Hyatt Hotel, where the mob burst into applause. Organizers like to remain anonymous but say the fun of the flash mob is its absurdist, inexplicable nature. However the flash mob could just be a flash in the pan, they say. A man who seemed suspiciously like an organizer and gave an obviously false name said after the Toys "R" Us event: "Unfortunately all the media coverage, it's going to just destroy the cachet sooner or later. "You can imagine that the next one or two ... people are not going think its cool, it's not really a happening, it's a media event," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 Yeah, a couple days ago. hmmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 We should so do something!!! it could be great!! like go to yonge and Dundas..or "nathen phillip square" and make a line...so you're all standing in line for nothing...and when people ask "what are you standing in line for?" don't answer...or just say "don't you know??" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 My buddy in NY was involved with that. He gave me some info about a flash mob happening in Ottawa soon. More details to follow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry jr. Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 I'm going to beat Low Roller to it, and post the Ottawa Flash Mob details, because it's coming up soon, thought I doubt I will be participating: http://ottawa.indymedia.ca/2003/08/3083.shtml THE FLASH MOB IS COMING TO OTTAWA. These are your instructions. QUACK. 1. Your a duck for this flash mob. BE THE DUCK, but don't dress like one. You start being the duck a 7:13pm, you stop being the duck when the mob disperses. 2. On Tuesday August 12th at 7:13pm (syncronize you watches at http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~nglover/hex.html) meet in front of the Chapters along Rideau St. At exactly 7:17pm proceed to the front entrance of the Chateau Laurier, and proceed to the lobby. 3. Once in the lobby, make duck sounds and act like a duck until EXACTLY 7:25pm. 4. At EXACTLY 7:25pm chant in your best duck voice: "I'll be checking out now, I really enjoyed my stay." 5. After the chant you leave, escape from nature. 6. See ottawa.indymedia.ca for future flashmob instructions. Other notes. a) The organizers will answer 47 questions in relation to the first Ottawa Flash Mob, email at ottawaflashmob@flashmail.com Don't be a chicken, be a duck. Tell everyone you now about the flashmob and come out to it. It'll be fun. c) All ages are welcome. d) The media is welcome at the flashmob, try not to engage the flashmob when it is duck form - we wouldn't want to disturb nature. If you send questions, remember to share the 47 questions. e) This flashmob happens rain or shine - does the weather affect the duck? STOP.ENDOFINSTRUCTIONS.SEEYOUONTUESDAYAUGUST12.713.CHAPTERSONRIDEAU.DONTBEACHICKEN.BEADUCK.QUACKQUACKQUACK Email ottawaflashmob@flashmail.com Web http://chessebikini.com Street address Salt St. Ottawa, Ont Telephone (613) 862 7258 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by larry jr.: I'm going to beat Low Roller to it, and post the Ottawa Flash Mob detailsWord travels fast I see... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwa. Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 OK. for the Chatham Flash Mob....everyone continue doing what you are doing. Craaaazzzzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted August 13, 2003 Report Share Posted August 13, 2003 quote:Originally posted by larry jr.: I'm going to beat Low Roller to it, and post the Ottawa Flash Mob details, because it's coming up soon, thought I doubt I will be participating: Did this thing happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted August 13, 2003 Report Share Posted August 13, 2003 Apparently it did, and the turnout was really weak. What made it worse is that the flash mob was advertised on CBC radio, and the cameras were there to record the whole non-event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyRage Posted August 13, 2003 Report Share Posted August 13, 2003 This one time, like five years ago, I was in a flash mob, but no one else showed up and they took me away and strpped electrodes to me and zapped the crap out of me and now I'm all better and have no desire to do anything anti-social or misfit-like again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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