Flash Mobs--- Should They Be Used In Direct Action?

[Rakhmetov]

We have all heard the saying there is safety in numbers. But are flash mobs practical in many situations?? I remember I saw a video once of a flash mob of "illegal immigrants" who just flooded a border check point and overran the border patrol who could not do anything because they were overwhelmed.



http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/06/26/news/doc4e0696aaf127f552097776.txt?nstrack=sid:3501255| met:300|cat:0|order:1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_j6Zv9GHHg&playnext=1&list=PLDE81050985862CBD

[Mr. Cervantes]

If it works......

[Hit The North]

Anti-cuts organisation UKuncut have been using flash mobs to some effect in their campaign to highlight capitalist tax dodgers.

[ellipsis]

I wouldn't call immigrants flooding border check points a flash mob... although it is very similar.

Pretty useful tactic potentially because if you gather to rally to march or do whatever, the cops are on you in numbers pretty quick, at least one unit who can relay info to dispatch. If you all just show up at the action sight, you buy yourself more time before the cops come. Flash mobs are not infallible and would require a lot of pre-planning, which in turn would require an pre-organized group of dedicated comrades.

Edit: MOVED to Practice and Propaganda.

[Os Cangaceiros]

They did it back in Italy in the 70's...they called it "proletarian shopping". ;)

[Ele'ill]

I don't think 'flash mobs' is an actual tactic. I think 'large numbers of people quickly working together to accomplish a common goal' is though. I'd have to say a lot of tactics could use a bit of speeding up.

[jake williams]

I don't think 'flash mobs' is an actual tactic.
The whole concept of the "flash mob" was basically invented as a satire on the superficiality of the modern "movement", the new- new-left as it were. That it's been thus played into, largely unconsciously but occasionally consciously, is pretty embarassing.

I'm skeptical of the concept of "direct action" for somewhat similar reasons. The term is almost universally used to refer to actions which are entirely symbolic and have no direct effects. The tactics that typically fall under the banner of "direct action" might sometimes be useful, but they're not direct.

[Agent Ducky]

I always thought of flash mobs as groups of people who end up all simultaneously dancing or something. Lol. But I suppose you could use it for protest purposes.....

[Landsharks eat metal]

I always thought of flash mobs as groups of people who end up all simultaneously dancing or something. Lol. But I suppose you could use it for protest purposes.....
That's what I thought. Then I saw some sensationalist news story about how that's the newest form of organized crime or something. I think it may be doable for limited purposes.

[Bardo]

That's what I thought. Then I saw some sensationalist news story about how that's the newest form of organized crime or something. I think it may be doable for limited purposes.

Strange...

The exact same time I opened this thread a story about flash mob shoplifters came on the local news.

[Decolonize The Left]

Flash mobs are effective because they dominate the timing of any engagement. By controlling when things happen, they effectively gain the upper hand as they have the element of surprise on their side.
Hence so long as the event is well-planned and those involved committed and trustworthy, the flash mod style of action is very effective in achieving small, specified goal.

- August