For flash mobsters, crowd size a tempting cover

Associated Press/Yahoo ^ | 8/9/11 | ERIC TUCKER and THOMAS WATKINS

[markomalley]

The July 4 fireworks display in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights was anything but a family affair.

As many as 1,000 teenagers, mobilized through social networking sites, turned out and soon started fighting and disrupting the event.

Thanks to social networks like Twitter and Facebook, more and more so-called flash mobs are materializing across the globe, leaving police scrambling to keep tabs on the spontaneous assemblies.

"They're gathering with an intent behind it — not just to enjoy the event," Shaker Heights Police Chief D. Scott Lee said. "All too often, some of the intent is malicious."

Flash mobs started off in 2003 as peaceful and often humorous acts of public performance, such as mass dance routines or street pillow fights. But in recent years, the term has taken a darker twist as criminals exploit the anonymity of crowds, using social networking to coordinate everything from robberies to fights to general chaos.

In London, recent rioting and looting has been blamed in part on groups of youths using Twitter, mobile phone text messages and instant messaging on BlackBerry to organize and keep a step ahead of police.

And Sunday in Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter condemned the behavior of teenagers involved in flash mobs that have left several people injured in recent weeks.

"What is making this unique today is the social media aspect," said Everett Gillison, Philadelphia's deputy mayor for public safety. "They can communicate and congregate at a moment's notice. That can overwhelm any municipality."

A Philadelphia man was assaulted by a group of about 30 people who were believed to have gotten together through Twitter. In 2009, crowds swelled along the trendy South Street shopping district and assaulted several people.

[bikerman]

social networking sites, turned out and soon started fighting and disrupting the event

What we need is a gun toting event for them to disrupt. That would clear out a few of them.

[Rumplemeyer]

I wonder why none of this has happened in Texas?

[GonzoGOP]

"What is making this unique today is the social media aspect," said Everett Gillison, Philadelphia's deputy mayor for public safety. "They can communicate and congregate at a moment's notice. That can overwhelm any municipality."

A solution that would allow one or two cops to quickly break up a flash mob.

Large crowd = large target. Once the thugs grasp that concept they might become less tempted to show up. Take the fun out of it.

[MrB]

Nice job avoiding the elephant in the room with regard to “flash mobs”, yahoo....

[Psalm 73]

Just one more reason to carry.
(Sure, you can't knock down all 1,000 - but you only have to take out one or two....)

[ThirdMate]

One riot, one Ranger.

[GonzoGOP]

I wonder why none of this has happened in Texas?

Well there is the obvious reason. But then there is the fact that most Texans rather like their state and don't consider trashing the place a good idea. Up here in Obamaland the natives tend to burn down their own neighborhoods as a kind of sport. Got real close on Memorial Day before Mayor for Life Rham closed the beaches.

[capt. norm]

Wait 'til all those welfare cell phones hit the streets!

[rtbwood]

America is headed for just what London is experiencing right now. Very soon, when it becomes apparent that BO will NOT be re-elected, the black population thugs will form into flash mobs all over the cities and they will burn them down. Be prepared for this. It’s coming sooner rather than later.

[Boardwalk]

We need to put a real black man up against 0bama then.

[ncpatriot]

there are very good Black people in America.

[Buckeye McFrog]

if that happens they will be Unfriended.....with extreme prejudice!

[bikerman]

Lock and Load.

[PapaBear3625]

The cops have always been outnumbered. The only advantage that police have had, has been superior communications and organization that allowed a cops to swarm incidents to create a localized numerical superiority.

Have enough incidents happen at the same time, and their advantages evaporate.

[PapaBear3625]

Very soon, when it becomes apparent that BO will NOT be re-elected, the black population thugs will form into flash mobs all over the cities and they will burn them down.

Also consider the possibility that flash mobs will attempt to disrupt voting in Republican precincts, and suppress Republican turnout. How would the average community respond to flash mobs torching voting places in Republican areas? Or making white voters uncomfortable with the idea of going to the polls in key swing states?

[FrogMom]

You mean like having the Black Panthers stand outside with truncheons... Oh wait.

But, they won’t be prosecuted, so why not!

Cripes, we are going to need armed escorts to vote.

[Ghengis]

Just one more reason to carry.
(Sure, you can't knock down all 1,000 - but you only have to take out one or two....)

I think it wise to regularly be armed with a good semi-auto and a couple of extra hi-cap mags. I have seen this spontaneous (and quickly organized) mob mentality spring up more than once. It would not take much for a rowdy mob to turn into a mob that results in multiple innocent serious injuries or deaths. Be prepared to fight your way to a safer place and hold ground if needed.

I wish the debate that I had with another Freeper on this subject had not been pulled due to his abusive posts. Well, it wasn't really a debate. I posted that I routinely carried a handgun and hi-cap mags and he threw insults my way for a couple of days until the thread was pulled. Anyways -- after reading the news stories on these flash mobs -- he'd be forced to reevaluate his position if he was honest with himself.

[The Theophilus]

Republican turnout. How would the average community respond to flash mobs torching voting places in Republican areas? Or making white voters uncomfortable with the idea of going to the polls in key swing states?

Then we deserve to live in a third world toilet. Don't you remember the purple fingers of the voters in Iraq? Do you think there was a bit of intimidation going on there? Are we Americans that far gone?

If so, then perhaps we need to have the few remaining men of action in this country form security escorts in these otherwise No-Go zones. Something to bring up at the next Freedom Works meeting.

[Psalm 73]

Understand.
I was wondering, too, if some of us who live in suburban areas know which neighbors they could count on to provide "fire-support" if a mob should travel out to the 'burbs.
I know the two houses across the street from me would, so we at least have a three-house block for inter-locking fire-support.
Kind of sad that we have to think like that now......