Human DOS

"Flash mobs" interest me conceptually. I haven't looked into finding out how to join one, and I don't plan to.

From recent posts to Interesting People, a new-to-me way to think about them:

"Flash Mob" enables human DOS attack

For example, you could arrange a crowd to obstruct a tour or presentation of a retail premises. The participants need not be told that they were interfering with anything important. I am reminded of hackers who plant hostile code in large numbers of networked computers, all programmed to send requests to the same address at the same time; the Denial Of Service attack.

Plus a report (with photos) from a participant in a recent Dublin flash mob.

Wild predictions:

• Like so many modern phrases, "flash mob" will lose its "scare quotes". When? By one year from now (in plenty of time for people to be talking about them in the same breath as the 2004 political conventions).
• Eventually, it will always appear as one word (flashmob) as it becomes a more commonplace occurrence. (Right now, flash+mob beats flashmob in Google by 3 to 1.)
• Like 'weblog'->'blog', some goof will try to shorten the term to one syllable like 'flob' or 'shmob'. Also like 'blog', the new term will die a quick death be a term that many use as both noun and verb, though purists will cling to the longer, clearer term. (I expect 'shmob'.)
• Despite their current lighthearted-prank nature, shmobs will be used by some bad people to do bad things, some violent.
• Some shmobs may also unwittingly assemble to have violence done to them by the organizers.

So: shmob carefully.     6 comment(s)  

Hahahaha! Shmobs!

I like the idea of flash mobs, too. I'm too lazy to actually get off my butt and join one, but I'll be with whomever in spirit! ;-)

Hey, btw, everyone in the DC metro region -- be sure to attend the upcoming Shmob on August 23rd in Falls Church, Virginia.
      ...posted by Medley (aka Mrs. NowThis) on August 10, 2003 10:43 PM

I dig the whole concept of flashmobs. The idea of random people getting together for no apparent reason other than a need to be abstract. Assuming they know why they are there at all...

Hmmm....I wonder how hard it would be to start one of my own?
      ...posted by Neil on August 12, 2003 12:25 AM

I'm still waiting for the naked swim suit issue model flash mob to happen.
      ...posted by Bobby on August 13, 2003 12:33 PM

I'm fascinated by the flash mob phenomena -- from a group dynamics perspective, the interactions among mob members is really intriguing. There's a really good dissertation here just waiting to be written.
      ...posted by katxena on August 13, 2003 2:02 PM

I'm with Katxena. There is really something very interesting going on here. Just thinking about or reading about these flash mob things makes me smile a little. I think they touch something deep, although it's not clear exactly what.
      ...posted by Medley (aka Mrs. NowThis) on August 13, 2003 2:08 PM

I'm fascinated by the flash mob phenomena too, but how to sign up to be emailed about being informed about the next meeting place or who do I email/inform if I find something out??? Like... where's the actual "info website?" How do I join? Somebody help me because I wanna "drop to my knees at 7:20, staring at a dinosaur. Whenever it roars, moan and cower behind out-stretched hands. At 7:24 disperese." Somebody w/b. Email me plz!
      ...posted by Becca on August 16, 2003 12:49 AM

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 Gregory Hines

Damn: Gregory Hines Dead At 57 [CBS News]

Gregory Hines, the greatest tap dancer of his generation who also transcended the stage with successful film and television roles, has died at 57.

Hines died Saturday in Los Angeles of cancer, publicist Allen Eichorn said Sunday.

    2 comment(s)  

Damn is right. I've yet to see mentioned that he voiced the father in Little Bill on Nick Jr., a show started by Bill Cosby (can you tell I have a 3 year old?). Wonder what they will do now. I saw White Nights again recently. It's a guilty pleasure. I love that move. Oh damn. Now I have Lionel Ritchie stuck in my head.
      ...posted by Andy Affleck on August 10, 2003 11:49 PM

Helps if I spell my own url right.
      ...posted by Andy Affleck on August 10, 2003 11:49 PM

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