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08/01/2003 Archived Entry: "Flash Mob"

I'm going to try my first flash mob experience today (what's a flash mob?) though I don't expect it to be very moblike. The east side location might limit the group -- big traffic problems usually go along with the Blue Angels, practicing at noon today, because one of the two bridges across Lake Washington gets closed during their flights.

I used to do some odd things as a member of the Seattle Cacophony Society but the "freak the mundanes" aspect wasn't the appealing part of it for me. That's the side of flash mob that doesn't grab me, when it's trying to be hip and cool, a group appearing and disappearing mysteriously, puzzling retail clerks. Our location today isn't a retail spot so we won't be dealing with that part of it.

Report: About seven or eight people showed up outside Building 34 on MS main campus. I asked Robert Scoble why he picked that location and he said it was because it's next to the executive building! I don't think they would have noticed our little group if they'd happened to look out the window -- we probably looked like we were waiting for a shuttle pickup! I met Garrett Fitzgerald face to face for the first time -- he consistently links to me and comments here. Also I met Nick Paredes (Robert's old college buddy) who got a huge blogging start when he named Kobe Bryant's alleged victim. Some of the group had lunch plans already and drifted away, but Robert, Nick, another man who has an intranet-only weblog, and I all had lunch and Garrett kept us company for a few minutes.

do you guys want in on the flash mob that is being organzied for the 12th? Email seattleflashmob@yahoo.com...you will be apprised of all the relevant info closer to the event date.
cheers.
-d

Posted by d @ 08/04/2003 01:58 PM PST

Well, maybe that's because it didn't fit the flash mob mold well. Now, if you hadn't known where you were going until immediately beforehand, and everyone had coordinated down to the minute, it would have been a different experience. (Or so I assume...)

Posted by Garrett Fitzgerald @ 08/04/2003 12:15 PM PST

I just don't get the thrill of "flash-mobbing". why not just arrange a gathering ahead of time, so people can plan for it? If you want a huge sudden crowd, you (not you specifically, Garrett) need to spread the word in a big way, lots of email contacts and so on.

Posted by Anita @ 08/01/2003 04:48 PM PST

Hey, you keep posting neat stuff, I'll keep linking. :-)

I wonder if flash-mobbing Third Place Books would work better...

Posted by Garrett Fitzgerald @ 08/01/2003 03:41 PM PST