FlashMobs

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FlashMobs are a craze of late 2003 to early 2004. The idea is an ad-hoc gathering by a group of people (who may or may not know each other) which self organises to acheive some task. Usually a fairly pointless task, often a task designed to bemuse bystanders.

Mobile communications form a vital part in forming these mobs. The speed of assembly is a vital component in the 'from nowhere' result.

Examples have been painting a wall or occupying every sofa in a furniture showroom. Also April04 had an attempt to build a SuperComputer? and have a LAN-party. (The computer was built, it worked but did not meet the goal of being among the 500 fastest in the world)

Proponents of FlashMobs say that they can be used both for fun and political manipulation.
Opponents say "No, it's just stupid, it doesn't work, the craze will die out."

So far the opponents seem to be winning in practice. --Vitenka

Another use is [Flash Mob Super Computing]. I think they should have gone for wireless laptops with the software pre-installed. Imagine an event where people just turn up at a cafe, all turn on their laptops at a set time (using battery power), and lo and behold, you break the world record for the fastest super computer. --DR

: Bearing in mind that the (expected) 1000+ computers were all to have been hooked up through 4 (presumably gigabit) switches with optical connections between them, somehow I don't think a wireless network would quite cut it... For a smaller scale operation it could be interesting though. --K

For those who can't be bothered to read the below, here's a brief summary:

A: Hey, if we get lots of people to do little things, we can get something large done!
B: No, you can't get anything large done if you only do little things, you need lots of complicated organisation to get anything large done 'cos little things don't scale well.

(repeat ad infinitum)

For some reason, this reminds MoonShadow of CreationScience debates - the ones that go "A: Hey, if lots of little changes aggregate over time, you end up with big changes! B: No, you don't. (repeat ad nauseam)"

/GuerrillaWarfareDiscussion

Worth reading some of the original stories by [LarryNiven] on Flash Crowds, and the more recent work by [HowardReingold] on Smart Mobs. --DR
SeeAlso the sequence of Doonesbury? strips [starting here]

Apparently the term I was looking for was [this] - FourthGenerationWar. It seems to have some similarities with FlashMobs, but not as many as I thought. --Vitenka

Alternatively, web-based animations of groups of people with pitchforks.

Latest variant that the media has picked up upon? Mobile clubbing. Turn up and dance to your personal stereo. Madness continues. --Vitenka

[Zombie Flash Mobs]

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