Up in the sky.....Melbourne gets Flash mobbed : Melbourne Indymedia

Melbourne's first flashmob occured today at 5.24pm, outside Flinders St Railway Station.

On the steps of Flinders Street Station at exactly 5.24pm about 100 people, each wearing a yellow glove, pointed skywards. Commuters looked puzzled and looked into the sky where people were pointing. There were several photographers at the event. A minute later the yellow gloves vanished and people melted away into the crowds of commuters and pedestrians, into the station or down the street.

Here is how it was organised:
Participants were instructed to pick up an item (a yellow bag) in a plastic bag outside the Melbourne
Concert Hall on Swanston Street between 5.00pm and 5.15pm. At about 5.15pm an SMS message was sent to particpants to go to the Flinders Street Station steps, under the clocks. At 5.24pm people were to wear the yellow glove, point towards sky with a curious look, and stand in silence. At 5.25pm everyone was to disperse.

For an explanation of Flash Mobbing see last message:
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2003/08/51926.php

Melbourne Flashmob email list:
Sign up by sending a blank email to: melbourne-flashmob-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Wondering what all the bloody fuss is about...as a photographer snaps the action

I'm on the Melbourne flash-mob mailing list and never got any email about the first flash-mob event. What happened?

What the fuck's the point of this.

I thought this was supposed to be protesting, now it's called "participatory urban street theatre" or does that mean the same thing??

This acheives nothing as it doesnt even point out what it's suppose to be saying or is this just away for some bored people to get attention?

Would'nt it be better these people show up somewhere to help people like the homeless or doesnt that get the attention these people desperatly seek.

Hello stupid idiot.

If you even bothered to read what Melbourne Indymewdia posted about flash mobs, you would know that they have, so far, only been apolitical.

There have been discussions on this tactic being used for protesting, to actually make a significant political point.

Well, the first point is that 'this is no protest!' You are correct in saying that there is no political point to this activity; but if injecting fun into a couple of hundred people’s lives is completely pointless to you, then just stay away!!! Get a life, love Troy and Brent.

http://www.infoshop.org/smartmobs.html

Pfft. What next? Homosexuals running down the street in pink g-strings singing "its raining men" trying to convince us of sexual equality or something?... Oh, wait...

the hilarious/terrible thing is, those criticising it will never step out of their tiny mental boxes long enough to do it, and so probably never learn how rigidly they live most or all of their lives.

Its much harder for people to imagine (1st step to creating) a different world if they've only ever lived in one 'place', one way of seeing things, only ever behaved in (for example) completely 'rational' ways.

its why they used to say travel broadened the mind, you go elsewhere & learn a new perspective, a good thing. (Unfortunately now that Planet Hollywood & 'civilised standards' are everywhere, travel merely accelerates climate change)

i'm all for doing crazy stuff to stir things up, but this is just retarded. they really couldn't come up with something better to do? what a waste of gas for all those people to get there and do something so lame.

I partitipated in this act of stupidity for the sake of studidity itself. It was a nonsence event it has no greater meaning, get off your high horses for a second, have a laugh and see this for what it is.

that there was no point to it...why are people trying to will it into anything more than it was...it was loads of fun for those involved...I'm also sure it put a grin on many onlookers faces and gave them something to chat about last night...and today...

Not everything has to be political, nor does everything have to be outstandingly inventive...it was a simple act that was very inclusive and easy for people to participate in...but I guess there are always critics...

Thanks to the organisers for a most enjoyable "THING" to do mid week...

Bring on the next one!

Perhaps a better use of these "mobs" is to ask them to pick up rubbish with those gloves.

More flashmobs pleaasseee!

Did anyone watch the ABC-TV docu on socialist-influenced terrorists earlier this week?
Poor fookers only understand violence, destruction, social chaos and disruption by any means neccesary.

Of course, art, whimsy & fun for the sheer thrill of it won't be comprehended by that tiny minority who have no creative life, no shared goals & probably don't get any action.

Chill out,get a life & learn to ENJOY living in your community.

Melbourne Flashmob, encore, please!

'What is the point?' I hear you say. To offer some thoughts on the issue.

Flash mobbing is a form of expression, of exploration. It is doing something new, that has never (or barely ever) been done before. It is something outside the box. It is silly and fun and possibly pointless but at the same time thought provoking, so doesn't that mean in essence that it MUST have a point?

Flash mobbing is akin to the dada movement of the early 20th century - a movement that has been criticised for having ‘no point’ also, but also considered by many to be thought provoking, creative and sometimes even genius.

We will probably see flash mobbing gain in popularity, and die out with a short life-cycle, like a fad. Then again, it may evolve into something more. That is the interesting thing about human evolution – some things are tried and discarded, while others are integrated into the mores and culture of society. We are constantly changing and evolving – our language, our culture, our thinking, our physiology, our societies. Flash mobbing is a poignant example of change, expression, creativity and innovation. It is people trying to actively be a part of something that is greater than themselves, in a society where the values of the self are put far above those of the greater whole.

It is also interesting to see people’s responses to it – some people see it for what it is in its most basic sense (a simple, fairly pointless act), and accept it and enjoy it. Others find the idea of it ridiculous, and because they can’t see a point and can’t understand it, they are quick to denounce the idea and attack it and those involved. To them I say, even if you don’t understand it, even if you don’t ‘agree’ with it, why can’t you simply accept it? If you believe that it should be something with more ‘point’, such as hundreds of people getting together to pick up a piece of rubbish – or why stop there – why not rubbish for an hour! – why don’t you organise it?

Unfortunately the ‘do-gooders’ always have the loudest voice of dissent, with the least amount of action to do anything different. How about, instead of sitting in your home, pointing out the faults in other people or their actions or society, get out there and lead by example. Act the way you think people should be acting. Do the things you think should be done for everyone’s benefit. Negative words breed nothing but more negative words, while positive action can change the world.

Flash mobbing – an interesting, thought provoking form of collective expression; the first tentative steps for some people to venture outside the box in a safe way. Training wheels for social change? Wait and see…

SA

The yellow gloves are symbolic of uour struggle for the truth in a capitalist dominated media .

Given that all right wing politicians talk out of their arses and you have to dig deep to find the truth , you have to start at the other end .

Thats why they are pointing up , its sybmolic of a body orifice search for the truth , the necessity for the gloves then becomes apparent .

The black clothing is to avoid being seen carrying around the stain of lies etc

Pat

In 1991 Spontaneous Choir ran its first tour of Melbourne performing on the streets, in the department stores, Flinders St Station and other venues. It involved about 50 people, mainly drawn from ConFest.

Since '91 there have been Choir tours around Melbourne. Singing can be part of the performance, but laughing and other more unusual sounds are used. Mexican waves, circles within circles, tunnels, corridors and other formations and movements add to the spectacle.

We often infiltrate a crowd at a food hall with 80 people, then start singing, then laughing, then mexican waves that include all the people there. It is hard for the public not to join in when it seems like everyone else is joining in the fun. We might form lines on both sides of the pavement in Swanston street and clap and cheer the passing pedestrians as if they are heros.

We have also had some more exciting adventures such as performing in St Pauls Cathedral, the Shrine of Rememberence, and The Crown Casino. Security will ask us to stop and leave and we stop and leave. It is hard for them to do anything else when there are 80 of us.

Sometimes we perform in Costume. 28 Clowns performed around Melbourne as part of Red Nose Day and raised money for the cause. May last year saw 18 Aliens performing.

Flash Mobbing lasts minutes while Spontaneous Choir Tours last 7 hours and have about 8 events, each lasting about 15 minutes. We do it for the fun we have with each other but also to give ordinary people something interesting to join in with or to watch.

Spontaneous Choir has run performances at the last 27 ConFest and involved 21,000 people in groups of up to 500. The next Spontaneous Choir Tour of Melbourne will be in January 2004. Send an email to be on the contact list. If enough people want to do something sooner, it can be arranged.
Regards
Peter Gleeson