What is a Flash Mob?

flash mob -noun:

• a group of people coordinated by email to meet to perform some predetermined action at a particular place and time and then disperse quickly
• a group of people who organize on the Internet and then quickly assemble in a public place, do something bizarre, and disperse; also called inexplicable mob

In a traditional sense of the term, which goes back to 2003, a flash mob is a group of people with a coordinated, pre-planned action in a public place.  Flash mobs are generalled communicated by social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, or by text messaging.  The large group gathers, seemingly out of nowhere, to do a seemingly bizzare or comedic act or performance.  The group then disperses quickly and acts as if nothing happened.

Here are a few of my favorites from around the world:

Frozen Grand Central Station, New York City0

Hammer Time, Los Angeles

ATM Applause – University of California Davis

Safety Dance – Denver

Chanukah – Jerusalem, Israel