Flash Mob Loots 7-11, In America

From the timing, it's probably inspired by the Twitter-organized criminality in London.

The flash mob does not act violently, but instead smiles and laughs as it steals from the 7-11.

One thing about that "not violently" -- it is often claimed that thieves or vandals are not acting violently when they direct their mayhem against property.

But violence is implicit here: What is the point of a mob but to tell the property owner, "If you attempt to stop us, we have the numbers to beat you savagely"?

That threat is always present, and of course why bandits have long grouped together.

The shop worker here did not act to stop the thieves, but stayed behind the cashier desk in safety. That is the whole point of mob action -- intimidation.

The only upside of this is that, assuming they used Twitter to organize the mob-loot, there should be some record to pursue.

A polls says that 48% expect spending cuts to lead to violence -- but we've had no real spending cuts yet (quite the opposite, given Obama's 2 1/2 year spending spree) and yet we already have growing disorder.

Crime is not a "response to inequality." It is a response to the opportunity to commit crime, and the likely prospects of gain without penalty (or a penalty so lenient it is barely worthy of the name). It always has been.

Not Inspired By London? Taylork rebuts:

I don't know about that. These things have been going on in Philadelphia for a few years now.

Ah, well. Good point then. I didn't know that.

But still, when something gets world media exposure... After all, I hadn't heard of this; I guess the media mostly suppressed it, something that wasn't possible when London burned.

posted by Ace at 01:01 PM

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