"Flash Mobs" Turn Ugly

Since they first surfaced seven years ago, the "flash mob" phenomenon has swept the country, uniting large numbers of people -- often strangers -- for some moment of togetherness.

Today, word gets out about these impromptu gatherings through Facebook, Twitter and text messages. Then people gather, often in a well-trafficked, public area and do something together, whether it's dancing to a Beyonce song or for a snowball fight.

However, recent flash mob incidents have led some to ask -- Are these mobs a social phenomenon or simply a public menace?

As CBS News correspondent Manuel Gallegus reported, flash mobs have turned ugly. In Philadelphia last Saturday night, a flash mob turned violent, leading to several fights and an assault on a police officer. Several people were arrested. Gallegus added this is the fifth rowdy flash mob in that city in a year.

Click on the video below for Gallegus' full report.


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[realtvcritics]

This is why I moved from Philadelphia and suggest that anyone with any sense do the same thing. Philadelphia is nothing more that a ghetto fabulous city with thugs all over town and I have admit that they are 100% African American. You have to agree with the Mayor and what he said at that church on Sunday. This is an African American issue and you can bet the cops in that town are gonna come down seriously hard on these thugs.

To have people getting beat up at 15th and Walnut street is close to being pathetic. A pathetic city that needs some real butt kicking, show no mercy action. Or this will spread.

I say this to all people who miss Frank Rizzo. Miss him now?

[rightbehind]

Make it mandatory prison if harm or a fight breaks out and it can be tracked to the Internet.

[zibulki]

Don't people have anything better to do than type comments on websites. oh wait...

[RoboBlogger]

If they show up and they get hurt they should get an extra charge for stupidity. And, charge their parents too for lack of control. That'll deter them for sure when you throw everyone underneath the bus.

[porcine_aviator]

What's the problem?

Next time, just have the flash mob meet up at the prison gates. It would save a lot of time, since that's where these worthless little $hits are headed anyway.

I think it's high time we created our own version of the Foreign Legion. We have millions of criminal morons who desperately need to become cannon fodder in the fight against Al Qaeda. If they fight and achieve victory, great. If 100,000 of them are blown to bits, who cares. Human trash should be put to work fighting human trash.