Cathy lives in London, originates from the USA and has lived in Israel. I look forward to her insights. Here's a post on a London flash mob. She points out that my spelling is mid atlantic which I hadn't noticed before. Blame the blogger spell checker that used to know UK English but seems to have forgotten.
I arrived at the at the appointed time of 1810 at the designated venue for "Cancer and Scorpio": the trendy Soho bar The Edge. Mobsters with other starsigns congregated in other designated hostelries nearby, A dry and warm evening meant many of us mobsters didn't have to wait inside a smoky crowded room.
What could have been an ordinary Thursday evening scene (so to speak) in Soho Square started looking a bit not so ordinary by the time a larger crowd had gathered, many holding books and not holding drinks and looking like they were waiting for something. Passer-by: 'what's all this then?'.
The arrival of a film crew - flash mobs are still making news or have they gone too well-known?.
At 1824 one of the crowd started handing out business card-sized papers with instructions for the mob: "Helluo librorum" a bookswap mob in Soho Square from 1830-1845 precisely..
"Choose a location from the map.[Science fiction, romance, fiction, non-fiction and, drolly, a Harry Potter area just opposite publisher Bloomsbury's offices]. Swap a book with a stranger and as you swap, sustain a smile for 3 seconds. As you see a book swapping taking place, applaud their kindness. If you hear applause, applaud...Leave at 1845 and please pay a compliment to two complete strangers. Return to your life and wait for mob no 4." .
At 1829 people surged into the square and shortly afterwards the first rounds of applause signaled the flashmob had begun..
The organizers were a little optimistic as the flashmob did not fill the entire square, but concentrated in the southwest corner. Swapping took place across genres (fortunately!). The fun was that most swapping was indiscriminate eg you didn't look at the title and ask to swap you just went up to someone and swapped. Mobsters were busy swapping and taking pictures of each other swapping.Journalists interviewed mobsters (me included). Film crews filmed. Fun and just a little self-consciousness abounded..
Waves and waves of smiling, cheers and applause continued. Within the flashmob were tourists and passers-by who were asking what it was all about. One know-all said insistently to his companion that it was a book launch. Outside the square people looked on with various expressions of interest, puzzlement or in true London style simply went about their business ignoring what was going on. Action started flagging by 1840 (perhaps 15 minutes was a bit too long for a flashmob!) and at 1845 the flashmob quickly left the square and dispersed. The air filled with interesting compliments such as 'nice bag' 'I love your shoes' 'that's a great suit' 'you have a wonderful smile'..
Some books were left behind on the benches, bookcrossing style..
Some say that flashmobs are becoming passe. Next thing may be emobs. Check this out.I hope this will not involve anything badeg spamming or denial of service attacks..
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