The Exponent - Purdue's Student Newspaper

For those who didn't witness the event and haven't heard about it, at 1:25 p.m. a whistle was blown prompting approximately 100 students to rush in, bowing and praising the fountain for one minute. Then, the whistle blew again, and the bizarre spectacle ended just as quickly as it began.

Watch it at: www.collegehumor.com/video:1777413.

The event was actually a classic example of a flash mob. Participants were recruited through electronic media to show up at a specific time as part of an instantaneous crowd to perform an odd act.

A quick search on youtube.com will reveal that flash mobs have been popping up on college campuses and elsewhere across the world.

A random ninja battle breaks out on the campus of University of California-Berkeley. A massive pillow fight ensues on a sidewalk in Birmingham, England. Hundreds of people gather to chase unsuspecting passers-by down a Japanese street.

So, despite what it might have seemed, Purdue's mob was not actually an instance of wide-scale hypnosis. However, maybe mind control isn't such a bad name for it.

Step back and consider how absurd some of these activities are. What makes a person agree to do something so seemingly insane? Flash mobs can be shocking, amusing and fun, but why do people feel inclined to participate?

There are a few possible justifiable reasons. Flash mobs in themselves have the potential to make a strong statement about society. One purpose could be to make a random witness question his perspective on reality and society. Another purpose could be to simply make a comment on societal conformity.

But aside from the coordinators of a flash mob, it seems doubtful that many of the people who show up for it would have a deeper reason. If asked, most of the flash mob members would probably say they were bored or they just thought it would be funny.

Admittedly, mind control is probably a harsh description for something that is for the most part completely innocent. Flash mobs are far from menacing to society, and there isn't really much that's dangerous about them. But if people can be convinced to do something as outrageous as bowing to a fountain and chanting its praises without giving them any reasonable purpose, what else can they be convinced to do?

History has plenty of examples of people being easily controlled toward a much darker end than confusing witnesses and having an amusing Internet video to show for it.

Thomas Nolan is a junior in the College of Engineering. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas.nolan@purdueexponent.org.