Tuesday, March 18, 2008

FLASHMOBS

My first day of school my psychology teacher was giving his usual leture on welcoming the class to the new school year and what he expects us to do in his class. He goes off on a lot of tangents and this time he was telling the class about flashmobs. An example of a flashmob is when one person gets a group of people and dress in the target colors (red shirt with khaki pants). Then the group goes to target and spreads throughout the store, helping people or whatever. Then a horn blows or some kind of signal so that the group knows whether to freeze in place, or even just suddenly drop to the floor. If you would like to see other flashmobs that other people have done just go to youtube.com

Though i have never done a flashmob, i think it would be hilarious to go into an elevator and see how many people conform to the way a person is facing. Like when you go into an elevator face opposite of the doors, and see how many people you can get to follow your position. what would be even more funny is if you kept moving facing different ways and if the other person in the elevator does follow. I have been wanting to try this for quite some time, expecially in a casino where people are drunk and you could probably get them to do whatever you want, like persuading them into giving you money. Whatever i think i am just bored and hope everone will look up flashmobs because they are SO FUNNY.

How many people conform with society today just to fit in? i have written papers upon papers on this subject and i have come to the conclusion that everyone wants to fit in the "norm" group. Doesn't everyone want to fit into society because they don't want to be labeled as "weird"? what do you think?

3 comments:

Joseph Welch said...

I suppose in time you will not care so much about what others think or do. For most young men this happens while serving a mission and discovering that what matters most is what God, not society, thinks about your actions. Many young women come to the same understanding when leaving the workforce and/or a demanding social life to help raise a family. There is great wisdom in the challenge to be "in the world" (i.e. involved in society, politics, education) but not "of the world" (letting those involvements dictate our personal thoughts and actions).

Joseph Welch said...

Sorry if my last post seemed a little strong (more like a lecture). I just wanted to make the point that it's okay if society considers you weird. In fact, the Lord refers to his people in several scriptures as "peculiar." Just don't be afraid to stand out for the right reasons. Real friends and family will respect you for it.

Brittany said...

Wow Joseph, great insight, and I agree, but I have a slight different opinion, from my own experience. I have noticed that during junior high/early high school is when the adolescent is trying to find their identity, which causes them to conform more easily. From my own experience, being blessed with the gospel, I found meaning in life and my identity much quicker and didn't have the trouble of conforming to the "high school choices/society ways" as much as others and still don't.
But I still do see the point, that Karena uses, of standing in an elevator at a different direction. That situation doesn't necessarily bring "in the world" choices as much as confusion of how people use that specific elevator. I relate it to going to a different country with different cultures and traditions. They could all have the routine of sitting down in an elevator, when we are used to standing, we most likely would conform to their ways. So who knows if in Maine they stand at a different direction! :) But Karena I have seen this situation used on Candid Camera years ago, in the black and white era, and it was hilarious; I watched this in my psychology class also! So I have my reasonings for both conforming and not conforming, but that's just my opinion! I just love psychology. :)