How To Smart Mob
- December 1, 2008
- 20,098 Views
Writer
BCipolla
Voice Over Artist
Liv Rooth
Music (track 1)
The Way It Is
Music (track 2)
James Panepinto
Music (track 3)
Todd Mazierski
Music (track 4)
Edison Music Corp
Actor
jessicaminhas
Want to get a point across in a very big way? Organize a smart mob—a group of people who mobilize on short notice to perform a collective action. For more information on social movements, go to www.movements.org
You Will Need
- A plan
- A cell phone
- A computer with an internet connection
- Contacts
- A still or video camera
Be aware of local laws and regulations regarding large gatherings. A smart mob could be illegal in certain instances.
Step 1: Clarify your goal
Determine your overall goal. Do you want to raise awareness about a social issue? Protest a political decision? Organize an art performance? Clarify what you want to achieve.
Step 2: Decide on the event
Figure out the specific act that will help achieve your goal. The key is that everyone participates together at the same exact moment.
You can physically gather at a set location, or simultaneously perform the same act from different places.
Step 3: Prepare
Make sure you’re prepared: Scope out your location, get contact information for the people you plan to invite, and set up a group list on your phone, so you can text everyone by hitting just one button.
You can also organize a smart mob through a social networking or microblogging site. There are even web sites dedicated to creating and maintaining group lists.
Step 4: Set the date
Set the date and time for the smart mob, and roughly calculate how long it will take for participants to reach the location. You may want to alert people to the date ahead of time, but keep all other information secret.
Smart mobs can be especially effective in places that discourage free assembly. By the time anyone who would want to stop you finds out, your group has already gathered.
Step 5: Keep the message short
The key to a smart mob lies in its lightning-fast execution and mass distribution. Don’t write a dissertation—text messages are generally limited to 160 characters—and encourage people to forward the message along.
Step 6: Contact the media
If you want to publicize your smart mob’s actions, contact the media just before the smart mob swarms, and don’t include many details to keep an element of surprise.
If you photograph or videotape the event, you can also publicize it after the fact.
Step 7: Head to the location
Hit send! Now head to your smart mob location.
Step 8: Perform the action and leave
Perform the collective action. Disperse calmly and quietly. Success!
In 2001, Filipinos responded to forwarded text messages by gathering in a Manila plaza. The demonstration helped bring down the government of President Joseph Estrada.
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Comments (7)
Makes me want to organize something!
over 3 years ago by BCipolla
very cool this video.
over 3 years ago by Nadja_Pereira
Let's band together to stop the violence in this world!!!
over 3 years ago by Michelle
freedom to assemble FTW!
over 3 years ago by Kevin_Roberts
yeah really very good
over 3 years ago by Mohamed_Ainab
awesome final shot pulling back to reveal people in world shape. well done.
over 2 years ago by dogtide
Also makes me want to organize something, how 'bout a big ";smart"; circle jerk mob to stop violence and end hunger and poverty and suffering and paper cuts and anal fisers around the world? Remember boys and girls if you add the word smart before any word to describe an activity for a cause, that makes it just peachy. Don't forget kids the ends always justify the means when it makes you feel good... Yeaa!!
over 3 years ago by deckard1
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