Reading the news today on a popular news website informed me about a new trend taking place. Youths (preteens/teens/young adults) are using technology and social media sites to organize random flash mobs to come together to arrange opportunities for things that gain momentum and attention. Some of those flash mobs are doing good things such as community volunteerism or fun things such as pillow fights or attention seeking amusements such as large group frozen statues in a designated area of large cities.
That is fine and good…even an interesting social experiment if you ask me. However, recently some of these flash mobs have turned towards destructive behaviors such as blocking traffic, walking streets and smashing windows, climbing on vehicles and scaring tourists and community members.
Many of these flash mobs are being organized with text messages, online social media sites like Twitter and Facebook as well as others. Even in the best of circumstances, an event that is organized like this has the potential to go from good to bad at a moment’s notice.
However, my feeling is that depending on what the original intent of the coming together of large groups of young people; it is imperitive that they maintain a clear head and think for themselves. If the “invitation” to come together is for a theme or idea of something good and pure…then by all means, go with the best of intentions. Do good. Have fun. Enjoy! However, be responsible for yourself and your actions. If things start to go badly…use that technology or social media to notify authorities. Don’t join in illegal, immoral, or destructive behaviors.
If that “invitation” for a flash mob or group activity starts out with some destructive purpose…be responsible; don’t join in, and please, notify the authorities about what you have seen or heard. Don’t take the pathway of “It is not my responsibility to do anything about it”. If you “know” about it…you have a responsibility to report it, in my opinion. You could be instrumental in preventing a tragedy, or violence or some kind of related damage to an event that never had the potential of being a positive event in the first place.
Thinking for oneself is critical to keeping people on a positive moral track. It can help prevent a person from being caught up in that group mentality that can have long term legal, moral,physical, spiritual and emotional consequences.
Instilling a strong sense of values and personal responsibility in children is the best way to avoid raising up young adults who will diregard the safety and well-being of others or in other words desensitizing them to doing what is the right thing to do in any given circumstance.
Any time we try to persuade someone to go along with the crowd, without thinking that action through, weighing the pros and cons of taking such an action; it is wrong.
I happen to love social media, the immediacy of the technological world that we live in…but like anything in our environment it can be perverted or used for selfish intent. Teaching our young people to think for themselves, to consider any consequences of their actions before they choose to follow the crowd can make for stronger individuals and promote a life of keen decision making. Believe it or not, it can also be a shot in the arm at preventing crime or illegal activities that can negatively impact our families, our communities, businesses, and our schools.
Parents, friends, neighbors, clergy, teachers…authority figures of any description need to inspire our youth to live and breathe independent thinking; combined with responsibility and caring action. If you see someone who is being be-littled or bullied by others, or being controlled by stronger willed personalities in their lives…encourage them to stand true to themselves and the values that they believe it. Teach them it is ok to do the right thing- teach them to recognize what IS the right thing. In fact, live that life yourself and be an inspiration; simply by the way you live your own life.
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