MOB Mentality

 

A mob is a group of people. Sometimes termed a rabble or throng or horde. There are flash mobs and cash mobs (see Black Friday shoppers below) and lynch mobs.

The term ‘mob’ normally relates to a noisy, disorderly or riotous crowd engaged in lawless violence. The word ‘mob’ can also denote a criminal organization also known as the mafia.

People in a crowd often act differently than they do when they’re alone. In a big group, people might laugh louder, feel braver, or get angrier. Sometimes a crowd/mob can even become dangerous.

Some years ago, at the end of a sports event, fans would spill onto the field, pitch, or floor to celebrate their team’s victory together. It is a form of bonding under a brand. This attachment to strangers is also seen in clubs, churches and probably best utilized in the military. Patches, hats, jackets, banners designate those who want to be associated with the team or organization or political point-of-view.

After high fives and some boisterous chants and singing, they part ways to join again for the new group activity.

Yet now at the end of the game or party or election, the groups spills out into the streets and are joined by others who have followed the results and want to participate. The spontaneous excitement can evolve into frenzy and thus criminal activity due to mob mentality.

A pre-planned desire to accomplish goal by mob rule may organize a crowd at a certain designation and a specified time. If approved by the locality, the crowd can peacefully protest stating concerns and voicing the group’s feelings. If the crowd wishes to cross over the line to unacceptable behavior then looting or vandalism or worst may take place and society will deal with the individuals as a ‘mob’.

If a mob bent on a destructive purpose faces another mob bent on a counter destructive purpose, it is called ‘war’. War may have some survivors but there are no winners.

As we tap away on our keyboards, stating our comments and agreeing or refuting others with fact/fiction, are we not creating a mob? We profile ourselves by our favorite teams, our schools attended, our occupations or skills. We identify ourselves by our family, location, organizations and religious beliefs. We associate ourselves with someone else’s writings and will follow like lemmings.

Crowds, groups, congregations or gatherings can create wonderful projects like gardens or barn raising using helpful productive outcomes instead of anarchy that does nothing but leave trash for someone else to pick up. Some will note that the Boston Tea Party was done by a mob. Technically there have been mobs in labor movements. There have been mobs in racial equality movements, women suffragettes, and anti-war demonstrations. There have been shootings and people have died for their beliefs. This is not Beatlemania.

With a global pandemic threatening life with every intake of air to the political divide, the future is uncertain. Life is always uncertain. Will we become clustered into a rabbit hole fed by fearful fueled conspiracy theories and misinformation or listen to investigated irrefutable facts presented seriously by trained journalist without entertainment, only time will tell.

Before you speak…think about what you are saying. Would you say that to your priest? Would you say that to your grandmother?

Before you act…think about how your action will affect others. Golden rule. Sometimes you can’t take it back.

It is your decision.