Ctrl.Alt.Shift rustled some feathers this week, invading the premises of Tesco outlets around the country with a synchronised Fairtrade banana flashmob - the mission was to expose how the shameless economic giants refuse to sell solely fair trade bananas.
With all the ruckus of Ctrl.Alt.Shifters simultaneously running around handing out Sainbury's Fairtrade bananas to Tesco's unsuspecting customers, it was stunt that delivered a hard laugh and an even harder message, as each Fairtrade banana was tagged with: "Tesco's banana workers are paid less than half a living wage. Don't buy bananas unless they're Fairtrade."
Now we hope the lasting impact of the flashmob will be that more and more people will boycott unfair trade products – but was it the most rational and effective way of making a statement?
The popularity of flashmobs is growing - there are at least 500 Facebook groups for flashmobs, but not everyone is a fan. Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter of the British Transport Police (BTP) called flashmobsters "inconsiderate to commuters." This follows the closure of Liverpool Street Station in February this year, when about 12,000 people took part in a Facebook-driven flashmob event. Now the BTP are tracking FB groups in hopes to shut flashmobs down in advance... so you people best keep it on the d-low.
A great inconvenience they say. Then again, consider the impact of the T-Mobile dance flashmob, again in Liverpool Street that got bypassers and viewers alike up and body-popping along with the 1000 dancers shaking their thang. Or recall the 4000 people who turned up for the silent rave flashmob in Victoria station who will remember it as a fun and crazy day. But where do our youth stand on the matter of flashmob fever?
We took to the streets to ask the following questions:
Do flashmobs work?
Are they the best way for our disgruntled youth to get their point across?
What's more important to consider, the inconvenience to others caught in the commotion, the fun, or the cause of the flashmob? (And should police be shutting them down?)
Would you ever take part in a flashmob (such as Ctrl.lt.Shift's banana stunt)?
Chris, 21:
"There's no real point in flashmobs is there? I don't understand what they achieve, although I suppose it depends on the cause behind the flashmob, but a lot of them are not based on anything - it's just random nothingness. I think they can be a good way of getting our youth to do something, if you can get them to do something positive while still making it fun you're on to a winner. The cause is surely the most important part of the flashmob, but I suppose fun and originality both play a part in getting the point across to people who may not always be as interested. I don't think the police should be able to lock them off, it's freedom of speech. And sure, I would be happy to take part in a flashmob with Ctrl.Alt.Shift."
Hassanien, 19 :
"Yes flashmobs definitely work, they stick out, it's something different and it involves normal people so you can relate to it. I think it's the ideal way for youths to have their say too, it is a great way for them to find their voice. The cause is definitely the most important aspect of a flashmob but you also need an original approach. Its jokes to think that police are monitoring Facebook to lock down these flashmobs but I don't think they should be allowed to, especially if it is for a valid cause. Standard, I would attend a flashmob sometime in the future."
Mohammed, 21:
"I think flashmobs probably do work yeah, as long as it gets the message across - it's not a pointless exercise. For young people it's a good way of getting the message out in a different way, people take notice, however I don't know how long the message would stay with me for, I'd probably forget about it. My only concern with flashmobs is that as a member of the public you may feel negative towards it if it is delaying your journey, so the only way to get around that is to make sure there's a good enough cause. I'm undecided on the police issue, if it is a flashmob in an open place, that is freedom of speech, however if it is in a place that could jeopardise health and safety then perhaps they should be able to step in. Honestly, I probably wouldn't reach to an event like your banana protest, a load of random people talking into a banana, I don't think its for me!"
Camilla, 22:
"Yes, flashmobs are valid, if they are for a cause like Fairtrade certainly - it should be made clear the message that they are trying to get across though, otherwise it may be lost on the unsuspecting public. Flashmobs are an ideal way of youth finding a voice, they are full of energy and enthusiasm, and getting everybody together for a unified cause can only be positive. The cause should definitely be the main aspect of a flashmob, because if there's no cause then its just an inconvenience. A policeman's job is to protect the public from risk, so by shutting down flashmobs they are doing their job properly. I personally wouldn't take part in a flashmob unless I was passing by, I wouldn't go out my way."
Raphaelle, 22:
"Yes flashmobs do work, they make me curious and make me want to find out more about the motives. While I think it is a good way of empowering the youth, I don't think it suits everyone. I think all of the factors of a flashmob are important, originality to the impact to the meaning of the stunt. I think with democracy and freedom of speech and expression, flashmobbing is part of our human rights so the police shouldn't be allowed to track these flashmobs on social network sites. I would love to be part of a flashmob, why not?"
Josefin, 22:
"Flashmobs only work if there is a valid reason behind it, not in the instance of T-mobile, for the purpose of advertising a phone tariff. Any type of youth movement is positive because it brings them together and gives them a voice, flashmobs can also create awareness for a cause at the same time. I would personally get annoyed if a flashmob was disrupting my journey but if the cause is important enough I think that's forgiveable. Police shouldn't be allowed to intervene with flashmobs if they pose no danger to the public. If it was for a cause I was interested in then certainly I would take part in one."
Photos: Tekla Balfour