As if it isn’t long enough already, there’s something else parents of teenage children should add to the list of things worth worrying about.
Flash mobs.
The social media mass gatherings may start with nonthreatening intentions, but when too many young people hastily gather with no real aim or organized direction, bad things can happen.
Two times here in the past year very unfortunate results in public places have come from flash mob gatherings.
You may recall what happened at UTC almost a year ago, when university and Chattanooga police were called to a gathering of an estimated 1,000 students and others who showed up at the campus library for “a party.” Pepper spray was used. Arrests were made.
Many students later accused officers of overreacting, stirring the crowd into aggression by trying to break it up.
At the time, I wondered the very same thing.
Then last week we had the nighttime flash mob gathering at Coolidge Park. Using text messages and postings on social media online sites, teens spread word to be there. Hundreds turned out. In a flash, gunfire broke out, resulting in injuries and arrests.
Many since have accused police of not doing enough, quickly enough.
After the fact, nothing ever looks as if it was enough.
Reason suggests otherwise, however – concerning both incidents. Instinct told officers at the UTC event that mass crowds of teens gathered with no order usually spell trouble, so they broke it up.
Sure, the situation got tense and police faced public criticism afterward, but law and order is their job. The wild card is what might have happened had they not taken fast action that night.
Thank goodness we’ll never know.
Last week we got an unfortunate glimpse of what can happen, though. When gunshots rang out in Coolidge Park, regarded as the city’s signature, family friendly gathering spot, notice was taken. All it takes is one troublemaker in an otherwise well-behaved crowd, after all.
The best advice for teens is simply to ignore the social plea and do something different when the mob gathers. Also, parents should let teens know that if they choose to go anyway and trouble erupts, they shouldn’t start blaming the police.
They are just trying to keep order in a flash-paced world.