Originally Posted by
montanadave
I don't wish to make light of the crimes being committed or real economic losses incurred by the businesses targeted by these "flash mobs", but I don't see this as a complete breakdown of the social order and another sign of the apocalypse. The video linked above looks like a bunch of teenagers doing some dumb shit that groups of teenagers are prone to do. There doesn't appear to be a lot of senseless property destruction or violence directed towards anyone; it's a bunch of kids shoplifting candy and soda as the latest "teen rebellion" thing to do.
It does not appear to be the kind of reckless, violent behavior which has been seen in Philadelphia or the Wisconsin State Fair.
But I agree, the lines are going to get blurred and if gangs of kids start imitating this behavior, someone is going to get killed. Then the fuse will be lit and the potential for a rapid escalation of racial unrest and retaliatory violence is almost inevitable.
I hope someone can get through to these kids that they are playing with dynamite but if they're anything like I was as a teen, it's unlikely to sink in until they find themselves in the middle of a total shit storm.