Flash Mobs: Is Love Truly the Killer App?�

Flash Mobs: Is Love Truly the Killer App?�: "It's not just an idle question. Collecting eyeballs—and, ideally, causing the owners of those eyeballs to fork over their hard-earned cash—is what branding and mass marketing and even political fundraising are all about. Millions of dollars are spent each year to ride the latest trends, to associate products with popular stars, and to convince consumers that Bounty is the Quicker Picker Upper and that they should rush to the supermarket to buy themselves a roll. To a marketer, then, Flash Mobs are the physical manifestation of a democratic, capitalist ideal. Flash Mobs assemble eyeballs. Better yet, Flash Mobs gather eyeballs voluntarily and virally. 'He who harnesses the power of the mob shall profit beyond his wildest dreams'--Adam Smith, Chapter 1, Verse 1."