From her 24th-floor apartment on 15th Street in Center City the night of March 20, Debi English, a retired nurse, witnessed the churn and chaos of the latest so-called flash mob and found herself yelling out into the darkness:
»Read story: What's behind 'flash mobs'?
»Read story: What's behind 'flash mobs'?
Comments (305)
Hey all you academics / experts: Ever think that your idea that poverty gives them an excuse to do this is exactly why they do it? People like you keep inserting excuses and removing personal responsibility and people like them laugh and amp-up their criminal behavior, safe in the knowledge that some Phd will peddle the sob-story for them post-violence. Let's not forget that we've had two recent murders where these same type of teens beat somebody up just for fun. Unless one of these poor, misguided little angles with $200 cell phones gets a long jail sentence or catches a bullet soon, this stuff is going to continue and the city will again get a bad reputation on the national stage.— rstone
Comment removed.- Time for everyone in the city to start carrying. I know I will be from now on. Let a flash mob try to act up when I have my pistol and we'll see what happens.— madnvocal
Maybe the mob scene just needs to run it's course. After running from the cops time and time again, maybe the fun will disappear. Unfortunately, it occurs to me too that the cops chasing these kids may be the most attention any of these kids have gotten in their 16 or so years of existence:-( (Bad attention is better than no attention at all)- Comment removed.
- enough with all these excuses "they dont have anything else to do" they're angry" "they're poor"- enough. These people have no respect for others- for others safety, others property. I agree with Ramsey 100% its the parents, it all go backs to the parents and how these "kids" were raised. Go after the parents and hold them responsible for these savages.— beeron
- You are giving too much credit to these kids. The majority of them barely have a high school diploma. I will be surprised if they understand the most basic consequences of their behavior. They can't barely go day by day, much less the implications of their actions. Like someone said, they carry $300 cell phones in the same manner their ancestors carried bow and arrows, as a threatening weapon, a representation of their "power". They dress in designer jeans in the same manner as their ancestors used beads around their necks, as a sign of their consumer status. A major difference with their ancestors is that their ancestors went hunting when they needed it. These youngsters go hunting by their discontent. They have regressed!— pbermudez
- They're making this WAY to scientific! Way too complicated :D! Its SIMPLY a bunch of bored young hooligans that want to cause trouble! When they do, lock 'em up! Its not that complicated!— RAP_SUX
- Really it is just American citizens trying to take back control of their lives from this oppresive government. If the gov't keeps controlling our lives more and more each day, citizens will find a way to fight back. Whites, blacks, asians, hispanics and swirls all need to stand up and be heard. Flash Mobs are a great way to non-violently express your frustration. While violence may occur do to over-reactive youth, the majority are simply saying we won't take this over control by our gov't any longer.— LGbalsac
- Look at the picture, worth a 1000 words. All African-American. Why ? Simple, it all starts at home, or should I say lake there of. With no positive guidance, no one showing them the proper the way to act and contribute to society, instead of destroying it, it will not change. Its time everyone in this country started standing up for our rights. Quit making excuses for this kind of behavior. Start fining the parents, holding them accountable, maybe things will change.— 12count
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- Call the fire department, bring out the hoses, spray the bums away. They won't be back.— DwightinDC
- These thug animals should be locked in cages where they belong. This city, along with the country, are getting sucked further and further into hell by the day.— Flyers18
- Just another reason to stay out of rusting, decrepit, falling-apart, Philadelphia. Why put up with violence, parking, street prostitution, poverty, taxes, and traffic when you can live in suburbs or rural areas?— bock10
- I wanted to add to what one poster responded to another-- The argument of "well white people commit crimes too, just look at columbine and serial killers," is just uninformed. Do you read about a new serial killer every day the way your read about a new stick-up man or drug deal gone amok? Is there a mass school shooting every day - including in major cities? No. But there is a full roster of America's Most Wanted, changing every day, and I don't have to tell you what it looks like. And think about numbers, percentages. Which groups are significantly smaller, yet have a much higher percentage of criminal behavior?— Phillie Jay
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