Given the massive amount of OWS grassroot organizing, why not switch to flash mobs?

[snagglepuss]

Rather than hunkering down into what is ostensbily trench warfare, why not switch to guerilla war tactics?

Anyone remember the video of people standing up in the mall at Christmastime and breaking out into the Alleuia chorus? Within hours that video went viral. Would not short well orchestrated flash mobs be effective in conveying to the powers that be that the 99% are not going away and are demanding change?

It seems to me that the camps have lit a fire, they not only have brought people together but they have also forced the powers that be to show their hand, to admit their riled. Given these successes why not save psyhic energy and decamp then come back with a different tactic?

[arcane1]

1. I think that's where it's going

They've provided the locations, and the example. What I'd like to see is huge crowds every weekend, people coming to the sites and staying there for 5 minutes or 5 days.

[lunatica]

2. I think they will.

At least for some actions they take. Especially having a Mic Check at events like Scott Walker's talk and Karl Rove's talk. They may even used the flash mob tactic for those.

[proud patriot]

3. excellent idea

[snagglepuss]

8. I'm afraid that people see the goal as defending the right to occupy.

This is not to say people don't have that right or shouldn't be upset when it's violently taken away but to get hung up on a tactic will be a mistake.

[izquierdista]

4. I hope so

Flash mobs that close down a police station for 5 minutes. They can't wait in their riot gear 24/7.

[snagglepuss]

5. Exactly. nt

[JoePhilly]

6. Why "switch"??

Flash mobs are a TACTIC, not a STRATEGY.

OWS can actually do both, and then also add other tactical actions.

[snagglepuss]

9. Switch to keep the powers that be on their toes and to prevent provocateurs

from gaining any traction. Quit well you're ahead. This doesn't mean that somewhere done the road camps can't be set up again.

[snagglepuss]

12. Aren't both just tactics? In what way is a camp a strategy?

[Bluenorthwest]

14. He did not say the camp is a strategy. He said both things are

tactics serving a strategy, and as such one does not have to end for the other to be employed. Different tactics are often employed at the same time. Many tactics are needed in most strategies involving difficult objectives.

[JoePhilly]

17. Thank you ... that is exactly my point. A strategy is usually supported by many tactics.

As an aside, I think the difference between a Strategy, a Plan, and a Tactic often gets lost here on DU.

You can often see it when the chess analogy comes up regarding Obama. As an example, one strategy in chess is "maintain king safety". You can then start to devise a plan that supports that strategy, in which, there may be many tactical steps that you carry out.

Importantly, in Chess, and as President, and even for protesters ... while the larger Strategy may stay the same, the underlying Plans, and the immediate tactics are more fluid.

At times, in all these areas, you might actually undertake a tactic which is not clearly part of the plan, or the strategy. The reason for this is often driven by the opposition. They also have a strategy, and some plans, and some preferred tactics.

I find that here on DU, there tends to be a focus on tactics, as if those lived in isolation from everything else ... rarely does an individual tactic achieve all of the intended results of a related plan, or a larger strategy.

And sometimes, because there is an opposition, you may have to leverage some defensive tactics which cause you to "pull back". Some will see the tactical movement backwards as a lack of faith in the plan or lack of commitment to the larger strategy, when in fact it is neither.

Personally, I think the ability to think at each of those levels, is critical ... in chess, in politics, in a protest, and in life in general.

[sibelian]

7. Yes, ADAPT.

And keep adapting.

[CJCRANE]

10. Continuity's better. Occupy! nt

[snagglepuss]

13. Why is continuity better? Why did guerailla warfare come into being

stationary and predictable trumps mobility and unpredictibilty?

[doublethink]

11. We can walk and chew gum at the same time.

agree with someone up thread, great tactic. ;)

[silverweb]

15. I like it.

:evilgrin:

[OneGrassRoot]

16. I've been daydreaming of that for the last month...

since TPTB have cracked down on granting permits.

Plus, music and dance are uplifting. That would make people happy rather than annoy them...most of them anyway. AND it would still get the point across, depending upon the song election.

I LOVE flash dance/singing mobs. :)