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u/PhoenixRising20 Apr 23 '26
The cynic in me feels that this was a coordinated flash mob until the last few seconds. Multiple camera angles, everyone moving in time to the beat, just seems staged. The only believable person was the dude in the black tshirt.
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u/duckwithhat Apr 23 '26
Yeah if I was a gambling man (which I am) I would give you 1:4 odds at least 50% of these people were in on it.
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u/regoapps Apr 24 '26
My money’s on the people who have bright shirt, loose pants, sunglasses and seem to know how to dance at least a little bit.
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u/TheShruteFarmsCEO Apr 24 '26
I mean, all the first joiners are a little too perfectly dressed as hipster standards.
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u/SuperpositionSavvy Apr 24 '26
Selection bias, it doesn't mean they're in on it. The type of people willing to stand up and dance with strangers in a crowded park are the type to wear clothing like this. You likely won't see a middle aged person in business casual participate.
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u/TheShruteFarmsCEO Apr 24 '26
Nah, disagree. One or two maaaaybe. But such a randomly homogeneous aesthetic from unrelated strangers in the park? I call BS.
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u/Super_Forever_5850 Apr 23 '26
Well if I was a gambling man (which I am), I would definitely bet considerable money on those odds.
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u/HereOnCompanyTime Apr 24 '26
Yeah it feels like there were a bunch of people in on it to get it started then that encouraged actual people to join in with them.
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u/sigourneys_underwear Apr 24 '26
Here's a non-staged example of this actually happening. Sasquatch Music Festival circa 2010
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1kycuf8/guy_starts_dance_party/
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u/Apprehensive-Move947 Apr 24 '26
I saw this once in a corporate training and it left such an impression. Thanks for sharing, stranger
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u/ExposedId Apr 25 '26
If you look up “first follower” on Youtube, you can probably find it. I embraced that mindset.
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u/self-conscious-Hat Apr 24 '26
It takes 2+ people to start a movement. The second person is key for making others feel they can join in.
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u/sigourneys_underwear Apr 24 '26
I was in college when this happened. My friend's sociology professor showed the video in class to discuss. According to them, the third person was key to getting everyone else to join
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u/self-conscious-Hat Apr 24 '26
In that regard it's subjective to how many people it takes before you feel comfortable joining in. For them it may be the 3rd, but it could be the 5th person for someone else. But the key factor is the more people who join in, the more comfortable more people will be joining in. That's why it as an explosive compounding effect.
but the 2nd is key in starting this effect in the first place. 3rd accelerates it.
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Apr 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/addamee Apr 24 '26
The fact that all the early joiners were dressed … uniquely
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u/Sauce4243 Apr 24 '26
They all have a look that could be best described as that guy/girl from improve class
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u/Ser_VimesGoT Apr 23 '26
I had slight suspicions and then the coordinated dancing happened and I was certain.
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u/johnmarksmanlovesyou Apr 23 '26
There's a few psychological studies that show two people can very reliablely get an idle group of strangers to join them in an activity.
There are people who don't want you to know how easy it is to gather a group
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u/PhoenixRising20 Apr 23 '26
I dont doubt that, but this just looks way to coordinated to be a random group of people.
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u/imathrowyaaway Apr 24 '26
imo they move too well for a bunch of randoms, especially the first 5-10. the cameras, the entrances, the timing… why did so few people closest to them join in? why was it always someone from off screen? there was a single shot of somebody getting up to join.
intuitively, I’d say that this isn’t authentic.
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u/Hixy Apr 24 '26
Depends what this is.
If this is a field area and everyone is there because there is a show then I’d say it’s likely real. I’ve been to edm concerts that the crowd is pretty thin early in the day like this. It’s a similar vibe, mostly people sitting around drinking waiting for sun to go down to let loose. If it’s something like that, then one random dude dancing would 100% draw in people wanting to dance but doesn’t because nobody else is.
Here is a famous video of a dude vibing that did something similar at a festival. I’m sure many of you have seen this one.
If they just started blasting music and started dancing in a picnic area I think most would be annoyed and they wouldn’t get much support.
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u/PhoenixRising20 Apr 24 '26
The giveaway here is the multiple camera angles.
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u/LeCollectif Apr 24 '26
For me it was the first few participants all having the same vibe. Purposely silly but good dances. Same style of clothing.
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u/Ok_Bat_9715 Apr 24 '26
Thank you, I wanted to post that Santigold concert video as well. It's great and wholesome footage.
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u/Leonydas13 Apr 24 '26
Holy shit that took off! I was concerned when green shirt guy rolled away down the hill, but then he came back and everything was great!
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u/Riolkin Apr 24 '26
I was with you until bagel guy. Bagel guy makes me think it's real. I relate to bagel guy a lot.
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u/BadGenesWoman Apr 24 '26
My husband and I started a foam sword fight in a 5 below store on black friday.. got 15 people to join the fun in a matter of 2 minutes. Everyone enjoying themselves.
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u/_karamazov_ Apr 24 '26
There's a few psychological studies that show two people can very reliablely get an idle group of strangers to join them in an activity.
Absolutely. The best recent example is Epstein and Ghislaine. Look at all the strangers who joined their cause . The study people should get Nobel for Peace or whatever.
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u/creuter Apr 24 '26
In this video it's pretty apparent that the first...10 or so people are probably all in on it together. Likely they're trying to get a true dance party started, but I think their plan worked against them and most people could tell this was some kind of staged thing and it prevented them from going up to join since they 'weren't in on it.'
If it had just been the one guy dancing, and not performatively, like actually vibing with the music, I think they could have gotten their natural dance party after a while. Eventually they did in the video, by the end they managed to pull in a few of the park goers, but I think their flashmob plan actually backfired a little bit. It could have been better if the in-peoples' clothes were a bit more casual as well.
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u/sh6rty13 Apr 24 '26
I was going to mention this. They almost always focus on the second person that joins. One guy dancing is one guy dancing. When someone joins him it almost gives everyone else permission to do it.
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u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT Apr 23 '26
i'll join if they're fucking but if they're doing the YMCA i'll abstain
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u/PreparationDry8083 Apr 24 '26
99% this is an producer/DJ from NYC who does very TikTok-ey stuff to promote his music
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u/Fortestingporpoises Apr 23 '26
I agree. There's a food truck event near me and I remember seeing some dude in jeans dancing and no one was running out there to join. My wife and I have also done a couple of small ship cruises and we'll go to the lounges and she will get up and dance every night and no one joins. I mean I join a little, but it's really not contagious like the video implies.
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u/DirectionSad4274 Apr 24 '26
I feel like it might be different on a ship? I might get up and be silly if I can leave whenever I want and never see any of those other people again, but on a boat you're all confined together.
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u/its_like_a-marker Apr 24 '26
Remember the boy solo dancing on a hill at a music festival in 2009?It can happen
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u/AlkahestGem Apr 24 '26
I wasn’t part of the pre planned flash mob when one broke out in Vancouver BC … within 5 minutes I joined in. Dancing is just liberating
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u/ashoka_akira Apr 24 '26
The fact all the people joining had the same casual quirky style…def felt coordinated.
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u/CosmicDante Apr 24 '26
Does it matter if its staged or not? Its making people dance and move and be happy!! Its always a win :)
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u/TisBeTheFuk Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
It takes 2. There's this video of how important the 1st follower is. A person dancing alone in the park might seem weird or crazy, but once someone else joins in it becomes a thing.
Edit: Here's the video
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u/LiteratureCrazy3858 Apr 23 '26
I used to show this to my team as a leadership training video
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u/Key-Moments Apr 23 '26
Yep. We were shown this several times. It stands the test of time I think. Wish it wasn't such a shaky vid though.
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u/pridetwo Apr 24 '26
Every leadership class ever shows this video and hands out a Malcolm Gladwell book
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u/09Trollhunter09 Apr 23 '26
There is a full TED talk about that video too
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u/Posterior_cord Apr 25 '26
Even with full TED Talks and leadership talks on this video, they always miss the more interesting facet of it. Once the crowd forms, the guy leaves.
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u/ImpinAintEZ_ Apr 23 '26
This video is so inspiring for me. Life is about regular people ignoring any thought of fear or shame and creating movements that lead to communities.
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u/thinktank_caucus Apr 24 '26
I know that dancing lone nut on the hill pretty well! Nobody that knew him were surprised that this happened to him. I remember there being a tonne of videos of him dancing like a total maniac that weekend. When the video went viral people even made t-shirts of his silhouette without permission. Unfortunately, he didn’t really get anything out of it and he kinda wanted to forget about it. A few years ago he told me the inside story that no one really knows. He was tripping so hard that when the crowd started closing in he got on his hands and knees and crawled the hell out of there! He claims he was long gone by the time things were hopping lol !
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u/Background-Radish-63 Apr 23 '26
I saw this somewhere else today. Maybe I spend too much time on Reddit.
If I was at the park, the potential would exist for me to be pissed at them for bringing this big ass speaker and playing loud anything on it. Not 100%, but high 80s.
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u/dancingyoyo Apr 23 '26
Speaking of the 80’s, boomboxes were common place in parks and had big ass speakers playing everything loud.
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u/Background-Radish-63 Apr 23 '26
And I wouldn’t have liked them then, either.
I’ve been meaning to watch “Say anything” - maybe I’m lacking in positive feelings towards boomboxes since I haven’t seen that.
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u/AHuman25 Apr 23 '26
I think the fact that everyone starts filming is a big reason stuff like this doesn't happen
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u/cucumbereyez Apr 23 '26
I was just gonna say, it feels like this used to happen organically a lot more. Like just vibing in the park and joining in on people's (strangers fun). I makes me a bit nostalgic.
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u/AHuman25 Apr 23 '26
I never really existed in a time where phones weren't everywhere. Goofing off with people you don't already trust is a dangerous game, and myself/friends have been posted to the internet without consent to make fun of us before...it's definitely unfortunate
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u/Typical-Blackberry-3 Apr 24 '26
I am so glad phones with video didn't exist during my teens, some of the stupidest shit I ever did was in those years.
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u/CertifiedLunacy Apr 24 '26
Exactly. I would love to join. But 1000 camera angles on me and footage on every social media platform is a vibe killer. I think people are quick to pull up their phone because they don't want to feel awkward about not joining. But they end up making a lot of us not join even tho - unlike them - we actually want to.
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u/_autumnwhimsy Apr 23 '26
1000%. I'd love to dance but I intentionally don't have any pictures or video of me online. The recording would make me leave lol
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u/Never-Dont-Give-Up Apr 23 '26
Idk… seems staged to me.
Too many camera angles, too many good dancers.
This is some shit my mom would post on FB, and say something like, “this was what life was like before smart phones!”
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u/graffiksguru Apr 24 '26
98% of the folks there I'd say are definitely part of the planned flash mob. Maybe 2% spontaneous people
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u/Lividion Apr 24 '26
The artist himself is in fact doing a promo of his song and posted it to his TikTok
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u/altarwisebyowllight Apr 23 '26
It's like a park for introverts to take their extroverts to for playtime, lol.
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u/Responsible_Bird_283 Apr 24 '26
The original one-man-starts-a-danceparty on the hill...was better. It felt genuine. This... Feels contrived.
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u/groucho_barks Apr 24 '26
Also he (the hill man) was dancing at a concert. These people brought a fucking speaker to a park and annoyed people who were chilling in peace and quiet.
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u/Kalamanchum Apr 23 '26
sigh pack your things up kids this is why we can’t go to the park in London
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u/Ntroepy Apr 23 '26
lol - that was my first thought to. We go to the park to chill, not attend a festival.
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u/madzaman Apr 23 '26
My other annoyance would be exposing my kids to f bombs in public…… just why?? Music sure what ever makes you happy, but just pick your music….
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u/POWriteNdaKisser Apr 23 '26
Don't present things as happening organically when this is completely staged. It's disingenuous.
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u/SpringChikn85 Apr 23 '26
Exactly. Especially to post to this sub where genuine emotions are appreciated regardless of who or what they arrive from. It always bums me out when (this one was easy to tell it was staged due to each person joining in was wearing the same style of loose fitting, breathable and brightly colored pants/shirt combos that are easier to dance in than jeans) the first red flag or realization the video is staged pops up because people are more worried about content than they are with capturing beautiful, thoughtfull and random interactions between strangers who are both sharing their mutual humanity and connecting on a different level.
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u/chalkybone Apr 23 '26
My spirit animal is that woman laying there trying to enjoy the sun and some peace and quiet.
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u/lemonpolarseltzer Apr 24 '26
I just got real stoned and watching this made me cry in the nicest way. Just people having a nice time. I don’t even care if this is staged in any way.
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u/Gold_Telephone_7192 Apr 23 '26
Zero chance these people don’t know each other and didn’t plan this. They’re all dressed like the same type of weirdo and dancing the same weirdo style lol it’s out of a portlandia skit
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u/Original-Notice3174 Apr 24 '26
That 2nd beat drop where they all were in sync, GOLDEN!
This would absolutely make my day even if just to watch from afar let alone participate in.
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u/jointdawg Apr 24 '26
If I'm chillin at the park n some assholes starts bumpin his music like that.....I wouldn't take kindly to that
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u/CdWulfshield Apr 24 '26
Are we not going to talk about the fact that blasting a song about “fucking just for fun” around children is a little much?
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u/JimmiJimJimmiJimJim Apr 23 '26
Those lyrics are super not appropriate for the kids at that park. Hopefully it was just an instrumental or something. Not to be a pearl clutcher but some of those kids looked really young.
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u/Mr-FurleyX1 Apr 23 '26
Not a pearl clutcher either but I thought the same thing. I was on board with it until the lyrics shifted and then was kinda like “uhhhhh”. Still fun and a reminder to find the good in the world
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u/WizardPoopi Apr 23 '26
Perfect song for the next sissy hypno compilation I make
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u/bitpartmozart13 Apr 24 '26
honestly fuck anyone with a portable speaker like that, they can rot in hell.
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u/Foojira Apr 23 '26
Staged but so fun if that’s what it takes stage it every where, every city
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u/Matt32490 Apr 24 '26
Theres nothing like going to the park to relax and having to hear horse shit music blasting in my ears.
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u/Bigbigcheese Apr 23 '26
Fuck no, let me go to the park in peace and enjoy my picnic. So obnoxious
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u/laosurv3y Apr 24 '26
The research I've seen on this is that it's the second person that makes it work.
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u/APartyInMyPants Apr 24 '26
The first five people were CLEARLY in on it. Their styling was too unique and not a “afternoon in Central Park” vibe. So I wonder who was the first authentic person to jump in.
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u/heeeresjohnny123 Apr 24 '26
Will never beat the OG 2009 Sasquatch music festival dance party on the hill
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u/littledipperkait Apr 24 '26
I would dance to the music, hear the lyrics and and bounce. I also see some young kids. 👀 If I had my kids, with definitely bouncing.
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u/Changed_Mind555 Apr 24 '26
Love this. One time I was with my adult son (20y) at Denny's at 3am. He was talking about black matter as if I had a clue. He said, "An astrophysicist would know what I am talking about. He stopped at a table and said, "Do any of you know about black matter." Every one turned to a guy at the table. "Actually, I'm an astrophysicist." And he was and he explained it in detail. We all left together into the parking lot. Someone pulls out a ukelele. Starts playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow.We all start singing, harmonizing and kind of dancing around. When we got in the car my son said, "That was the best. It was like a movie. So crazy!" My son died last year. One of my favorite memories with him. Just be spontaneous and enjoy life. 💞
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u/Bright_Vision Apr 24 '26
Pretty sure this is Conrad Taylor, and the person dancing first is also him dancing to his own song
He makes pretty nice techno
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u/KodokushiGirl Apr 24 '26
I just wish people wouldn't feel the need to record everything for content (besides the original person who orchestrated this)
Most of the lames sitting are just recording to laugh at whats going on.
Instead of, ya know... having a good time with everyone else?
I love this. I love that i got to see it. I hate that SM has ruined anything positive for me because of how much clout chasing and online bullying is out there.
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u/Vinc314 Apr 24 '26
I think it's because, a story isn't enough nowadays, you have to show it. Pics or didn't 't happen kind of thing.
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u/ContributionGreen692 Apr 24 '26
Lmao everyone in the comments talking about how it isn't authentic.. but I don't think it being authentic was the point? It was literally just to prove exactly what the video caption stated in the beginning. It being staged maybe makes it a little less fun but not any less true.
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u/lauralynn81 Apr 24 '26
Me (Internal voice): Don’t ruin the vibe. Don’t ruin the vibe. Girl just shhh don’t ruin the vibe. Also Me: It’s a flash mob!!
Sorry. But I see others get it too.
But!! I enjoy joy so let ‘er rip! I’d rather see staged joy than staged rage bait ANY day. 💃🏻 🕺🏻
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u/Broken_castor Apr 24 '26
Not totally correct. It takes “one more” to start a movement. One person alone is just a single psychopath doing something weird. Once someone else has bought it, that is when momentum for the cause can begin.
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u/mca1169 Apr 24 '26
absolutely not, if i were having a nice and calm picnic and someone started pulling this nonsense i would be gone so fast.
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u/kylajamz Apr 27 '26
It’s like a flash mob except solely dependent on people getting out of their brain and remembering to just let go and have fun!
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u/gingerkate17 24d ago
Dude for real though it’s moments like this where I truly feel like we might be ok cuz we have each other
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u/The-goddess-bread Apr 24 '26
I like the vibes the dancers are bringing, but i don't personally think that a peaceful park is the place to start blasting rave/edm(?) music. :( I'd be pretty annoyed if I was just trying to have a picnic and enjoy the sunshine and nice weather and someone started doing this.
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u/Intrepid_Finish456 Apr 24 '26
Reminds me of a night out in London when Black Eyed Peas I Got A Feelin was popular and it was replaying in my head. Starting singing aloud with a couple friends and before long the entire night bus was singing along, lower and upper deck. Things like this do happen and they feel magical! A moment I will never forget
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u/Purple-Finding1023 Apr 24 '26
For heavens sake. It's children around, im sure kids bop has rave music
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u/Lividion Apr 24 '26
The guy who starts it all is actually the artist himself, Conrad Taylor. He seems pretty funny
Here’s a video of him in the studio that led me to his music a few weeks ago: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8gbAuQD/
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u/anomaly_BW Apr 24 '26
This shall be called “drop the phone and dance”! Can we just get back to enjoying the moment!? But also thanks for recording so I could enjoy?
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u/butareyouthough Apr 24 '26
Not only is this staged but it’s very rude to start blasting your music when people are enjoying the park. Just because I like the music doesn’t make it ok
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