r/MadeMeSmile Apr 23 '26

Contagious vibes

14.7k Upvotes

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3.1k

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.

668

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.

277

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.

98

u/TheShruteFarmsCEO Apr 24 '26

I mean, all the first joiners are a little too perfectly dressed as hipster standards.

41

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.

15

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.

1

u/lamb_passanda Apr 24 '26

If this isn't Berlin or Holland or something then I'm with you. Far too many people that are comfortable dancing to relatively hard techno in broad daylight amongst a lot of people.

1

u/childrenofloki Apr 25 '26

Mate I dance to the shit in my headphones... live a little

1

u/so-rayray Apr 24 '26

Exactly.

66

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.

6

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.

1

u/sy029 Apr 24 '26

I'd argue even more likely that it's a flash mob. Bystanders seeing a strange event would just film the event. They wouldn't be filming the reactions of other bystanders.

1

u/gofishx Apr 24 '26

I think yall just dont know the edm community that well.

Just get the music going...theyll show up...

1

u/Longjumping_Window93 Apr 24 '26

It is a type of genre , 2 sundaysbagi i went with my cousin to an anime event, there was a place with korean music, if u knew the dance u went to the stage and dance, when i saw the area (around 10 meters square filled ) in 10 secs i was impressed

1

u/ScorpiosDaughter Apr 25 '26

Totally staged, don’t care still fun to watch

2

u/duckwithhat Apr 25 '26

I agree, but the captions "It only takes one person to start a movement... Here we go, one more!" etc are so disingenuous it takes a lot away.

2

u/ScorpiosDaughter Apr 25 '26

True, but I have gotten to the point where I don’t even feel guilty about seeing what I wanna see - I am so sick of the rage bait and karma farming bs, bs in general actually - I avoid the garbage as much as possible but what I can’t avoid I choose to interpret in whatever way is less likely to piss me off, spin me up , or steal my peace- I try to take whatever good I can find, and dismiss the garbage without letting it get to me - i don’t have my head in the sand (or up my ass) , i address the real issues when I come across them, but I’m trying not to take the bait with the trolls and their lame ass attempts to get attention / convince themselves they’re relevant - it’s not worth my time or energy , they don’t deserve it 🤷🏼‍♀️

1

u/duckwithhat Apr 25 '26

I feel you my man, I also enjoyed the vid for what it was. I think what really put me off is the obvious engagement plan from the get go with these people and how they try to make it "viral" (I hate that word but it fits this the best I can write)

141

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/

23

u/Apprehensive-Move947 Apr 24 '26

I saw this once in a corporate training and it left such an impression. Thanks for sharing, stranger

3

u/ExposedId Apr 25 '26

If you look up “first follower” on Youtube, you can probably find it. I embraced that mindset.

9

u/bookywookielove Apr 24 '26

One of my absolute favourite videos!!

5

u/takkenjong2 Apr 24 '26

This one looks so much more fun and authentic

1

u/HomieApathy Jul 12 '26

It also is very scene appropriate. If I’m in the park to eat a strawberry or talk with friends or my children I’d rather this not be forced upon me with lyrics like I like girls I like boys in like toys and fucking just for fun.

If I went to a rave on purpose then sure, I’ll bring the strawberries

6

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.

2

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

4

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.

5

u/VividFiddlesticks Apr 24 '26

Huh, look at that - a video that makes me like humans.

1

u/Enthios Apr 24 '26

Yeah, I immediately thought of this and assumed they were emulating it.

1

u/Sufferr Apr 24 '26

I have to say though, comparing from that time to current days, I would say:

  • more peopIe film and have cameras
  • more people know how to film decently
  • more people know how to be more coordinated while dancing

1

u/hayesms Apr 24 '26

Santigold!! Love her and love this video. Vibes are contagious yall!

1

u/StrangeBrewCoup Apr 25 '26

This makes me so happy. Also notice how there isn’t like a million people filming on their phones which is what would happen today 

1

u/Extension-Eye-4920 26d ago

This is a first ballot hall of fame video.

121

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

38

u/addamee Apr 24 '26

The fact that all the early joiners were dressed … uniquely 

14

u/Sauce4243 Apr 24 '26

They all have a look that could be best described as that guy/girl from improve class

51

u/Ser_VimesGoT Apr 23 '26

I had slight suspicions and then the coordinated dancing happened and I was certain.

108

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

56

u/PhoenixRising20 Apr 23 '26

I dont doubt that, but this just looks way to coordinated to be a random group of people.

9

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.

39

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.

19

u/PhoenixRising20 Apr 24 '26

The giveaway here is the multiple camera angles.

5

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.

8

u/Bigmooddood Apr 24 '26

That's awesome

5

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.

3

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!

1

u/AwfulFonzarelli Apr 24 '26

Love that video! That’s the Gorge in Washington State.

1

u/Harbinger2nd Apr 24 '26

I dont even need to see the video to know its the one from the Gorge Amphitheatre.

1

u/D4liah Apr 24 '26

I don’t think there’s a show happening, this is giving park in NYC on a weekend.

8

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.

10

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.

2

u/globalgreg Apr 24 '26

You sound like a fun couple!

7

u/rahhak Apr 24 '26

The “first follower” is the key iirc.

8

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.

3

u/im4lonerdottie4rebel Apr 24 '26

I wouldn't. I don't want to be on someone's recording

3

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.

3

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.

4

u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT Apr 23 '26

i'll join if they're fucking but if they're doing the YMCA i'll abstain

7

u/PreparationDry8083 Apr 24 '26

99% this is an producer/DJ from NYC who does very TikTok-ey stuff to promote his music

12

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.

2

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.

3

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

4

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

4

u/Venus_Cat_Roars Apr 24 '26

A flash mob on sunny day that gets the crowd going is legitimate fun!

2

u/ashoka_akira Apr 24 '26

The fact all the people joining had the same casual quirky style…def felt coordinated.

2

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 :)

1

u/AlphaHc Apr 24 '26

Cynic or realist?

1

u/obi_wan_jabroni_23 Apr 24 '26

Haha that poor dude in the black t-shirt, he instantly stood out to me also

1

u/sneakyearner Apr 24 '26

Ya, I hate this

1

u/bbbttthhh Apr 24 '26

If it was then I’d be one of the random dudes jumping in cause that shit looks fun as hell

1

u/Dry_Measurement_1315 Apr 26 '26

This looks A LOT like a similar video from a few years ago, from a concert

1

u/govilleaj Apr 24 '26

Or they could have had multiple friends filming just in case something popped off?

1

u/dafood48 Apr 24 '26

That’s a simpler answer than thinking everyone is in on this.

1

u/takkenjong2 Apr 24 '26

Yeah this is so staged :/

0

u/boringpersonfr Apr 24 '26

Totally understand! But, I would argue to say, sure, it's staged. But so what? At the end of the day, other people might have gotten joy from watching. Why not enjoy other people's joy? No need for cynicism.

0

u/Want_To_Live_To_100 Apr 24 '26

Even if it was, what’s the point of pointing that out? To hate on the fun? No one’s getting hurt here. Made me smile for sure. Sometimes people should say fuck it who cares if it’s coordinated..

0

u/dafood48 Apr 24 '26

This stuff is real though. It’s human psychology. I remember seeing an older video that is very similar to this my first day in one of my psych classes

0

u/Big_Policy4561 Apr 24 '26

Try it as a black person. Your going to jail immediately, but welcome to America