We're seeing a new phenomon, which I'll term "Flash Lobbies", in analogy to "flash mobs".
Via Facebook or other social networking, it is now often possible to put together a very large group expressing a point of view quickly. We've seen this on Facebook with response to their change to the terms of service.
But we've also seen over 68,000 people join a Facebook group devoted to inducing the Home Makeover show to rebuild the house destroyed by the recent plane crash in Buffalo.
Equally interesting is the man-in-the-street response in this UPI man-in-the-street interview. I was struck by how thoughtful the responses were, even if I did disagree with one or two. People actually gave thought to the complex question of liability and how it should be handled. I don't know how selective UPI was in their editing, but at least it demonstrates that people really do think about things more than the media often gives them credit for.
Still, I don't think man-in-the-street interviews are news.
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