Fulfilling my First Rule obligations

October 5, 2004 9:02 AM

London Pillow Fight Clubtomorrow. Do you really have the option of not being there? I guess, like, being across an ocean is an acceptable excuse.
posted by Pretty_Generic (30 comments total)

posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:13 AM on October 5, 2004

Leave your contact info with a loved one and be sure to arrange for bail, and have fun!
posted by riffola at 9:14 AM on October 5, 2004

Pedestrain area

Sounds futuristic to me.
posted by orange swan at 9:19 AM on October 5, 2004

Don't they have Pedestrains in Half-Life 2?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:22 AM on October 5, 2004

That's going to end in tears.
posted by bondcliff at 9:28 AM on October 5, 2004

I'll put one virtual dollar down (not a real currency, not legal tender) that this is the tipping point where flash mobs turn into terrorist organizations, in the mind of the law.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:32 AM on October 5, 2004

Clever idea, but it's already been done...
posted by Mars Saxman at 9:47 AM on October 5, 2004

Ok, I get the pillow fight thing. But can someone please explain what in the hell that Flash-cartoon-thing is supposed to mean?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:51 AM on October 5, 2004

Well Mars, that's two people. In a ring. In the middle of the desert. This is kinda different I think.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:53 AM on October 5, 2004

My school has Pillow Fighting In Fucking Costumes. Some people use it as a chance to dress up, run amok, and beat the crap out of each other with pillows -- others use it as an excuse to be an asshole. It's great fun until kids start attacking "civilians" and destroying property.
posted by Hypharse at 9:53 AM on October 5, 2004

the story of newtin deserves it own post
posted by Satapher at 10:05 AM on October 5, 2004

"My school has Pillow Fighting In Fucking Costumes."

I don't have a fucking costume, unless an "O-face" counts.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:07 AM on October 5, 2004

Mars - those are great photos. Thanks for sharing. Looks like it was a lot of fun.
posted by Peter H at 10:16 AM on October 5, 2004

P_G, I once participated in a similarly strange event at Trafalgar sq, called London Roof (sponsored by OSA), where upon arrival we were given white "clean room" bunny suits and black umbrellas and then about 250 of us followed marching orders and various umbrella maneuvering commands. I *heart* London. I wish I was there, cause I would totally be down with a good old-fashioned pillow fight.
posted by shoepal at 10:26 AM on October 5, 2004

b1tr0t - Too late, the now-disappeared canada.com article talks about the threat of flash mobs.
posted by revgeorge at 10:40 AM on October 5, 2004

As Mars notes, PFC has had it's day . . . the Rules . . . the mayhem. [Courtesy the lovely nutcases of Arson Island]
posted by donovan at 10:55 AM on October 5, 2004

Will somebody get back to me when I can officially despise the people who do this sort of thing?

Can't be long.
posted by Blue Stone at 11:38 AM on October 5, 2004

As Mars notes, PFC has had it's day

What someone has done here is combine the idea of a "pillow fight club" with a flash mob (sort of) and a public guerilla prank. There seems to be nothing flash mobbish, gureilla-ish or in any way a surprise to the one you and mars link to. By the very nature of the venue all are participants and know to expect the unexpected.

That someone somewhere else previously had a somewhat similar idea does not make the new or derivative idea worthless, as the tone of your and Mars' posts might suggest. It only makes it a futher permutation of a prank. It might even be better, who knows.

That being said, the PFC(II?) website is rather lame.

One could say that perhaps burning man itself has had its day.
posted by jester69 at 11:48 AM on October 5, 2004

What someone has done here is combine the idea of a "pillow fight club" with a flash mob (sort of) and a public guerilla prank . . . . That someone somewhere else previously had a somewhat similar idea does not make the new or derivative idea worthless, as the tone of your and Mars' posts might suggest. It only makes it a futher permutation of a prank. It might even be better, who knows.

I humbly apologize if my comment seemed snarky, it was simply intended to place PFC in proper historical context. I applaud innovation as well as all attempts to make our rather absurd world even more absurd.

Besides, PFC is damn fun and I hope it proliferates. PFC is a bulwark against terrorism; terrorists hate freedom pillows. I expect this will come up in tonight's debate.

One could say that perhaps burning man itself has had its day.

Uh, whatever.
posted by donovan at 12:41 PM on October 5, 2004

Jesus Christ - I can't believe people here have actually said 'Good idea, but it has already been done'.

Step away from the computer.

Turn on a light.

Interact with the rest of the world.

Of course, pillow fighting has been carried out for years. Do you mean to say that the idea of arranging a public one is in some way dated because it isn't flashing 'unique' on your anal-o-meter?
posted by catchmurray at 12:50 PM on October 5, 2004

Uh, whatever.
I am assuming this is a Non-Snarky® way of telling me my statement is wholly without merit. Good show on a job well done.
posted by jester69 at 2:35 PM on October 5, 2004

You see, this is why we need pillow fighting. A good way to channel your aggression. This is how we make progress with each other.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:38 PM on October 5, 2004

I am assuming this is a Non-Snarky® way of telling me my statement is wholly without merit. Good show on a job well done.

No, that was a snarky way of indicating I have no intention of following the bait that will lead to a boring conversation that goes like this without end: "Burning Man is so over!" "No it's not!" "Yes it is!" "No it's not!" We already had one thread this year turn into that.

Jesus Christ - I can't believe people here have actually said 'Good idea, but it has already been done'. . . .Do you mean to say that the idea of arranging a public one is in some way dated because it isn't flashing 'unique' on your anal-o-meter?

Next time I'll spend a few more seconds crafting the humorous setup for some pictures I wanted to share. Sorry. And no, my anal-o-meter isn't unique, it's available over the counter. I recommend purchasing the optional AC adapter.
posted by donovan at 3:39 PM on October 5, 2004

Fuck. That was amazing.

Anyone else there?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 11:26 AM on October 6, 2004

you were there? pictures please! man, I wish I could've gone
posted by dabitch at 2:28 PM on October 6, 2004

Well there's realvideo at the BBC. 1:40 in. That link will change when they make another broadcast though. I'm sure there'll be proper photos up soon.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:28 PM on October 6, 2004

Donovan, I wasn't questioning the uniqueness of your anal probe, and I do concede that the posting of a daft picture was daft... It is just the more I look at MeFi, the more I see people acting aggrieved that something has been done before, or that someone has posted a link a day too late. I don't like to see needless rules imposed in areas where they aren't required.
posted by catchmurray at 4:06 PM on October 6, 2004

maaan, It looks like it was brilliant. I hope you got a few good pillow-whacks in for us that couldn't be there Pretty_Generic. :)
posted by dabitch at 3:09 AM on October 7, 2004

catchmurray: I completely agree with you. (And just couldn't let a good anal probe opportunity slip.)

Drats, the video has changed up. A small picture is here.
posted by donovan at 4:27 PM on October 7, 2004

Flickr PFC pix.
posted by donovan at 1:15 PM on October 8, 2004