My understanding of how mobs work might be wrong, but I think it cannot be that that mob used it as an excuse. It could be the case that there was a political/religious leader who used the video as an excuse as masses are not eager and willing to kill anyone.
> ...masses are not eager and willing to kill anyone.
Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob
on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get
out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? ...Voice or no
voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the
leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being
attacked, and denounce the peace makers for lack of patriotism and
exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.
― Herman Goering
Many think that you can make the masses eager to kill.
Additionally, the effects of the anonymity that mobs naturally provide even without the influence of leadership should not be ignored.
I love anonymity, I really do. I think the ability to have it is vital in any free society. Even so, I cannot deny that it has its downsides, and lowering social inhibitions is one of the more serious ones.
But what do the nazis and the [x] have in common that we dont here? isn't the answer they had dictatorial/failed states? You can counter-example us southern lychings but that seems to be the exception that proves the rule. the demos in western democracies is not the mob of the [x] street.
[edit: subject is mob violence leading to murder, etc]
Mob mentality can be seen in things as minor as riots over football matches.
It is one of many aspects that can contribute to violence in situations like these. I wouldn't say it is even a primary cause of the violence in this particular case, but I would say it plays a role.
