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The slaying of Cinna the poet was not to show that the mob was irrational but that they were so enraged with what the conspirators had done to 'mighty' Caesar that anyone who even shared the same name as one of these "honourable men" is not worthy of life.
i think the act is to indicate the inconstansy of the "mob". They swing from supporting Pompey, to Caesar, to Brutus and then to Antony. The act of killing the poet just shows how the mob are capable of being stired up so easily into a riot
My teacher was discussing with us in class about it ands he said that the scene with the mob and Cinna the poet was to show that the citizens were irrational, not that they mistook him for Cinna the conspirator. I think it's more that way too. It makes more sense because he says he's not the other Cinna and they mob him anyway.