Re:MIT President on Aaron Swartz
by rexreed on Sunday January 13, 2013 @08:02PM
(#5052682)
That may or may not be the case, but despite that he has followers and fans and supporters in the hundreds if not more, and that's an accomplishment that many others do not have. Regardless of his accomplishments whether they be in full or partial, he stood for something and in the end suffered because of it. And this is why so many are moved by what has happened.
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1) Getting followers/fans is not an accomplishment, unless you consider (say) Snooki "more accomplished" than your hero.
2) He didn't suffer because he stood for something, he suffered because he got caught, which he didn't foresee. Subtle difference. Too bad he couldn't handle it.
It would seem to me that the caliber of those that support him and speak for him are of a different type than those that support and follow Snooki. The ones certainly that are speaking up for him now and have given him respect are certainly ones that I respect.
And I know him as much, or as little, as you, so I don't idolize or hero worship him -- I'm fairly new to this whole conversation. I wouldn't presume that he would be my hero any more than I would assume he is your nemesis. I'm just not as ready to denounce someone I know so little about. I am not saying that your points are incorrect, it is just that they don't acknowledge that those that DO indeed know him well have chosen to put their faith and support in him, regardless of whether or not he was as unaccomplished or as malicious as you say he was.