News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on MIT releases report on its actions in the Aaron Swartz case. Parent comment

Re:MIT releases report on its actions in the Aaron Swartz case by chaostheory on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @01:49PM (#6128674)
Of course he did, just like Rosa Parks and MLK Jr knowingly broke laws that they felt were unjust, but that's besides the point. The main point is that MIT could have done what JSTOR did and made it right. They didn't. To add insult to injury, now they're doing everything they can to hide information relevant to the case.

I also really hate arguments that blame the victim.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:MIT releases report on its actions in the Aaron Swartz case by grauniad on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @04:25AM (#6132477)
Jesus Christ, you're serious here?

He broke the law. Then he committed suicide. I don't think there's much debate to be had about where any blame lies.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:MIT releases report on its actions in the Aaron Swartz case by chaostheory on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @11:26AM (#6134384)
larrys, you haven't disputed any of my points other than telling me that I'm wrong, which makes sense since you're unwilling to use your real HN account.

> He broke the law.

Was the law that was broken make sense? Was the response to a victimless crime appropriate?

> Then he committed suicide.

You're acting like people dealing with a serious mental illness for years can easily make the same mundane choices that people without mental illness do everyday. It's more complicated than that.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:MIT releases report on its actions in the Aaron Swartz case by grauniad on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @03:35PM (#6136299)
I'm not larrys. All I'm saying is that he clearly had his own demons, and his own problems. He decided to break the law, knowing what the result would be. Then he decided to end his own life. A sad tale, but the law is the law.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:MIT releases report on its actions in the Aaron Swartz case by chaostheory on Thursday August 01, 2013 @12:00AM (#6138559)
Yeah whatever.

> A sad tale, but the law is the law.

Some laws are unjust, ridiculous, or both. There's also something called "the spirit of the law" as well.

[ Parent | on HN ]