Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by smsm42 on Saturday September 20, 2014 @03:00PM
(#8345276)
The choice between "100% OK" and 30 years in jail is a false dichotomy. Nobody says Aaron Swartz was a saint without any flaw, and one can easily find many ways in which in hindsight one could suggest better action, especially if one doesn't actually have to act on their own advice. But that he was a fallible human being is not the same as accepting the treatment he's got from the US government. He was trying to fix an injustice and he was not harming anyone. Prosecutors have enough power and discretion to accommodate that if they wanted. They didn't want.
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Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by res0nat0r on Saturday September 20, 2014 @03:11PM
(#8345307)
30 years in jail is a false dichotomy and people need to quit parroting that in relation to this case, it was never ever in any way going to be close to that.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by smsm42 on Sunday September 21, 2014 @12:42AM
(#8346279)
Well, 30 years maybe a bit exaggerated, but multiple years in jail were well on the agenda if Swartz would not take the plea agreement, as the facts of the case were against him and the jury probably would not (and would be instructed not to) relate to his motives and why he did it. Then it would come to the sentencing and as the feds were determined to make an example of him... it would be hard to expect much leniency, especially given the fact that Swartz probably didn't think what he did was wrong (even if how he did it may be against he law) so he would not get the "regret" leniency too. So maybe not 30 years, but multiple years still, which is very harsh and can ruin one's life.
P.S. btw, please look up what "dichotomy" is. You can not have dichotomy of one thing, at least in the meaning of the word we're dealing with here.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by res0nat0r on Sunday September 21, 2014 @01:35AM
(#8346375)
He was given 6 months and should have taken it.
Many people who violate the law think what they did wasn't wrong, but this has no bearing in the matter when it comes to sentencing.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by smsm42 on Sunday September 21, 2014 @02:03AM
(#8346430)
6 months and the status of convicted felon. This is not an easy thing to take.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by res0nat0r on Sunday September 21, 2014 @02:13AM
(#8346443)
He shouldn't have repeatedly broken the law if he wasn't prepared to deal with the legal consequences.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by smsm42 on Sunday September 21, 2014 @02:30AM
(#8346470)
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8345282
To this, I can only add that there are a lot of bad laws and even more, much more, bad prosecutions, so sounding like every prosecution is right and if you don't like it, just don't break the law, is not only sounding mean and morally obtuse, but also very uninformed.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by res0nat0r on Sunday September 21, 2014 @02:47AM
(#8346498)
Sorry but serving six months jail time (and most likely less) for repeatedly breaking and entering is perfectly reasonable to me and not obtuse whatsoever.
Most on HN are outraged with this type of sentencing because it's someone they liked, but if it was anyone else it would be perfectly acceptable.
Re:FBI and Secret Service Files: Aaron Swartz
by smsm42 on Sunday September 21, 2014 @03:07AM
(#8346524)
Did you spend time in federal prison? Are you dealing with convicted felon status? You seem to be awfully quick recommending people to sit in jail and accept the life of a convicted felon. It's either you recommend it from experience of it not being a big deal, or it is the obtuseness.