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MIT Failed him - spectacularly so. If they had declared that they had no wish to see him in prison and used their (considerable) influence he would be alive. I

MIT Failed him - spectacularly so. If they had declared that they had no wish to see him in prison and used their (considerable) influence he would be alive. Instead, this political, vindictive creature http://wgbhnews.org/post/carmen-ortiz-spotlight-under-fire http://wgbhnews.org/post/carmen-ortiz-spotlight-under-fire and her nasty acolytes in search of a high profile "Scalp" pushed him over the edge. A terrible waste and a horrible use (misuse) of prosecutorial discretion.

fnordfnordfnord 11y ago
Seems like a good place to drop the Ableson report http://swartz-report.mit.edu/docs/report-to-the-president.pdf http://swartz-report.mit.edu/docs/report-to-the-president.pd...
ryanlol 11y ago
>he would be alive. How do you know? Aaron had been talking about suicide years before this, maybe we should just blame reddit? Edit: Why the downvotes? Fact is that we don't know why Aaron killed himself, but we do know that he had a prior history of depression and in 2007 posted what seemed very much like a suicide note. Frankly, making claims like "If x had (not) done y he'd still be alive" and presenting them as facts is straight up disgusting.
- 746F7475 11y ago
  Well, there are always the tinfoil-hat-theories
- pluma 11y ago
  We don't know whether he would still be alive. We do know he wouldn't have been in the situation in which he ended his life. Claiming that victims of depression who have killed themselves would have killed themselves anyway is no less disgusting.
  - ryanlol 11y ago
    We really don't know how much of an effect MIT declaring that they don't want Swartz in prison would've had on his prosecution, speculating on that is rather pointless anyway since we never got to hear his sentence. I never made such a claim. I specifically brought up the previous depression to make clear that we really don't know what was going on his life and what ended up driving him over the edge.
    - Chathamization 11y ago
      MIT could have also simply locked the door to the closet. Or JSTOR could have simply revoked his account. Instead, the police were sent after him.
      - ryanlol 11y ago
        That's pretty much what they did, but Swartz didn't stop before they called the police. http://volokh.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-charges/ http://volokh.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-charges/ is a good read btw.
        Chathamization 11y ago
        But they didn't lock the door. Or take the computer that he left there (and it seems they knew it). They didn't stop guests from having unfettered access to JSTOR. They decided the best course of action was to send police after Swartz.
        ryanlol 11y ago
        >But they didn't lock the door. I hope you never forget to lock your doors. > They didn't stop guests from having unfettered access to JSTOR. They actively took steps to prevent Swartz from scraping it >They decided the best course of action was to send police after Swartz. Yes, for breaking and entering. Fuck MIT.
- appleflaxen 11y ago
  Downvotes because "he would be alive" is rhetorical.
baldfat 11y ago
Have a friend in a Federal investigation. No evidence besides people who did something wrong willing to turn State's Evidence. Heck he was under surveillance for 2 years and NOTHING. He is threatened with 25 years to life.
- ryanlol 11y ago
  Your friend should probably look for an attorney then.
  - baldfat 11y ago
    Has cost them over $200,000 in lawyer fees and to go to trial is over $1,500,000 at least. Doesn't sound very justice. Government has spent over a millions already with an empty war chest for trial.

fnordfnordfnord 11y ago

Seems like a good place to drop the Ableson report http://swartz-report.mit.edu/docs/report-to-the-president.pdf http://swartz-report.mit.edu/docs/report-to-the-president.pd...

ryanlol 11y ago

>he would be alive. How do you know? Aaron had been talking about suicide years before this, maybe we should just blame reddit? Edit: Why the downvotes? Fact is that we don't know why Aaron killed himself, but we do know that he had a prior history of depression and in 2007 posted what seemed very much like a suicide note. Frankly, making claims like "If x had (not) done y he'd still be alive" and presenting them as facts is straight up disgusting.

746F7475 11y ago
Well, there are always the tinfoil-hat-theories
pluma 11y ago
We don't know whether he would still be alive. We do know he wouldn't have been in the situation in which he ended his life. Claiming that victims of depression who have killed themselves would have killed themselves anyway is no less disgusting.
- ryanlol 11y ago
  We really don't know how much of an effect MIT declaring that they don't want Swartz in prison would've had on his prosecution, speculating on that is rather pointless anyway since we never got to hear his sentence. I never made such a claim. I specifically brought up the previous depression to make clear that we really don't know what was going on his life and what ended up driving him over the edge.
  - Chathamization 11y ago
    MIT could have also simply locked the door to the closet. Or JSTOR could have simply revoked his account. Instead, the police were sent after him.
    - ryanlol 11y ago
      That's pretty much what they did, but Swartz didn't stop before they called the police. http://volokh.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-charges/ http://volokh.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-charges/ is a good read btw.
      - Chathamization 11y ago
        But they didn't lock the door. Or take the computer that he left there (and it seems they knew it). They didn't stop guests from having unfettered access to JSTOR. They decided the best course of action was to send police after Swartz.
        ryanlol 11y ago
        >But they didn't lock the door. I hope you never forget to lock your doors. > They didn't stop guests from having unfettered access to JSTOR. They actively took steps to prevent Swartz from scraping it >They decided the best course of action was to send police after Swartz. Yes, for breaking and entering. Fuck MIT.
appleflaxen 11y ago
Downvotes because "he would be alive" is rhetorical.

baldfat 11y ago

Have a friend in a Federal investigation. No evidence besides people who did something wrong willing to turn State's Evidence. Heck he was under surveillance for 2 years and NOTHING. He is threatened with 25 years to life.

ryanlol 11y ago
Your friend should probably look for an attorney then.
- baldfat 11y ago
  Has cost them over $200,000 in lawyer fees and to go to trial is over $1,500,000 at least. Doesn't sound very justice. Government has spent over a millions already with an empty war chest for trial.