4 ms·
Of course it had a role in his suicide, but no person who was not already very mentally ill would have ended their life in that situation. The narrative that pr
by xadhominemx 6y ago
Of course it had a role in his suicide, but no person who was not already very mentally ill would have ended their life in that situation. The narrative that prosecutors wanted to effectively ruin his life for his criminal offenses is just wrong.
- SirSourdough 6y agoThey were threatening him with 50 years in jail and a million in fines or accepting an immoral (to him, and as a more broadly held belief of many) punishment with no opportunity to defend himself and the prospect of a lifelong record of serious crimes. How is that not an effort to ruin someone’s life?
- breck 6y agoPlenty of great people like Mandela spent a long time in jail for unjust reasons, and continued their protest from there. I think aaronsw could have done the same except he had bad luck and wasn't in a strong place at a critical time. I don't hold the prosecutors responsible for Aaron's suicide any more than I hold myself responsible for not publicly doing more to help him. From my conversations and dealings with aaron, I believe he was willing to die for his ideas, which were correct and true and just. I hope to god someday we can build the world he envisioned where everyone, regardless of wealth or location or creed, has access to the world's best knowledge and information.
- xadhominemx 6y agoI don’t think Aaron’s criminal record would have impacted his life much at all. If anything it would have burnished his credentials and credibility as an activist.
- selimthegrim 6y agoHe wanted to run for office in the future and saw catching a felony as a risk to that goal
- xadhominemx 6y agoThen he should not have committed a dozen or so felonies