Aaron Swartz commits suicide • Hacker News Board

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#181

Post by daeken » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:47 AM UTC

icelancer wrote: post #169

brainless wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I beg to differ from what you are saying. I do understand your point though, but let me give you another picture. And this I say from personal experience. People around the world go through tough times. For some the path is eased by good friends, family, "miracles", etc. For others the path becomes too difficult to tackle. In the end the person chooses not to fight any longer. As much as we should respect this decisi…

>Every person who has every felt disturbed and suicidal and did not take the step, probably feels good about not taking the step. This is the ultimate example of survivorship bias. Please don't use this line of "argument." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias

Agreed! I'm incredibly glad I didn't commit suicide when things got bad and it was on the table. I would've missed so many amazing moments that have come since then, and I can only imagine I have many more in my future. But if I had done so, it's not as if I could've regretted it.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#182

Post by tomjen3 » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:47 AM UTC

optimiz3 wrote: post #122

w1ntermute wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He was being charged with the felony of downloading/distributing research done using public funding so that it could be made freely available to the taxpayers who funded it. JSTOR had no interest in prosecuting him, but the US Attorney's Office decided to go ahead anyway.

This would be a perfect opportunity for a White House pardon.

Those are only available to the guilty.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#183

Post by benesch » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:47 AM UTC

veemjeem wrote: post #178

judofyr wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you hit someone with enough felony counts sooner or later something will snap. Can we stop the speculations until we actually know what happened? :-(

Do you really think an autopsy will reveal why he decided on suicide?

I think judofyr means that parents/friends/anyone close to Aaron will likely reveal any knowledge they have about his situation in the coming days.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#184

Post by SquareWheel » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:48 AM UTC

Headline is a little misleading as Reddit admins deny his cofounder status.

http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/9r8on/aaron_swar...

https://twitter.com/alexisohanian/status/93374221685755904

Still very sad, of course. I was fully in support of Aaron during the JSTOR fallout.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#185

Post by larve » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:51 AM UTC

madaxe wrote: post #156

jacques_chester wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mean to seem rude, but please, seek help. This doesn't sound like a healthy way to think and feel.

I value my freedom and clarity of mind far more than I do some subjective "happiness", induced by drugs or lengthy stays in facilities, as is the normal treatment for depressive disorders in the UK. The system is not there to help, it's a kafkaesque self-sustaining bureaucracy. I do agree that suicidal thoughts aren't altogether healthy, but I'd also argue that blithely wandering through life without the merest shred…

I don't want to start an argument either, but for the sake of other people. This is a common view about psych medication, if only drugs would be able to fuzz your mind and give you happiness reliably :) I have been diagnosed with bipolar after an intense psychotic and manic break, and have been on medication ever since. To me, it feels like I finally have a stable basis to actually enjoy my freedom, and think clearly. It is a complete contrast to what was before. I don't feel less sharp, but I feel less need to stick my mental blade into everything that shows up. Also I feel happier, and that makes me use and enjoy freedom and mind that much more.

My experiences with the psychiatric system have been extremely positive, even in a small town like the one I live. The system is actually so unbureaucratic that I never received a single bill for all the help I got (except for the medication of course).

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#186

Post by jacques_chester » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:52 AM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #159

Man this so sucks. If you hit someone with enough felony counts sooner or later something can snap. This in response to those that claim the DOJ didn't have anything to do with Aaron killing himself. For some people the mere fact of being suspected of a crime they didn't commit is enough to push them over the edge. When you're placed in a holding cell the police will remove your laces from your boots so you don't han…

You've confused the roles of judges and a prosecutors.

They're not the same.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#187

Post by bytetom » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:52 AM UTC

At 24, he was just a kid. I can't even imagine the amount of stress in his life. Who are we to question or speculate on why he did what he wanted to do. I'm glad he contributed what he did in this world. I'm glad we had 24 years. He decided we weren't getting any more. I never feel sad for suicide. You can't tell people you want to do it or they will have your freedom taken away.

Sorry for bad grammar... small comment boxes make me feel pressured to get out everything in a few lines quickly.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#188

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:53 AM UTC

buro9 wrote: post #173

fredwu wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps he's suffered from clinical depression? http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/verysick

From reading that, it doesn't sound much like clinical depression but a lot like ME. Especially the digestive stuff and how it makes you bed-bound. I've known a couple of people hit really hard by ME (it takes years out of their lives and they are constantly ill and unable to live fully), and depression follows the reality of ME... not the other way around. http://www.meresearch.org.uk/information/whatisme.html Both…

[deleted]

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#189

Post by adrianhoward » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:54 AM UTC

brainless wrote: post #165

paraschopra wrote: post #141

It's easy to deride suicide but fact of the matter is that it is the final but a very powerful option we have at our disposal. Instead of saying that a particular person should not have committed suicide, our hope should be that if a suicide happens, it is well thought through and is not done in haste. If a particular person decides that decades of painful life is much worse than simply ending the existence, who are…

I beg to differ from what you are saying. I do understand your point though, but let me give you another picture. And this I say from personal experience. People around the world go through tough times. For some the path is eased by good friends, family, "miracles", etc. For others the path becomes too difficult to tackle. In the end the person chooses not to fight any longer. As much as we should respect this decisi…

Every person who has every felt disturbed and suicidal and did not take the step, probably feels good about not taking the step.

Having worked as a volunteer on a counselling service for a couple of years I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you are 100% wrong there I'm afraid. Some certainly. Everybody - no.

Re: Aaron Swartz commits suicide

#190

Post by guywithabike » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 9:55 AM UTC

SquareWheel wrote: post #184

Headline is a little misleading as Reddit admins deny his cofounder status. http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/9r8on/aaron_swar... https://twitter.com/alexisohanian/status/93374221685755904 Still very sad, of course. I was fully in support of Aaron during the JSTOR fallout.

https://aaronsw.jottit.com/reddit