MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#1

Post by jefftchan » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:17 PM UTC

MIT President on Aaron Swartz
pastebin.com

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#2

Post by danso » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:27 PM UTC

I will not attempt to summarize here the complex events of the past two years. Now is a time for everyone involved to reflect on their actions, and that includes all of us at MIT. I have asked Professor Hal Abelson to lead a thorough analysis of MIT's involvement from the time that we first perceived unusual activity on our network in fall 2010 up to the present. I have asked that this analysis describe the options MIT had and the decisions MIT made, in order to understand and to learn from the actions MIT took. I will share the report with the MIT community when I receive it.

That was a much more contrite and accountable message than I had expected. When he said "not attempt to summaraize...Now is a time for..." I expected the sentence to end with "now is the time to grieve and celebrate Aaron's life, not cast blame"...

Certainly, the same message and promises won't be made by the government handlers.

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#3

Post by michaelfeathers » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:29 PM UTC

Why pastebin?

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#4

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:31 PM UTC

michaelfeathers wrote: post #3

Why pastebin?

[deleted]

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#5

Post by kamkazemoose » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:31 PM UTC

michaelfeathers wrote: post #3

Why pastebin?

It was probably originally an e-mail sent to everyone at MIT based on the 'Dear MIT community'

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#6

Post by sadfaceunread » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:32 PM UTC

kamkazemoose wrote: post #5

michaelfeathers wrote: post #3

Why pastebin?

It was probably originally an e-mail sent to everyone at MIT based on the 'Dear MIT community'

Correct. /Received said email

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#7

Post by kristenlee » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:34 PM UTC

Aaron Swartz was mentally ill and committed suicide as a direct result of his mental illness. He comtemplated suicide in 2007 long before any of this DOJ stuff happened.

http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/dying

Furthermore the "glorification" of his suicide is doing nothing more but encouraging other suicidal "hackers" to go over the edge so they have their "story" and inconsequential blog posts plastered all of Hacker News. The focus should be on figuring out a way to get mental health services to those who need it most. Not a witch hunt for every person who had something to do with Aaron's prosecution for crimes he knowingly committed.

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#8

Post by rhizome » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:38 PM UTC

"Whoopsy. Also: throwing Prof. Abelson under the bus."

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#9

Post by wilfra » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:39 PM UTC

michaelfeathers wrote: post #3

Why pastebin?

For anonymity. The person who posted it is likely an MIT Student/Alumnus/Faculty who received the email and others might not like them sharing it.

Re: MIT President on Aaron Swartz

#10

Post by mhartl » Sun, Jan 13, 2013, 9:40 PM UTC

kristenlee wrote: post #7

Aaron Swartz was mentally ill and committed suicide as a direct result of his mental illness. He comtemplated suicide in 2007 long before any of this DOJ stuff happened. http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/dying Furthermore the "glorification" of his suicide is doing nothing more but encouraging other suicidal "hackers" to go over the edge so they have their "story" and inconsequential blog posts plastered all of Hacker Ne…

We can both strive to provide mental health services to those in need and work to prevent overzealous prosecution (which in this case was a major contributory factor to an avoidable tragedy). The two aren't mutually exclusive.