Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
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Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
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Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#2I think stories like this should get more attention
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#3I think stories like this should get more attention
People would rather blame something with a face (blaming the suicide on his lawyer, blaming videogame developers or the NRA for mass shootings, etc.) before admitting that the answer may lie in some science book that was too boring or dull for them to pick up and read. I'm glad this article actually addresses the problem directly: mental illness
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#4I think stories like this should get more attention
People would rather blame something with a face (blaming the suicide on his lawyer, blaming videogame developers or the NRA for mass shootings, etc.) before admitting that the answer may lie in some science book that was too boring or dull for them to pick up and read. I'm glad this article actually addresses the problem directly: mental illness
Yes. Completely agree.
As another example, take Mohamed Bouazizi. He was clearly a very sick man, to light himself on fire like he did.
But the sensationalist press decided to focus---not on his mental illness, which was the only thing to blame for his death---but instead on scapegoating the Tunisian government who rightfully confiscated a few pieces of his property.
EDIT: I'm afraid people aren't understanding the tone of this comment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fNvi6xG-5Y
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#5[deleted]
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#6I think stories like this should get more attention
People would rather blame something with a face (blaming the suicide on his lawyer, blaming videogame developers or the NRA for mass shootings, etc.) before admitting that the answer may lie in some science book that was too boring or dull for them to pick up and read. I'm glad this article actually addresses the problem directly: mental illness
I feel that it has been widely acknowledged that Aaron had problems irrespectively of the trial.
The anger you see is about the trial having him pushed over the edge, which is almost certainly true if at least to a certain degree.
We'll never know whether Aaron would've taken his life without the trial as well, but now we will never get to find out.
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
People would rather blame something with a face (blaming the suicide on his lawyer, blaming videogame developers or the NRA for mass shootings, etc.) before admitting that the answer may lie in some science book that was too boring or dull for them to pick up and read. I'm glad this article actually addresses the problem directly: mental illness
Yes. Completely agree. As another example, take Mohamed Bouazizi. He was clearly a very sick man, to light himself on fire like he did. But the sensationalist press decided to focus---not on his mental illness, which was the only thing to blame for his death---but instead on scapegoating the Tunisian government who rightfully confiscated a few pieces of his property. EDIT: I'm afraid people aren't understanding the t…
I completely disagree.
What Aaron did was fully moral but partially/potentially illegal (see trespassing maybe).
In my mind, nothing more than a month of social work is the justified response to his act. I'm sure most people would agree.
However this is not what happened. He faced up to 35 years in prison, he faced being financially ruined by the case and he faced the option to unwillingly 'force' the people who love him (friends and family) to also face financial issues to help him fight this case.
This would cause problem in any reasonable person.
Why are you both you and the parent suggesting that it is crazy to kill yourself ? It is not crazy. Suicide sometimes is the best way out.
I would rather face death than 35 years in prison. I also understand why someone wouldn't plaid guilty when they are not guilty, in particular if that still means I have to do up to 6 months in jail.
I heard many times people saying I rather die free than live as a prisoner.
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
People would rather blame something with a face (blaming the suicide on his lawyer, blaming videogame developers or the NRA for mass shootings, etc.) before admitting that the answer may lie in some science book that was too boring or dull for them to pick up and read. I'm glad this article actually addresses the problem directly: mental illness
I feel that it has been widely acknowledged that Aaron had problems irrespectively of the trial. The anger you see is about the trial having him pushed over the edge, which is almost certainly true if at least to a certain degree. We'll never know whether Aaron would've taken his life without the trial as well, but now we will never get to find out.
His dream was to improve and help this shitty world.
Aaron had depression regardless of the trial, granted. I think it's quite natural to be depressed given the state of things.
Suicide is another thing altogether, I'm depressed at times but I've never thought of suicide but as I said in other comments in the same situation I would probably be at risk.
And rightly so. In jail I'm not going to help anybody and with my (and perhaps my beloved ones) life financially ruined with a criminal record doesn't really allow anyone to continue any quest to improve things.
His death maybe helped more than him going to jail and everyone forgetting about him. I wonder if this was his plan.
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#9I think stories like this should get more attention
People would rather blame something with a face (blaming the suicide on his lawyer, blaming videogame developers or the NRA for mass shootings, etc.) before admitting that the answer may lie in some science book that was too boring or dull for them to pick up and read. I'm glad this article actually addresses the problem directly: mental illness
There is such a thing as contributing to it. No one doubts that Aaron took his own life and that he had a history of depression. However, add the draconian charges and ....
Re: Aaron Swartz & A Culture of Denial: Depression & Suicide in Tech
#10There are 3 battles which are being fought here, and they should ideally be separated out during discussions.
The trial affected a brilliant person who pushed limits of the world around him, to his limits.
At the same time there are thousands of convicts who have committed far more heinous crimes, and others who are being prosecuted harshly for crimes they didn't commit who don't follow this path.
Aaron died not because of the trial but because of depression. Having dealt with depression and depressed people, I know this fact intimately.
Depression and mental illness are humiliating, and with depression things reach a stage where anything and everything can become a trigger.
The second issue is the over-zealousness of the prosecution, . What they aimed to do is wrong, not just for Aaron but for many other accused in America.
And the finally battle is the one for culture and openness that Aaron was a champion of.
So far I have seen people champion the latter two causes (over-zealousness and open access to information) more than the first (depression).