a hero? he knew that what he was doing was illegal. while smart, he was a criminal.
On Jan 17, 9:31 am, Bruce Majors <[email protected]> wrote: > -------- > > ** > The inspiring heroism of Aaron > Swartz<http://www.sott.net/article/256247-The-inspiring-heroism-of-Aaron-Swartz> > Glenn Greenwald > Guardian > 2013-01-13 19:42:00 > > [image: > The_internet_activist_Aar_010.jpg]<http://www.sott.net/image/image/s6/127241/full/The_internet_activist_...> > Aaron Swartz, the computer programmer and internet freedom activist, committed > suicide on > Friday<http://www.sott.net/article/256200-Reddit-cofounder-and-online-activi...>in > New York at the age of 26. As the incredibly moving remembrances from > his friends such as Cory > Doctorow<http://boingboing.net/2013/01/12/rip-aaron-swartz.html>and > Larry > Lessig <http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully>attest, > he was unquestionably brilliant but also - like most everyone - a > complex human being plagued by demons and flaws. For many reasons, I don't > believe in whitewashing someone's life or beatifying them upon death. But, > to me, much of Swartz's tragically short life was filled with acts that are > genuinely and, in the most literal and noble sense, heroic. I think that's > really worth thinking about today. > > At the age of 14, Swartz played a key role in developing the RSS software > that is still widely used to enable people to manage what they read on the > internet. As a teenager, he also played a vital role in the creation of > Reddit, the wildly popular social networking news site. When Conde Nast > purchased Reddit, Swartz received a substantial sum of money at a very > young age. He became something of a legend in the internet and programming > world before he was 18. His path to internet mogul status and the great > riches it entails was clear, easy and virtually guaranteed: a path which so > many other young internet entrepreneurs have found irresistible, > monomaniacally devoting themselves to making more and more money long after > they have more than they could ever hope to spend. > > But rather obviously, Swartz had little interest in devoting his life to > his own material enrichment, despite how easy it would have been for him.As > Lessig wrote: "Aaron had literally done nothing in his life 'to make > > money' . . . Aaron was always and only working for (at least his conception > of) the public good." *Comment:* > [image: View on Sott.net] <http://www.sott.net/article/-> > > __._,_.___ > Reply via web > post<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthSeekersElection2004/post;_ylc=X3oD...> > Reply > to sender <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', > '[email protected]?subject\x3dRe%3A%20%5D%20The%20inspiring%20heroism%20of%20Aaron%20Swartz');> > Reply > to group <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', > '[email protected]?subject\x3dRe%3A%20%5D%20The%20inspiring%20heroism%20of%20Aaron%20Swartz');> > Start > a New > Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthSeekersElection2004/post;_ylc=X3oD...> > Messages > in this > topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthSeekersElection2004/message/46356;...>(1) > Recent Activity: > > Visit Your > Group<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthSeekersElection2004;_ylc=X3oDMTJmO...> > [image: Yahoo! > Groups]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYzA5NjdjBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycEl...> > Switch to: Text-Only <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', > '[email protected]?subject\x3dChange+Delivery+Format:+Traditional');>, > Daily Digest <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', > '[email protected]?subject\x3dEmail+Delivery:+Digest');>• > Unsubscribe <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', > '[email protected]?subject\x3dUnsubscribe');>• > Terms > of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> • Send us Feedback > <javascript:_e({}, > 'cvml', > '[email protected]?subject\x3dFeedback+on+the+redesigned+individual+mail+v1');> > . > > __,_._,___ -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
