This is currently the top story on Hacker News. Instead of dealing with the fact that someone's depression caused them to commit suicide, they are casting about for blame.
That's not a very healthy way to deal with this situation. But I realize what you are all doing: you are trying to use his horrible death as a political statement to further your causes (something about making academic papers free and accessible, nothing to die over, especially if you have to deal with the cops).
If you can't do the time, or deal with the repercussions without killing yourself, don't do the crime. Also I find the reaction on Hacker News disgustingly trying to use this to further their narrow agenda.
So to respond to the title of this top thread: who cares if he was chided?? No reason to kill yourself! Give me a break! Show the man some respect.
Suicide is the catalyst, but it is not the reason for the protest. The reason is that no U.S. citizen should face 30 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines, and a trial that would lead to financial ruin (no matter the outcome) for making publicly funded documents public. This reads like something that would happen in China, not here.
I agree that ultimately Aaron is ultimately responsible for his own suicide. Just as surely as the attorney is responsible for bullying, threatening, and overzealous, selective prosecution.
Oh stop. 30+ years for downloading and distributing scientific articles that were paid for by public funds is cruel and unusual punishment. With your attitude, if the law on the books was to punish Rosa Parks with the death penalty than that's what she deserved and she shouldn't have "done the crime if she couldn't do the time." Come one, what pedantic gibberish.
That's not a very healthy way to deal with this situation. But I realize what you are all doing: you are trying to use his horrible death as a political statement to further your causes (something about making academic papers free and accessible, nothing to die over, especially if you have to deal with the cops).
If you can't do the time, or deal with the repercussions without killing yourself, don't do the crime. Also I find the reaction on Hacker News disgustingly trying to use this to further their narrow agenda.
So to respond to the title of this top thread: who cares if he was chided?? No reason to kill yourself! Give me a break! Show the man some respect.