I had a passing knowledge of Aaron but did not know too much about him beyond his involvement in Reddit. It’s very sad nonetheless to hear of his passing this weekend past. At his own hand shows perhaps a despair he may have had as a result of his legal issues.
Aaron’s story will ring true with many of us on the internet. Many who perceive the all to heavy hand of governments, commercial entities and others who put pride, greed and money above basic human rights. Aaron wanted to make sure that information was shared with everyone, not just those who could afford it. As a result, he was victimised by a US government seemingly hell bent on keeping information shuttered in a carefully selected box, information that should be available to all.
Others thought ( and do think ) the same as Aaron, and the cacophony of voices that have graced the internet since his passing, are proof that he was, and is not alone. John Atkinson wrote the following:
Aaron Swartz is what I wish I was. I am a bright technologist, but I’ve never built anything of note. I have strong opinions about how to improve this world, but I’ve never acted to bring them to pass. I have thoughts every day that I would share with the world, but I allow my fears to convince me to keep them to myself. If I were able to stop being afraid of what the world would think of me, I could see myself making every decision that Aaron made that ultimately led to his untimely death. This upsets me immensely. I am upset that we have a justice system that would persecute me the way it did Aaron. I am upset that I have spent 27 years of my life having made no discernible difference to the world around me. Most of all I am upset that Aaron’s work here is done when there is so much more he could have accomplished.
All too often, we are goaded into a corner by our fears. Notwithstanding responsibility for our actions, we have a voice, and we need to use it.