The Internet's Own Boy

theodp (442580) writes "The Internet's Own Boy, the documentary about the life and death of Aaron Swartz, was appropriately released on the net as well as in theaters this weekend, and is getting good reviews from critics and audiences. Which is kind of remarkable, since the Achilles' heel of this documentary, as critic Matt Pais notes in his review, is that "everyone on the other side of this story, from the government officials who advocated for Swartz's prosecution to Swartz's former Reddit colleagues to folks at MIT, declined participation in the film." Still, writer/director Brian Knappenberger manages to deliver a compelling story, combining interesting footage with interviews from Swartz's parents, brothers, girlfriends, and others from his Internet projects/activism who go through the stages of joy, grief, anger, and hope that one sees from loved ones at a wake. "This remains an important David vs. Goliath story," concludes Pais, "of a remarkable brain years ahead of his age with the courage and will to fight Congress-and a system built to impede, rather than encourage, progress and common sense. The Internet's Own Boy will upset you. As it should." And Quinn Norton, who inadvertently gave the film its title ("He was the Internet's own boy," Quinn said after Swartz's death, "and the old world killed him."), offers some words of advice for documentary viewers: "Your ass will be in a seat watching a movie. When it is done, get up, and do something.""

Comments

Re:Internet bullies

[BitZtream]

He was bullied into suicide by believable threats of a 50yr prison sentence from authority

... You really believe that? You need mental help as well. There are FAR worse things than the threat of jail time, even 50 years. He had mental issues. There is no other reason to commit suicide. He also was a criminal with criminal intent in every action he took.

He's not a hero, he's a sad mental case. What he did was wrong. Period. End of story. The fact that he killed himself because he couldn't deal with the consequences of his actions doesn't magically make him a hero nor does it make what he did right.

He was never going to live a long and healthy live if he killed himself over this situation. I've been on the receiving end of the threat of long term incarceration in AN AMERICAN PRISON. There are far scarier things in the world. You need some perspective.