One of the features of being on a “crazy roller coaster” is that one’s emotions rapidly oscillate between both familiar and unfamiliar extremes. At times, one has high hopes. The next moment, one has high anxiety that plunges into despair.

I can confirm from personal experience that even mundane and commonplace encounters with the legal system can cause debilitating gastro-intestinal distress, migraine headaches, and long-lasting clinical depression.

The entire US legal system (including criminal, civil, and family court divisions) is routinely used in an outrageously abusive manner.

Those who are traumatized, stigmatized, or victimized by such shenanigans within the legal system may suffer what has come to be called Legal Abuse Syndrome.

If you’re lucky, Legal Abuse Syndrome will merely leave you disillusioned or depressed, without plunging you into a state of irreversible despair.

Indeed I did misspell! – I did not claim to know anything about anyone. That’s was my personal point of view regarding this case. Also, why didn’t he do this at Harvard??? (where he was affiliated with)- Why MIT? Also, why did he go back to the MIT’s closet a couple of times knowing that, what he was doing it was an illegal act? (he proved by covering his face multiple times) He stole MIT’s network to do what he did – Anyone knows that stealing a network is an illegal act. What he did it was completely unacceptable – If he was affiliated with MIT I feel that it would be a different case and approach –

“If you know that the pool that you are going to jump is full of sharks…” I doubt Swartz had any idea how many sharks the government had in its pool”

(My comment to your statement above is: a pool with sharks is a pool with sharks regardless of single or multiple sharks. He was aware of the situation, as per his behavior. He came back to the MIT’s room several times…. – he was smart enough to know that, the pool he was jumping it was a dangerous one- considering to be MIT’s “pool”(specially that his father was a contractor at the IP division and SPECIALLY that he wasn’t affiliated with MIT). Aaron was smart enough to know what he was doing. MIT had the right in my view to drop the charges or continue with the charges. That’s was up to them and their principles and I completely respect that. No one, personally, should blame MIT for their decision (specially at Aaron’s memorial). Right or wrong – it is what it is! What he did it was wrong and he was not strong enough to man up for his acts. Indeed 35 years it was an outrageous time in jail- as per my understanding they were trying to negotiate a shorter time. Yesterday’s memorial was a circus of blame – I just wish Aron’s, I mean, Aaron’s family were a little classier and respectful. But I guess, C’est la vie! (let me know if you find any misspellings ….:) ) – Thanks –

“If you know that the pool that you are going to jump is full of sharks…” I doubt Swartz had any idea how many sharks the government had in its pool.

There is a difference. Aaron was depressed. The prosecution made it worse. but this was all about the prosecution not the suicide per se.

thanks for your comments. it’s clear that this sparks really deep and raw feelings.