2026-03-11
Did Aaron Swartz commit suicide because of his girlfriend?
Disclaimer
Main
- Link to The New Yorker article
- Few days back, I was saying I should find a girlfriend who is okay with prospect of me going to prison.
- I don't know how much Aaron Swartz' decision to commit suicide was influenced by his girlfriend testifying against him. Might be worth pulling up the actual court record to check.
update
- apparently he found another partner after this. still doesnt answer my Q though
- Quinn Norton started relationship with Aaron 2007. (presumably first relationship? Aaron was age 21+-1 I think) Quinn testified against Aaron 2011. Aaron and Quinn broke up 2011. Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman and Aaron started relationship in 2011. Aaron committed suicide 2013.
- quinn was queer and anarchist-leaning, taren worked on many climate orgs.
side note
- taren now working on golden gate institute that is focussed on AI timelines and stuff. they have impressive advisor list. The Curve seems very impressive. I'm personally not interested in talking to AI company employees because they're my outgroup. But I can see why people would value something like this.
- also TIL aaron swartz and holden karnofsky frequently talked to each other
update
- ross ulbricht's girlfriend julia vie also broke up and testified against ross, for increasing involvement in silk road
- honestly I should go get the relationship history of every single major software developer turned activist. directly relevant to the type of work I want to do Big if True
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