SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
TechDirt reports
Last week, Joi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab (and a very sharp thinker on a variety of topics related to innovation) announced a really cool new award that the lab was putting together: a Rewarding Disobedience award, for $250,000, funded by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman:
This prize is a one-time experiment that, if successful, we will consider repeating in the future. It will go to a person or group engaged in what we believe is excellent disobedience for the benefit of society. The disobedience that we would like to call out is the kind that seeks to change society in a positive way, and is consistent with a set of key principles. The principles include non-violence, creativity, courage, and taking responsibility for one's actions. The disobedience can be in--but is not limited to--the fields of scientific research, civil rights, freedom of speech, human rights, and the freedom to innovate.
[...] I particularly like Michael Petricone's suggestion that the award should be named after Aaron Swartz. [...] One [thing] that becomes clear from the book [The Idealist] was the absolute disbelief by Swartz and his family of the fact that MIT refused to support Swartz after his arrest. The university basically turned its back on him completely. It's something that the university still ought to do something about, and naming this award after Swartz would be a step in the right direction.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Thursday July 28 2016, @05:25PM
Or Gandhi? Or another revolutionary leader? Seems like they were the ones whose efforts benefited the largest swaths of society on multiple levels, and who from the beginning put their lives on the line for their cause.
I really don't like downplaying Aaron Swartz's contributions to make my point, but it seems like it could be associated with someone who took on a broader (sometimes national), more longitudinal (?) problem affecting people's lives. And if it's worth anything, I feel a sting every time I remember how the justice system railroaded him into suicide.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by DannyB on Thursday July 28 2016, @05:39PM
In the 21st century, Internet Freedom issues ARE broad issues affecting large swaths of society on multiple levels.
Maybe not completely in the way you are thinking. But these issues affect almost everyone at some level. And most people are still unaware of just now much.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Thursday July 28 2016, @05:46PM
Gandhi was willing to face prison time for his beliefs. Overall, he spent about 7 years in jail. I think that speaks to the "and taking responsibility for one's actions." bit.
Not to downplay the tragedy and serious issue of prosecutorial overreach but civil disobedience requires that willingness.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Thursday July 28 2016, @06:23PM
Your description is better -- I should have rephrased "justice system" as "malicious prosecution". And it does burn whenever I think or read about it.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Thursday July 28 2016, @09:32PM
Or, instead of dead people, Edward Snowden?
🌻🌻 [google.com]