We're building a statue of Aaron Swartz (opens in new tab)

This looks like a scam. They’re asking for $5k - 20k individual donations for a statue that (according to the supposed sculptor’s website) will only cost $6,000.

https://www.monumentallabs.co/commissions

Why are they asking for so much money?

Also, the website claims that donations are tax-deductible, but there’s no mention of a registered non-profit organization.

No transparency. So many questions.

Interestingly, this won’t be his first statue. He is among the statues at the Internet archive. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aaron_Swartz_statu... See also - https://www.nualacreed.com/galleries/ceramic-archivists

I've been wanting to endow a chair at the Mechanics Institute Library named after Aaron. Those have apparently gone up to $500 recently, but that still has to be a lot cheaper than a professorship at Stanford or anyplace like that:

https://www.milibrary.org/chair-appeal

My idea is to place it near the computer terminals in the library, so you could sit in it and send out job application emails starting "I currently occupy the Aaron Swartz endowed chair at the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute...". Heh.

We're building a statue of Aaron Swartz.

Our internet is under threat, once again.

The marble bust, to be installed in a public park in SF, will remind us of our internet values: freedom of speech, freedom of access, and privacy.

RSVP for the unveiling on Nov 8th (Aaron's birthday) in SF and DONATE! – http://aaronstatue.org

> Carved in marble, to be installed in a public park in [UNDISCLOSED], San Francisco

Isn’t it unusual to censor the location, wouldn’t this be public information anyone could request from the city?

In my city, in New Zealand, this would have been discussed in committee meetings along with mountains of paperwork and health and safety documents.

The RSVP as an image that might be a render of the statue or bust:

https://lu.ma/qasq8c6u

JSTOR is a disgrace. RIP Aaron Swartz.

I'm not good with names and forgot who he was. I think the website should have given a short reminder.

He is a famous activist behind the Creative Commons. Died too young in 2013 at the age of 26. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz

Would a better tribute be something that's directly related to appropriate internet activism, and not physically tied to a single location that few will ever see/visit/care about?

It's a tragedy when someone commits suicide. I am in favor of open access to scientific literature.

But I don't think he's a hero, and I don't think he deserves a statue.

Aaron is the Martyr of our revolution. He deserves this and much more. It's a total disgrace that the Reddit IPO Prospectus failed to even mention his name.

Aaron Swartz should be remembered but afaik he committed suicide.

As someone with a failed attempt, I hope this doesn't set an example for others to an hero.

Am I too stupid to donate ? Pressing the button only opens a mail form...

this man should be remembered by the younger generations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q6Fzbgs_Lg

Who is we?