[nikster]

I agree with you in spirit even though I would not call it mental illness. I would call it a deep unconsciousness, a complete entrapment in ones mind, a belief that one is in fact ones thoughts. He was liberated only at the time of his death. Many are stuck in this belief - I certainly was, and certainly at his age. I think therefore I am - nothing could be further from the truth.

That said there are many things being confused and mixed up here - I and probably most on HN feel a sense of incredible loss; I did not know him personally but I wish I had, I admired Aarons hacking skills, his guts, his convictions, and his sheer brilliant intellect. He made the world a better place. I was looking forward to his next big thing. - The loss to his actual friends and family; all we can do is express out heartfelt condolences. - His work and your opinion of it - its unrelated to the above and seems insignificant in comparison. - The governments actions; surely, the man has struck back, those actions were unreasonable, and despicable. But insignificant in comparison with our sense of loss. The government did not kill him - don't give them that victory. We can continue to push back and support open leaks, hacktivists, bradley manning, and so on. This is a fight about power, and its fought between the people and the corporations - even if not everybody is aware of it.