The creator of the political cartoon Elon Musk used to illustrate his present political opinions is seeking to money in after his sketch sparked a viral social media debate.
Colin Wright, a contributing editor for the net tradition commentary website Quillette, is promoting the cartoon as an NFT and has opened bidding on the OpenSea digital market.
The auction page for the drawing – dubbed “my political journal” – confirmed at the least two energetic bids. The highest bid for 1.25 ether – a distinguished cryptocurrency token – is price practically $3,600.
“The public sale for the #NFT of my political cartoon that @elonmusk shared (230K retweets, 1.3M likes) is presently at 1.25 $ETH! There are 13 days left to bid, so don’t miss your likelihood to personal a little bit of web historical past!” Wright wrote in an replace on Friday afternoon.
Musk induced a stir on Thursday when he tweeted out Wright’s cartoon. It depicts a stick determine standing barely left-of-center on the political spectrum as of 2008 – solely to finish up as right-leaning conservative in 2021 as a determine labeled “woke progressive” step by step moved additional left through the intervening years.
Musk, who’s within the course of of shopping for Twitter for $44 billion, later elaborated on his political stance, noting he was a staunch supporter of Democratic former President Barack Obama. Nevertheless, he asserted the present Democratic celebration has been “hijacked by extremists.”
“The far left hates everybody, themselves included!” Musk tweeted Friday morning.
Musk adopted minutes later, including, “However I’m no fan of the far proper both. Let’s have much less hate and extra love.”
The NFT public sale isn’t Wright’s solely effort to monetize the cartoon. In a put up thanking Musk for his put up, he additionally posted an Etsy itemizing for a mug depicting the political doodle.
In one other tweet, Wright stated he “actually [loved] the dialogue it has kindled.”
“Although admittedly simplistic, I feel it speaks to a reality many really feel. In fact, politics are extra complicated than might be captured in a political cartoon with stick figures,” he stated.
Musk’s determination to share the drawing additional roiled left-leaning Twitter customers and pundits, who’ve already expressed concern that his dedication to free speech absolutism will clear the way in which for extra abusive and dangerous posts on the platform.
