Internet Arguments for charity

November 29, 2007 6:46 PM

Back in April you guys posted and commented on a cartoon I did called "Internet Argument." Matt's allowed me to mention here as a follow-up that I am now auctioning off the original cartoon with all proceeds going to charity.

I usually do political cartoons but this one was more about internet, blogging, and general online bickering, and got a lot of attention from sites like MeFi, Slashdot, and Fark. So hopefully some of the people who liked the cartoon might like having the original and, you know, helping sick kids.

100% of the proceeds will go to the Child's Play charity organization delivering toys, video games, and funding for pediatric research to hospitals across North America. I'm kicking in for the shipping and posting fees so no funds have to be shaved off the top.

posted by XQUZYPHYR to MetaFilter-related at 6:46 PM (37 comments total)

Good for you, XQUZ! I hope it make a bundle.
posted by yhbc at 6:53 PM on November 29, 2007

I bid.
posted by jessamyn at 6:57 PM on November 29, 2007

There's no way I can ever afford to have a chance at being the top bidder on that! Awesomeness on you, shame on me.

(GIANT PICTURE OF A SIREN!)
posted by wendell at 7:17 PM on November 29, 2007

good on you! child's play is my favorite charity. this will earn you karma, sir.
posted by shmegegge at 7:35 PM on November 29, 2007

Alright, let's get this thing started.
posted by chrismear at 7:44 PM on November 29, 2007

Question - how do you handle the placement of the word balloons when the lettering is digital? It was very surprising to see not only no words, but no balloons, on the original art. This seems like it would really be difficult where the font and presentation differs from panel to panel, like in the "bandwidth exceeded" panel in this particular cartoon.
posted by yhbc at 7:44 PM on November 29, 2007

I bid.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:50 PM on November 29, 2007

I bid, but perhaps it is more accurate to say all I really did was run the price up 60 bucks as I was auto outbidded each time.
posted by edgeways at 7:57 PM on November 29, 2007

I did not bid, but I totally support those who do. Good on ya, XQ.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:09 PM on November 29, 2007

I just checked and the bid was over $300. I can't afford to top that, but I think what you're doing is wonderful. Will you let us know if a Mefite is the winning bidder?
posted by amyms at 8:35 PM on November 29, 2007

Thats really cool XQUZYPHYR. I'm going to send a link to some friends and let them know about it.
posted by Sailormom at 8:40 PM on November 29, 2007

I totally cannot afford to bid on this, but this is amazing. Also, giant picture of a siren! gave me the giggles.

My hat's off to you for doing this!
posted by Verdandi at 9:15 PM on November 29, 2007

Zounds!
posted by cortex at 9:25 PM on November 29, 2007

Useless declaration supporting the cause which reveals me to be a cheap bastard who won't be bidding.
posted by stevis23 at 9:40 PM on November 29, 2007

Comment seconding stevis23, and also wishing I had commented in the passive voice earlier, so as to facilitate others' seconding me instead.
posted by cgc373 at 11:44 PM on November 29, 2007

Unseemly bragging that I have more than enough disposable income to be the winning bidder, followed by not-very-subtle snarky remark that I don't find the item interesting enough to be worthy of my cash.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:32 AM on November 30, 2007

Holy crap, amyms. When I went to sleep last night jessamyn's $125 bid was winning. This is sort of unreal.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 4:47 AM on November 30, 2007

Brief lamentation from the OP's ideological archenemy about how difficult he finds it to balance his dislike for the cartoonist against the respectable quality of the cartoon and obvious worthiness of the cause.
posted by Kwantsar at 4:50 AM on November 30, 2007

Pleasant reminder that those who don't feel like bidding for whatever reason can still donate to the charity on their own.
posted by cmonkey at 6:05 AM on November 30, 2007

Assertion that cmonkey is some kinda commie or something.
posted by cortex at 6:23 AM on November 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Sidebar request.
posted by theora55 at 6:35 AM on November 30, 2007

Smug denunciation of the artist as a hack, by someone who has never produced anything saleable.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:09 AM on November 30, 2007 [2 favorites]

Counterpoint that cortex is a cryptofascist.
posted by cmonkey at 7:14 AM on November 30, 2007

Granted!
posted by jessamyn at 7:14 AM on November 30, 2007

Sidebar action with a sideline to childplay homepage ?
posted by iamabot at 9:02 AM on November 30, 2007

*cuts*

*pastes*

"Every single one of your comics except that one about drugs sucks ass."

But seriously, this is awesome. Best of luck.
posted by Bugg at 9:52 AM on November 30, 2007

Sidebar action with a sideline to childplay homepage ?

Pretty please?
posted by cowbellemoo at 11:06 AM on November 30, 2007

Sidebar action with a sideline to childplay homepage ?

Is this a joke I'm not getting? It's THERE.
posted by jessamyn at 11:21 AM on November 30, 2007

omigosh sowwy! (hides)
posted by cowbellemoo at 11:35 AM on November 30, 2007

This is being sold for charity. What will be the value assigned to the artwork? The amount of the winning bid in excess of the value received for that bid is tax deductible if you itemize.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 5:25 PM on November 30, 2007

JohnnyGunn- I am not 100% sure, but I believe that because you are technically paying me for property sold on eBay, I am then obligated to donate said money to MissionFish (the charity liason) which classifies the donation as a cash donation on my part in whatever amount the winning bid is. I've never done this before so again, I'm not 100% sure, but if it's a serious concern feel free to e-mail me and I'll try to find out some more information.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 8:29 PM on November 30, 2007

Okay, follow-up. Via MissionFish: Because I'm selling the item as an individual and there is no inherent assessed value, the buyer cannot claim a tax deduction for the winning bid, since legally the donation to the charity is actually the money the seller received in payment. Hope that answers the question.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 8:40 PM on November 30, 2007

XQUZ, the question boils down to what the "basis" (value) is in the original artwork. You can (quite legitimately, IMO) claim a charitable deduction for the full amount of the winning bid on your 2007 return. That value is established by what some non-related party was willing to pay for your artwork, with the knowledge that the proceeds woould be donated to charity.

The IRS, however, could say there was a value in the artwork separate and apart from its worth as a charitable donation. You could take the position that no one would give you a single red cent for it, and hey, that just might be the case. If you could prove it, then the IRS would have no case whatsover.

On the other hand, the IRS could say that their exhaustive and comprehensive analysis of the FARK archives has established that you could have sold that original artwork on the open market for X dollars. If THAT is the case, then the amount you were entitled to deduct on your tax return was only the amount it was sold for less X.

Sorry for the lenghty response, but hey, IAAL (but I am not providing specific legal advice in this particular case)! Now, how about responding to my comics-related question from up above?
posted by yhbc at 8:48 PM on November 30, 2007

cortex writes "Assertion that cmonkey is some kinda commie or something."

Baseless insinuation that Hitler was also some kinda commie.
posted by bugbread at 2:20 AM on December 1, 2007

yhbc- sorry, I didn't see the previous question. I've done shows with other cartoonists, and we've discusses how there's a fair balance between people who buy original art and want it completely unadulterated, and people who would love to have the original but "cleaned up" to be a presentable display piece. So for anyone who buys an original, I offer to have all the digitally-added text features printed out on archival paper, which I then cut out and place onto the original art.

Here's examples of a previous original I "fixed up" at the buyer's request. All the dialog balloons, as well as the image in the third panel, are not part of the original drawing.

1 - 2 - 3
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 5:31 AM on December 1, 2007

And as far as the tax thing goes, like I said, if you think otherwise by all means contact MissionFish and/or the IRS... I didn't even think about the tax stuff until someone asked but from their site all I know is when the auction's over I'll get a receipt indicating a donation of the winning bid made to the charity. I really don't care about whether I get a tax donation or not so if it's seriously a concern for you and you win the auction by all means let's cross that bridge when we come to it and figure it out then.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 5:34 AM on December 1, 2007

The auction is over, and thanks to the winning bidder, we've just raised $375.00 for charity.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 4:44 AM on December 8, 2007