These are two examples among countless ones in Western culture. It matters ALOT in the aggregate. How we are depicted influences and is influenced by how we are materially treated in the world. Puerto Rican poverty is created by gringo policy, justified by gringo cultural ideas.

The former is not as obviously mean as the latter, but they come from the same ignorant place. They both MIS-represent my island from gringo perspectives. Slaves or garbage, what a choice! And they both get minimized the same way - "It's just a game" or "it's just a joke".

Puerto Rican media is STILL POPPING OFF about the whole "Puerto Rico island of garbage" comment. We will continue to do so through the election. It's bittersweet for me; I love to see it, but it also presses on a wound with regard to my own situation in board gaming.

Ngl, I’m excited.

Hello! Thanks so much for live-tweeting my talk, and for prompting @rericreuss.bsky.social to get me an invite here. SJW gamers unite!