What is "Virtue Signalling"

Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years ago to Culture
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I found this article interesting but at the same time amusing. It's amazing how we must have a phrase for everything these days.

Here is another case where we are faced with yet another: "Social" phrase.

A mentor once stated: Most peoples facts are just opinions and not facts at all. So if you are stating Observable, repeatable, duplicatable "Facts" in a statement...your really Not signalling your Virtue now are you...but it will be probably taken that way. Just as stating you think or believe something isn't really signalling anything either, just where your at in this complex world right now.

But that's not what the left, the socially liberal or progressive "rules for radicals" are doing. Most of know this and if we don't, we might research it so that we can understand it. (is that "Virtue Signalling"?...laughing

"It’s noticeable how often virtue signalling consists of saying you hate things. It is camouflage. The emphasis on hate distracts from the fact you are really saying how good you are. If you were frank and said, ‘I care about the environment more than most people do’ or ‘I care about the poor more than others’, your vanity and self-aggrandizement would be obvious. . . . Anger and outrage disguise your boastfulness.
It's also intellectually lazy and usually with no facts to back it up."

Feel free to share your most recent experience of "Virtue Signalling". Are we ourselves guilty of intellectual laziness?

I also "Hate" the word Hate...and YES, I would punch it out if it were something physical...after all, that is what is required to be considered "Hate"...am I Virtue Signalling...laughing hysterically...


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  • Posted by gafisher 8 years ago
    Examples of virtue signaling include what's been called "the Prius effect" - having something readily identifiable as specifically a Prius parked out front so everyone knows you're "environmentally responsible." (There's nothing wrong with hybrids, but a Camry (or Ford, etc.) hybrid doesn't have the cachet of a real Prius.)
    Another example is the "Hate Has no Home Here" yard sign which proves you're sensitive to immigrants, particularly illegal (though you'd likely call 911 if someone speaking only a foreign language showed up at your door).
    Hashtags are often very clear virtue signals, telling the world what you'd do if only you had the resources; bumper stickers frequently fall into the same category.
    In the end, virtue signaling is exclusivity of an "I'm better than you" sort.
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  • Posted by chad 8 years ago
    Sometimes what the author might call virtue signaling might just be a summation of a conclusion rather than posturing for someone's approval. Interesting how socialists continue to find something 'wrong' with almost any thing that is done in order to signal their virtue of needing to control or dismiss others.
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Well, me dino for one hates hate enough to savagely rip it to shreds and to feast on its guts.
    That's because sometimes my old dino (long ago a liberal) heart just bleeds over all the social injustice.
    Yep, so my heart just bleeds. It bleeds, I tell you. It just bleeds. Oh, how it bleeds.
    Oops, it bleeds right now.
    Can anyone please tell the dino how to call that 911 number?
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  • Posted by $ 8 years ago in reply to this comment.
    We'll leave the real "Hate" to islam, leftest progressives, antifa, kkk, blm, white democratic supremacist, environ[mental]ist...etc...yes, they do harbor physical animosity toward us.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years ago
    Those who actually live according to virtue don't need to do anything else. Their actions speak for themselves.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years ago in reply to this comment.
    "This virtue signalling is not hate, it is simply the exercise of hypocrisy"

    Well said indeed.
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  • Posted by Lucky 8 years ago
    Hi Oldugly
    Thanks for this topic, it is good for a rant.

    Yes, virtue signalling. Moral posturing.
    The opposite of 'Putting your money where your mouth is'.

    So my view is different from that in the article.
    This virtue signalling is not hate, it is simply the exercise of hypocrisy,
    pretending to be virtuous / moral / caring at no cost or effort.

    The big proponents are the big time global saviors-
    David Suzuki arguing for fewer people to save the planet but having a big family,
    (living on a private island?) .
    They complain about rising sea levels but buy ocean front property in
    pricey neighborhoods.
    Pop stars arrive by helicopter to lecture about carbon footprints.
    Enviro executives who commute long distances in company owned 4WDs
    instead of by train which they advocate for the sheeple.
    Now the left wing mega-rich sign letters against tax cuts.

    Make a speech about sacrifice, giving back, foregoing some pleasure, all this is
    virtue signalling when the big talk is not matched by action but by expecting
    others, the sheeple, to comply - and they do!
    It is the evil of altruism, doing good with other people's money, and getting a
    rake-off.

    The old English aristocracy have a tradition of being patrons of culture
    and charity by lending their names and titles and making speeches,
    but giving no money.
    The modern celebrity class does the same.
    Reply | Permalink  

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