I keep on reading about virtue signalling as it is popping up everywhere and everyone seems to use it.

When I googled it, it came up with "The term is characterized by the signaler's desire to show support for a cause without actually acting to support the cause in question".

So what is it exactly? Is it when someone turns around and says "R U OK" when they really couldn't care less if you killed yourself or not? Is it when someone posts on Instagram about how tragic the fires are and then just goes on to not help out and gets back to commenting on how good someone looks in a bikini?

What is it? I guess the key bit is the bit about not actually doing anything about whatever it is that you are drawing attention to but suggesting that you are, but where do you draw the line? Surely people are allowed to feel sympathy for others but not having to always act?

It's a term used by conservatives to try to drag caring emotionally intelligent people back down to their level.

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log man said..
It's a term used by conservatives to try to drag caring emotionally intelligent people back down to their level.

... but what is it that they are getting wrong? I think people overuse the term because they think it is when someone shows something good about themselves, but they are actually doing something about it or doing some good, not just hollow words.

In the google search I did it mentioned icebucket challenges, and at least from what I saw of a friend from school, it seemed to fit the definition. They wanted to show that they cared about the cause, but I wonder if they really did or donated to it, or just wanted it to look like they cared...?

It's a term used to describe the distorted emotional responses from people that attempt to demonstrate that they are better than everybody else.

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Pugwash said..
It's a term used to describe the distorted emotional responses from people that attempt to demonstrate that they are better than everybody else.

So it's commonly used by the rightards then?

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Shifu said..

Pugwash said..
It's a term used to describe the distorted emotional responses from people that attempt to demonstrate that they are better than everybody else.

So it's commonly used by the rightards then?

I'm sure you can use your own judgment to determine whether it is used by those who are right... or those who are.... wrong...

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FormulaNova said..
I keep on reading about virtue signalling as it is popping up everywhere and everyone seems to use it.

When I googled it, it came up with "The term is characterized by the signaler's desire to show support for a cause without actually acting to support the cause in question".

So what is it exactly? Is it when someone turns around and says "R U OK" when they really couldn't care less if you killed yourself or not? Is it when someone posts on Instagram about how tragic the fires are and then just goes on to not help out and gets back to commenting on how good someone looks in a bikini?

What is it? I guess the key bit is the bit about not actually doing anything about whatever it is that you are drawing attention to but suggesting that you are, but where do you draw the line? Surely people are allowed to feel sympathy for others but not having to always act?

The google definition seems pretty accurate, a good example is the carbon tax, it showed support for acting to combat global warming but it would have actually achieved nothing in terms of reducing global warming.

It's more about just feeling that "you really do care" as compared to actually producing an outcome. Its a signal of your virtue to the world.

It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

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FormulaNova said..
It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

You gave the definition in your first post. It's just regular old-fashioned hypocrisy, aligned with a "good" cause.

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Kamikuza said..

FormulaNova said..
It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

You gave the definition in your first post. It's just regular old-fashioned hypocrisy, aligned with a "good" cause.

I get worried that people use it now to accuse other people of not really doing something, which in a way is another way to virtue signal, i.e. hey look at that guy, he doesn't stand by his actions... (but I do).

For fear of upsetting the people that follow a religion, there was an example of people saying 'I will pray for you', but in a way that its not true that they are actually going away to pray for the wellbeing of someone else, but instead are condemning them with that phrase.

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log man said..
It's a term used by conservatives to try to drag caring emotionally intelligent people back down to their level.

You're not a conservative so you've blown that explanation in the same sentence.

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cammd said..

FormulaNova said..
I keep on reading about virtue signalling as it is popping up everywhere and everyone seems to use it.

When I googled it, it came up with "The term is characterized by the signaler's desire to show support for a cause without actually acting to support the cause in question".

So what is it exactly? Is it when someone turns around and says "R U OK" when they really couldn't care less if you killed yourself or not? Is it when someone posts on Instagram about how tragic the fires are and then just goes on to not help out and gets back to commenting on how good someone looks in a bikini?

What is it? I guess the key bit is the bit about not actually doing anything about whatever it is that you are drawing attention to but suggesting that you are, but where do you draw the line? Surely people are allowed to feel sympathy for others but not having to always act?

The google definition seems pretty accurate, a good example is the carbon tax, it showed support for acting to combat global warming but it would have actually achieved nothing in terms of reducing global warming.

It's more about just feeling that "you really do care" as compared to actually producing an outcome. Its a signal of your virtue to the world.

Its good that you brought up that example. I think that one is open to interpretation. You think its virtue signalling because they are not directly reducing the temperature of the earth. I think its an actual attempt as it is increasing the cost of non-renewables and making renewables more cost effective. It may not be directly reducing the temperature of the earth, but it is trying to attack the problem from the economics side, which is probably more likely to end up in a result.

I wonder what a good example of virtue signalling would be in this realm? "We are worried about global warming, so we will conduct a 12month investigation into it"? or "We are worried about the effect of carbon pollution on the global temperatures, isn't that a bad thing, and things MUST be done about it..."? Of the two, the first is potentially doing something, even if you think it might be ineffective, but the second one is just saying that its a bad thing, but not actually doing anything at all.

Sometimes it's misused against genuinely good actions but virtue signaling is real.

A recent example, can't find link but an FM radio group was going thru their playlists to remove any song with the word fire in it so as not to offend bushfire victims.

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KelpoS said..
Sometimes it's misused against genuinely good actions but virtue signaling is real.

A recent example, can't find link but an FM radio group was going thru their playlists to remove any song with the word fire in it so as not to offend bushfire victims.

Is that then virtue signalling? It sure sounds like a dumb thing to do, and pretty pointless for people that are going to have to see the word 'fire' in normal use for the rest of their lives.

Is it virtue signalling though as they are saying they are going to do it, for whatever strange reason they have come up with, but they are actually doing it?

Then again, maybe you are right, as they are drawing attention to themselves as being so good that they are doing this?

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FormulaNova said..

Kamikuza said..

FormulaNova said..
It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

You gave the definition in your first post. It's just regular old-fashioned hypocrisy, aligned with a "good" cause.

I get worried that people use it now to accuse other people of not really doing something, which in a way is another way to virtue signal, i.e. hey look at that guy, he doesn't stand by his actions... (but I do).

For fear of upsetting the people that follow a religion, there was an example of people saying 'I will pray for you', but in a way that its not true that they are actually going away to pray for the wellbeing of someone else, but instead are condemning them with that phrase.

Don't worry.

It's just a slap back by those that are tired of being whinged at by unoriginal and uninspiring internet whinger sheep.

I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

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Pugwash said..
I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

Reminds me of a friend that won't stop harping on about climate change......at least that's what they do when they are not overseas on their annual trip to Europe, or looking to replace their two cars every third year ("but it's on lease"...oh that's okay then, no resources used in making it if it's on lease). The same person asked my why I was putting on a jumper when I could simply turn on the heater, and also leaves the air conditioning on when they go out because "everyone wants to come home to a cool house".

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Pugwash said..

FormulaNova said..

Kamikuza said..

FormulaNova said..
It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

You gave the definition in your first post. It's just regular old-fashioned hypocrisy, aligned with a "good" cause.

I get worried that people use it now to accuse other people of not really doing something, which in a way is another way to virtue signal, i.e. hey look at that guy, he doesn't stand by his actions... (but I do).

For fear of upsetting the people that follow a religion, there was an example of people saying 'I will pray for you', but in a way that its not true that they are actually going away to pray for the wellbeing of someone else, but instead are condemning them with that phrase.

Don't worry.

It's just a slap back by those that are tired of being whinged at by unoriginal and uninspiring internet whinger sheep.

I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

I think your sarcasm runs deep oh wise one

Or is this a conspiracy?

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Harrow said..

Pugwash said..
I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

Reminds me of a friend that won't stop harping on about climate change......at least that's what they do when they are not overseas on their annual trip to Europe, or looking to replace their two cars every third year ("but it's on lease"...oh that's okay then, no resources used in making it if it's on lease). The same person asked my why I was putting on a jumper when I could simply turn on the heater, and also leaves the air conditioning on when they go out because "everyone wants to come home to a cool house".

I find with people like that that envisioning a good slap to the side of the ear is a good tactic.

A great example of virtue signaling is the bod going to church with his bible in his hand in full view when it would fit in his pocket.

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FormulaNova said..

Pugwash said..

FormulaNova said..

Kamikuza said..

FormulaNova said..
It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

You gave the definition in your first post. It's just regular old-fashioned hypocrisy, aligned with a "good" cause.

I get worried that people use it now to accuse other people of not really doing something, which in a way is another way to virtue signal, i.e. hey look at that guy, he doesn't stand by his actions... (but I do).

For fear of upsetting the people that follow a religion, there was an example of people saying 'I will pray for you', but in a way that its not true that they are actually going away to pray for the wellbeing of someone else, but instead are condemning them with that phrase.

Don't worry.

It's just a slap back by those that are tired of being whinged at by unoriginal and uninspiring internet whinger sheep.

I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

I think your sarcasm runs deep oh wise one

Or is this a conspiracy?

It's the bots... I swear...

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Harrow said..

Pugwash said..
I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

Reminds me of a friend that won't stop harping on about climate change......at least that's what they do when they are not overseas on their annual trip to Europe, or looking to replace their two cars every third year ("but it's on lease"...oh that's okay then, no resources used in making it if it's on lease). The same person asked my why I was putting on a jumper when I could simply turn on the heater, and also leaves the air conditioning on when they go out because "everyone wants to come home to a cool house".

I replace my cars regularly... i should be just about ready to upgrade to a 2008 car soon ;-)

Does that make me environmentally better or just bot willing to waste money on something i dont need?

As for the aircon thing, i like aircon as well but find it very hard to justify leaving it on unless i know it will struggle. I have been playing with smartthings home automation recently. Maybe that will save us from people that 'need' to leave it on?

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japie said..

Harrow said..

Pugwash said..
I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

Reminds me of a friend that won't stop harping on about climate change......at least that's what they do when they are not overseas on their annual trip to Europe, or looking to replace their two cars every third year ("but it's on lease"...oh that's okay then, no resources used in making it if it's on lease). The same person asked my why I was putting on a jumper when I could simply turn on the heater, and also leaves the air conditioning on when they go out because "everyone wants to come home to a cool house".

I find with people like that that envisioning a good slap to the side of the ear is a good tactic.

A great example of virtue signaling is the bod going to church with his bible in his hand in full view when it would fit in his pocket.

Or prius owners that leave the fuel economy sticker on the windscreen....

But is that truly an example as they are showing us they are saving fuel?

This topic can become too deep.

Individual virtue signalling is pretty harmless and kinda fun to watch in some ways. Like those kardashian fools bangin on about climate change while flying private jets to go shopping for more stuff. Hilarious right?

When governments and large corporations do it though it takes on a more sinister slant as it allows them to capture the kudos and votes by taking a stand on an issue while doing very little to actually deal with the underlying cause.

The end result is very little actually gets done to tackle the root causes and we get effective policy paralysis.

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Pugwash said..

FormulaNova said..

Pugwash said..

FormulaNova said..

Kamikuza said..

FormulaNova said..
It seems everyone wants to use the term to define when it is used, not what it is.

You gave the definition in your first post. It's just regular old-fashioned hypocrisy, aligned with a "good" cause.

I get worried that people use it now to accuse other people of not really doing something, which in a way is another way to virtue signal, i.e. hey look at that guy, he doesn't stand by his actions... (but I do).

For fear of upsetting the people that follow a religion, there was an example of people saying 'I will pray for you', but in a way that its not true that they are actually going away to pray for the wellbeing of someone else, but instead are condemning them with that phrase.

Don't worry.

It's just a slap back by those that are tired of being whinged at by unoriginal and uninspiring internet whinger sheep.

I find it perplexing how some of these internet whingers have no interest in individually making the changes they are whinging for until the desired change is imposed on all...

I think your sarcasm runs deep oh wise one

Or is this a conspiracy?

It's the bots... I swear...

To really virtue signal, do you think we could get Laurie to change the green thumbs to show who it was, so that they are recognised for their contribution to society?

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FormulaNova said..



So what is it exactly?

See Logmans last 30 posts !

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KelpoS said..
Sometimes it's misused against genuinely good actions but virtue signaling is real.

A recent example, can't find link but an FM radio group was going thru their playlists to remove any song with the word fire in it so as not to offend bushfire victims.

Don't think that's a good example either. The radio station could be accused of being over sensitive but that not the same as vs

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Main said..

FormulaNova said..



So what is it exactly?

See Logmans last 30 posts !

Isnt Logman a bad example of this? He seems to stand by his beliefs with the way he votes, so surely thats not virtue signalling?

If he started telling us about global warming and then didnt do anything at all about it including voting.... for parties that seemingly didnt care about it, then that would be virtue signalling wouldnt it?

Do as I say, not as I do.

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Mobydisc said..
Do as I say, not as I do.

No
do you need it explained again.

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the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.

"it's noticeable how often virtue signalling consists of saying you hate things"

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log man said..

Mobydisc said..
Do as I say, not as I do.

No
do you need it explained again.

Then explain to us why do we get told to make sacrifices by those who don't sacrifice anything?