AIBU to think "virtue signalling" doesn't apply to anonymous posts?

[KellyanneConway]

I get the accusations when the poster is in the public eye and posting under their real name e.g. politicians on twitter - of course they want to come across as virtuous to help their public image. However on MN people are labelled as virtue signallers (e.g. recent posts about poverty and race) when they post any content that contains values that are seen as virtuous in our society, such as empathy, listening to other's point of view, trying not to judge. This is an anonymous site, no one knows who we really are, so why would we give a shit about falsely attributing "virtuous" values to ourselves, when there's ultimately nothing actually in it for us? People are just posting what they think, surely? I'm actually relieved there are people out there with these values, posting "virtuous" stuff, rather than judgey vitriol.

A virtue signaling statement is I believe x look at how woke I am. A non virtue signaling statement would be I believe x because y. Perfect

I realise that technically there is a definition, and if people stuck to that definition then I might agree that it's not something you'd want to be accused of,, but nearly every time I see someone use the phrase, they come across just like people complaining about "political correctness".

Time we tied a knot in this thread - it's too simple. It's not so much about what the signalers do, rather is it how they wish to be seen. They wish to bask in admiration which is the sought-after fruit of their actions. As a critical indicator of virtue posturing look out for the preceding phrase, "For my sins........"

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
Mark 6:5, KJV

I think people put the anonymity to different uses.
Some people take the opportunity to be more honest than they can be in real life.
Others use it to construct the version of themselves that they'd like to be. And then get a thrill out of the backslaps.

And when thou campaignest for what is right, shout it from the bloody rooftops, because otherwise the mealy mouthed I'm all right Jack bastards have won.

Sure, Bertrand.

In other news, quiet engineers, soldiers, teachers and nurses make real changes to the world while the loudmouth idiots scream at each other with fingers in their ears.

Sorry, we are all REALLY impressed by strength of your convictions. Should make that clear.

Its the “some new Muslim neighbors have moved in and I want to take something round but I don’t know I what to take”type posts that wind me up
Bloody Google it

It’s virtue signaling when you do or say something socially considered to be virtuous when it really has no real impact, e.g. preaching to the converted, because you aim to win social kudos for doing so.

Since “virtue signaling” implies particular motives it is a case of “no one can know the heart of another”.

Mephistopeles - How do you know nurses, engineers, campaigners etc. aren't the ones doing the posting? It's an anonymous site, which is the point I raised in the OP.
I get the Lily Allen example, but that still doesn't relate to anonymous posting. Do only anonymous posts promoting self-interest have credibility? Do "virtuous" people keep their mouths and keyboards shut? Why shouldn't I be soothed, rather than impressed or exercised, by the idea that people I share the planet might have "virtuous" convictions?

Our identities on this site may be separate from our realworld identities, but we still have names, cliques, friends and hierarchy within the forum. We still like it when someone agrees with us or applauds our jokes, we enjoy being part of a mob of like-minded posters. Our primate behaviour doesn't stop at the keyboard.

I mean, you really want to see a critique of virtue signalling, go to FWR and see all the threads about 'woke-bros', 'hand-maidens', the raging at businesses or organisations that support trans-activism 'because it's trendy'. Classic accusations and descriptions of virtue signalling. Anyone from that clique who tries to pretend that they don't know what it is or claims to despise that sort of accusation is a disingenuous hypocrite of the highest order.

Oops, posted too soon:

Why shouldn't I be soothed, rather than impressed or exercised, by the idea that people I share the planet might have "virtuous" convictions?

Because it means you're permitting yourself a false reality. You know nothing of their convictions, only their words. Measure actions to know virtue, nothing else.

We need more Marcus Aurelius in schools.

Yes you can do it anonymously.

And it absolutely exists. Peopel saying how awful it is that you've done something and they'd never do it themselves, when I can't help thinking that there's a pretty high chance they would.

Example: toddler was sick on the last night of your holiday. You say OF COURSE you would cancel your flight home, miss work and claim on the insurance.

Yeah right. In the real world, you'll fly home, hope toddler manages not to vomit on the plane, has recovered enough to go to nursery so you can go back to work.

That's virtue signalling.