Virtue Signalling

[Crispsnatcher]

I admit I only ever heard this term on MN in the past couple of years. Never really heard of it before then.

With the BLM going people, some people have been accused of virtue Signalling. I've heard it applied to other things/causes though.

I admit I'm pretty old school, and what I thought was caring about others and generally being a decent person now has a new name? What is the difference? I don't really know what my AIBU is but would like to understand when does it stop being about caring and start becoming about Virtue Signalling?

"When you start telling people what caring things you do."

Especially if you don't actually do them!

It's not about saying things publicly.

It's about pretending to care about something, and then saying it publicly. Often forcefully.

you can be both? my dd did the black square thing but is genuinely egalitarian in her approach to everyone, puts her money where mouth is as in speaks her mind to her boss if there's an opportunity to show solidarity or be more ethical, picks me up if I show white priv etc. and still manages to have fun and be fun .

It's 'signalling' to your virtue- the motive behind the act is to show what a great person you are rather than benefit anyone else.

An act of kindness is selfless and the only benefit you get is the private joy you might feel in someone else's happiness or benefit. 'The right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing'.

It's 'signalling' to your virtue- the motive behind the act is to show what a great person you are rather than benefit anyone else.

I don't entirely agree, peer pressure can have a significant impact on behaviour, so seeing that other people are doing something positive can result in more following their examples. That's why celebrities are so useful for charity PR and advertising.

And OP the term virtue signalling is often invoked as a term of abuse, particularly by the right-wing, as a way of demeaning/diminishing positive actions. It's similar to the ways in which feminists were/are called 'ugly' or 'man-hating' or 'strident' or 'hysterical' when standing up for women's rights.

'Virtue signalling' doesn't always stop at just maybe being a bit hypocritical about what you say vs what you do, though.

Some people take it a lot further, jumping on complete strangers, who've typed a couple of sentences that they may have misinterpreted, in order to denounce them for not being virtuous enough. Or worse still, actually twisting other people's words, or putting words in their mouths, like that old favourite "so you're saying that [something they didn't actually say]", so they can respond with righteous indignation that makes them feel morally superior.

It's human nature to enjoy feeling better and more virtuous than other people; but this behaviour can be addictive, a way of getting an emotional buzz of reward, and it can blind us to our own failings.

It's when people virtue signal by making often quite aggressive attacks on others that bothers me.

Erm, climate change is another one. Many of my friends are vocally against climate change, something they have always felt passionately about. Should they not talk about it? Genuinely don't understand at what point it stops being about vocally caring about something
Intentions are what matters. Are they posting it on social media hoping that other people might do something about climate change, or are they posting it just to get a few 'likes'? Do their actions match their words?

During the refugee crisis a few years ago, a number of politicians including Yvette Cooper said "I'm going to house a refugee". They never did. They never had any intention of honouring their promise, it was all to embarrass the government and get a few headlines. That's virtue signalling.

It’s not a new concept though. It’s in the Bible!

I think in the case of BLM it's posting the black square for everyone to see and then doing nothing else. Not signing petitions/not donating money/not trying to educate yourself/not listening to black voices. Just look how much I care everyone, aren't I brilliant?

Or the clap for carers moving from a clap to pot banging to fireworks to music instruments, all conveniently posted on SM by the same folk who crowd the beaches at the weekend,

"When does it stop being about caring and start becoming about Virtue Signalling?"

When you're only doing it to be noticed, whether that's on social media, or in real life. So that other people will see, and think "oh, OP is a good person".

An example, "caring" would be every week, buying a few extra items to put in the food bank at your local supermarket and never mentioning it to anyone.
"Virtue signalling" would be taking a photo for social media, with a line like "doing my weekly donation, every little helps!"

Ddraig- no they don't post on SM, unless they're posting an article about climate change. But it's in amongst other things they post. They don't do it for glory or whatever, they genuinely are concerned about the environment and make lifestyle choices based on this, that you would only know about if you knew them

If no one ever advertises it on SM, how will anyone become aware of said cause.

its basically people who are only supporting a cause or doing something decent for social media.

So lots of posts say 'like if you agree BLM' that's them promoting BLM......but actually using it to get likes and more followers. Or 'now I talk about blm, I am losing followers. Follow me to show those racists they don't matter dont impact those of us who are allies'

Or as I saw last night, a man working in sainsburys petrol station filming a homeless man with the caption 'this man comes in a lot askong for batteries for his music player.....so i gave him some'

He didnt pay for them so fuck knows what will happen with that. But the homeless man looked pretty embarrassed. Is it a nice thing to effectively steal from your employer, film you giving yourself something to a homeless person and then putting on social media saying 'like this if you care about homeless'

I thought it was pretty awful, tbh.

No actually virtue signallers usually damage causes. Not help.

when does it stop being about caring and start becoming about Virtue Signalling?

It's also when people attempt to passive aggressively shame others to alter their behaviour and part with their time/money/property/boundaries, etc. This usually takes the form of statements such as 'Well, I would . . . ', 'Whatever happened to 'be kind'?' 'The kind thing would be to . . .' 'I despair of humanity!' and the like.

Having been raised a Catholic, it's classic shaming and guilt-tripping and very tedious.

I like = 1 prayer.

picture of sad child I bet nobody will like my picture.

It's not a new idea, or a new failing. It's in Corinthians even - charity vaunteth not itself, it is not puffed up.

We all have a strong pull towards self righteousness. It's probably good to have others to yank us back on course.

Virtue signalling is making something more about yourself than the thing you supposedly care about. It’s a form of showing off. The NHS clapping is a good example - some genuinely clapped to show appreciation, and some seemed to be out there clapping themselves for clapping quite frankly.

How you treat people on a day to day basis is far more reflective of your actual values than what you share on social media

Beautifully put, though I'd add that how some treat others on social media can be a pretty useful indication of their character too

Some like to discuss, share ideas and learn, while others would rather bray, accuse and create upset ... and perhaps the real irony is that the second group often claim the most virtue

@Crispsnatcher there you are then, your friends aren't virtue signallers because they genuinely do care.

Virtue signalling’ means making a public display of showing superficial support for a cause or person, while having no intention of making any genuine sacrifice of your own time or money to actually do anything useful for said cause. Virtue signalling doesn’t cost you anything.

Intention is key. If your intention is to make yourself look good in they eyes of others, you are virtue signalling. If you give up your evenings or weekend to help out at, for example, a homeless shelter you aren’t.

Thanks for the replies. I think because it's been used quite liberally and I see it a lot on here, it's made me question where the line is drawn having previously been unaware to its actual meaning

I despair at the social media age. What you say is everything; what you do is unknown so long as you appear correct. There’s a lack of authenticity and depth.

Instagram particularly is full of woke scolds.