Aibu to think some people try to raise their social status by virtue signalling?

[Primroseoil]

Aibu to think some people try to raise their social status by virtue signalling, going green or vegan etc? I know the majority of people have genuine reasons but I feel a minority are just virtue signalling, trying to raise their social status or fit in with a certain cohort. Aibu?

Having done an AS on the OP, I am not going to bother responding.

It can be annoying when people go on about something all the time, and I think social media makes it worse. Although sometimes I’m surprised by how much people on MN seem to complain about annoying trends - just unfollow those people / mute / get off social media for a bit!

But humanity is doing its best to fuck up the climate with catastrophic consequences which most people haven’t grasped. So if there are going to be trends and bandwagons it’s objectively better for these to be environmentally beneficial - plant-based diets rather than flying on long-haul holidays or constant city breaks; kiddie-carrying cargo bikes and campaigning for cycle lanes rather than showing off their SUVs. It’s not so important that everyone adopting a trend is morally pure or admirable, what matters is the cumulative impact of behaviours becoming mainstream.

Obviously some people do this to humble brag: that’s hardly news.

But I’m uncomfortable with the idea that doing anything worthy or with a social justice end in mind is automatically virtue signaling.

If you took that to its logical conclusion any kind of altruism or kindness would be virtue signaling.

Given the choice I would rather people made a few self serving but harmless gestures for what they think is a good cause than have everyone live in a state of total atomised selfishness.

Well suggesting that your values are real while other people are pretending is also virtue signalling...

I have been vegetarian for years and try to live a green lifestyle as much as I can, I want people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community to live their life free of discrimination and be treated with respect, like anyone else . Those are my values.

I don't need your permission or approval to live in a way that fits with who I am.

There are always a few tedious bores that will go on and on about their choices but that equally applies to people who go on about 'virtue signalling'...

If you took that to its logical conclusion any kind of altruism or kindness would be virtue signaling.

Every time I see the phrase "virtue signalling" this is the exact impression I get of the world view of the person saying it.

If they're going to the trouble of eating a consistently vegan diet and/or consciously, substantively reducing their carbon footprint ("going green" on a practical level), then regardless of the motivations, I don't think it's "signalling". Signalling would be indicating that they are doing something positive (or ceasing to do something negative) when in reality they're doing nothing or even working counter to the objectives they're signalling that they support. The Ukrainian or Palestinian flags could be an example of this, and often are - but they could also be a representation of deeply held beliefs that are backed up by consistent, substantial actions.

What would you call it if someone improved their social standing by furiously "signalling" that they hold objectionable beliefs that perhaps are only skin deep? I see this all the time right now with performative misogyny, for example. Can we call that "vice signalling"?

Luxury beliefs annoy me quite a lot. Motivated reasoning is an interesting concept as well. Tbh I don’t notice people virtue signalling much irl, more so on social media.

There are some who are rabbiting on about Gaza at the moment who wouldn't be able to find it on a map!

Yes. But generally I dont tend to care; its the same as "Look at my flash car" or "Look at my designer clothes" just attention-seeking from insecure folk who need the likes and validation from others. Pretty sad really.
The only time it annoys me is when they start with the underhand bullying of those who dont share their ideals, "Ignorant and refuse to be educated!" was one recent comment from one colleague to another, after she'd listened politely to a 15 minute yawnathon rant on the evil dairy industry, but still refused to convert to oat milk.

(I agree the dairy industry is pretty nasty but oat milk tastes like dirt ok!)

Wild swimming this too! It's just sea swimming, wrapping up in the ubiquitous dryrobe after before heading for coffee!

Yes it's trendy

Exactly this. Anyone disagrees with current immigration policies, are anti trans, not living sustainably are immediately branded far right...

People who bang on about "virtue signalling" are showing themselves up, IMO. It's as if they can't conceive that anyone would have the empathy to care about stuff that doesn't directly affect them.

You seem very intolerant and angry OP. I couldn’t bring myself to get this worked up about people who, by your definition, want to enjoy quite harmless activities like swimming, and make some green lifestyle choices. You keep saying they are doing it to increase their social standing - but you aren’t clear what this social group is that they’re trying to fit into, with whom are they trying to curry favour?! It clearly isn’t you!

I would define myself as left wing and I am open to sensible conversations about topics like immigration. However I do challenge sweeping statements that are made to create false images of the reality of immigration- for example, the statements Suella Braverman made about LGBT asylum claims - in reality a tiny percent, and distracting from the wider issue. So if you were spouting that sort of thing, I would think you were a bit right wing yes.

You don't seem to like the people you follow on social media very much. I suggest unfollowing them and making friends with people you do like. Though if you get annoyed by something as innocuous as this you may be searching a long time.

I think some people do, but plenty just get on with it and you don't notice them. I'm an environmentalist and always have been, but I don't go on about it. It's not something I'd talk about with people unless they raised the topic themselves. I get involved in projects to which I feel I can make a meaningful contribution, where I meet other people like me. I wouldn't go to a JSO protest or rant about environmental topics on SM. And I don't eat meat but I don't talk about that either, unless it's necessary because someone is cooking for me or suggests going out for food and it affects where we go.

I dont know why you would need to be able to locate an area on a map not to want helpless families to be bombed.

I have a charity and the difference between now and 10 years ago is shocking. 10 years ago I'd ask for volunteers for an event and get over 30 offers of 2-4 hours help at the weekend - great community spirit. Last Xmas was the first time we got NONE. Not 1 offer. Everyone posting details of the event on social media and virtue signalling but no one actually wanting to spend even 30 mins actually doing anything. It is depressing tbh.

I think they key thing here is to see if someone actually lives up to the words they say.

If someone genuinely tries to live a green lifestyle - eating a meat-free diet, restricting air travel, reducing consumption then good for them.

But there are some annoying people who just enjoy virtue-signalling. They want the status that comes from saying words but they don't back it up with their actions.

For example I have a couple of gay male (ex) friends who are happy to wang on about pronouns and tell women off for wanting single-sex spaces. But they wouldn't dream of hooking up with a trans man. Shallow hypocrites.

I don’t see how going vegan would improve anyone’s social standing. Maybe with other vegans but outside of that it’s really isolating.

Yes the jokes of wokes!

This. We know a couple who have gone completely green in their house, huge recycling system, solar panals, conserving rainwater, vegetarians both have Tesla cars.. They have 5 children & go on at least 5 plane holidays a year including skiing & long haul. They are very vocal about their green lifestyle but surely their massive carbon footprint from all their travel cancels that out!

I've never met anyone who changes their entire diet or lifestyle just ti virtue signal. I dont get it, sorry.

People virtue signal about social issues, yes, because that requires no commitment.

I don't particularly think so, no but of course YANBU in thinking what you want :/

This. It’s as if anyone who does anything other than take care of themselves and their immediate family must have a sinister ulterior motive or be showing off.

These people would no doubt have applied the tag of “virtue signalling” to people in the Victorian era who campaigned against slavery, or the Suffragettes or people in recent years who campaigned for a minimum wage.

Yes obviously some people use this for social status reasons but the idea that any campaign for social justice or any attempt to improve the world must automatically just be a gimmick is so mean minded. I cringe now when I hear people talk about “virtue signalling”. It says more about the person using the phrase than it does the person it is describing.