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?

I think this is a major problem - i.e. lazy thinking.

People that don't really think for themselves just tag along with the prevailing groupthink. All the things you've mentioned sound 'nice', but actually have negative real world impacts.

We live in a world of online bullies that harass anybody that dares to think differently. People have to be mentally strong enough to reject the prevailing zeitgeist.

Just look at the posts on Mumsnet, where people say they would reject any potential partner for their political views (Brexit, Tory, etc).

It's far easier for people to just go with the flow, but where's that got us as a society?

@LadyHavelockVetinari

Your post is spot on. It’s very noticeable that it’s only called “virtue signalling” when it’s seen to be a left wing or socially progressive or liberal cause.

Isn’t any kind of expression on social media “signalling” something? If I post a picture of my cat I am “signalling” that I like my cat. If I post a picture of my expensive holiday in the Maldives or my sports car I am also “signalling”. Or indeed a socially conservative cause. Or a bog standard charity fundraising.

All of it is “signalling” something. For some reason people are more offended when other people “signal” stuff that makes them question their own moral values and I think the real question is why it makes them uncomfortable.

Of course the right wing conservatives have opinions that curry favour with their like-minded peers to the detriment of others. Bloody hell, how about pro-life philosophies and building an over zealous narrative of genetics to suggest that people are inherently flawed and beyond the help of state interventions?

It's signalling when you use your opinions as a staging post to build your status. You can't do that with a cat photo. Although, if it were, given their carbon footprint and regard for the local environment, I expect they'd lean to the right.

The cheap meat industry disproportionately disadvantages the world’s poorest people, who eat very little meat, so I’m not sure this is the best argument.

Yeah, I'm kind of fed up of COL being used to shut down any ethical subject.

imo:
Eating cheap meat is a privilege. Admittedly, it's hard to know what it truly ethical and it usually costs a bit more, so it's not straightforward.

But nobody needs £1.50 frozen chicken nuggets from Lidl. Nobody needs to eat meat everyday.

Organic milk and eggs cost more, but most people could still afford it if they wanted.