What is virtue signalling anyway?

Shalimar

Shalimar

SF VIP
Location
Vancouver Island Canada
I am compelled to ask for some clarity here. What is the difference between so-called virtue signalling and a genuine willingness to try to make a positive difference wherever one can? I look forward to member’s opinions.
 

Never heard of virtue signalling but will hazard a guess.

Virtue signalling could it be an online group for addiction, weight loss, prayer etc.

Genuine willingness to help would be actually getting out there as a volunteer doing what needed to be done.
 
It is a slur used to denigrate people who choose to do the right thing. It implies some sort of base motive like pride or a sense of superiority and undercuts their actions. Even talking about doing the right thing invites the accusation of virtue signalling.

As a former school teacher charged with encouraging positive values in the students I must be guilty of the crime of virtue signalling.

Obviously people who are of the 'do as I say, not as I do school' are something else. They are hypocrites. There is a bit of hypocrisy in everyone because we all like to be well thought of.

Now I'm rambling so I'll give up trying to define virtue signalling.

I have consulted the Cambridge dictionary and this is what they say about it. It is a bit different to my impression.

an attempt to show other people that you are a good person, for example by expressing opinions that will be acceptable to them, especially on social media:
Virtue signalling is the popular modern habit of indicating that one has virtue merely by expressing disgust or favour for certain political ideas or cultural happenings.
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Any other understandings ?
 
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@Warrigal I had never heard the term before, so thank you for defining it so clearly. Do you think I'll be accused of virtue signaling for doing the right thing by telling you how helpful your post is to me?

Why are people so ready to think badly of one another? If a person does something good, why can't we just admire their efforts instead of being so cynical? Yes, there are people who do and say things to make themselves look good, but I think they're in the minority.

It's all so disheartening.
 
I've heard the term for several years, and the definition above aligns with my understanding. It is a substitute for doing the right thing instead of actually doing the right thing. Kind of like "stolen valor" when folks claim to have served in the military or in a particular area when if fact they didn't.

YMMV
 
“I wear a mask to keep YOU safe”is a perfect example of virtue signaling. It’s showing other people how righteous you are. There’s a house in my neighborhood that has a sign in the front yard that states “ Hate has no home here.” That’s virtue signaling. It’s ridiculous in my opinion. I don’t need to put a sign in my yard. I live my life and let other people decide for themselves how virtuous I am. Or am not.
 
Thanks for the interesting replies. I look forward to more. I am trying to gain some perspective. I struggle with how some people seem to denigrate those who truly attempt to make a difference by dismissing their efforts as virtue signalling, usually in very abrasive terms. It worries me that this term can be broadly

applied to helper and poser alike. The reason I posted this thread is that recently I have had several phone clients, (all involved in the helping sectors) who were extremely distraught due to

repeated exposure to such comments. We are a courteous people, by and large, hugely averse to expressing heated discourse in public. Yet, there is an ugliness here which has reared its head, a willingness to assume the worst. I hear stories of similar behaviours in other countries.

In the time of plague we need to trust each other, and stand together. Why readily assume most people are posers? Why so much anger?
 
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I never heard this term either. It sounds to me a lot like the term "political correctness." That's kind of a nasty reference to the way people talk when they don't want to sound bigoted, insensitive, mean-spirited, etc. Sometimes it's a genuine effort to be kind, sometimes it's just an attempt to be fashionable, or to fit in. And of course, it lends itself to lots of jokes. (" get lost a lot while driving, because I am direction-disabled," etc."

Usually the term is used by those on the other side, who think this is all a lot of nonsense, often insincere and usually pretty silly. I imagine that "virtue signaling" is along the same lines. And it sounds like a rejoinder to those who are always "holier-than-thou."
 
Shalimar said:
I am compelled to ask for some clarity here. What is the difference between so-called virtue signalling and a genuine willingness to try to make a positive difference wherever one can? I look forward to member’s opinions.
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It could be used as a term to denigrate someone who may be genuinely committed to a cause in much the same way calling someone a do-gooder is.Although it could also at times describe someone who might try to appear morally superior to someone else for whatever personal reason.For example,I posted here about how I felt 1958 was a simpler and happy period for me and many people compared to 2020,and I would't mind going back for a visit ,and immediately someone responded about how women and minorities were oppressed then,etc,etc. Like Sinatra said, "some people get their kicks stompin on a dream."
 
Celebrity hypocrisy comes to mind when I hear the term ...those that espouse an issue for their image or media time but don't live it. The Sussexes are a prime example, Prince Harry in particular in regards to environmentalism. I read a carbon footprint breakdown of their lives in the UK; the two of them in appx 18 months scored higher than several small nations, and the calculations didn't even include the wedding. He's as bad as a two bit televangelist scoring hookers after the sermon.
 
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AnnieA said:
Celebrity hypocrisy comes to mind when I hear the term ...those that espouse an issue for their image or media time but don't live it. The Sussexes are a prime example, Prince Harry in particular in regards to environmentalism. I read a carbon footprint breakdown of their lives in the UK; the two of them in appx 18 months scored higher than a good many small nations, and the calculations didn't even include the wedding. He's as bad as a two bit televangelist scoring hookers after the sermon.
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Whether or not Prince Harry’s carbon footprint is as you say, and frankly, I don’t know, it is beyond egregious to suggest that his behaviour is equal to “two bit televangelist scoring hookers after the sermon.” Perhaps you are unaware that there are members here who hail from Great Britain and the Commonwealth. We do not appreciate such comments denigrating our Royal Family.🇨🇦
 
Shalimar said:
Whether or not Prince Harry’s carbon footprint is as you say, and frankly, I don’t know, it is beyond egregious to suggest that his behaviour is equal to “two bit televangelist scoring hookers after the sermon.” Perhaps you are unaware that there are members here who hail from Great Britain and the Commonwealth. We do not appreciate such comments denigrating our Royal Family.🇨🇦
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I have tons of respect for the Royal Family. That's one of the reasons his behavior disturbs me.

My point is, he is an environmental hypocrite and is one of the first to spring to mind when you ask about the term 'virtue signaling.'

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AnnieA said:
I have tons of respect for the Royal Family. That's one of the reasons his behavior disturbs me.

My point is, he is an environmental hypocrite and is one of the first to spring to mind when you ask about the term 'virtue signaling.'

I have no issue with your environmental concerns, but it is completely inappropriate to link him with certain evangelist’s disgusting sexual behaviour. That is a smear, plain and simple.
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I have no issue with your environmental concerns, but it is completely inappropriate to link him with disgusting sexual practices by certain tv evangelists.
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It's a hyperbolic metaphor; I used it because I find his 'virtue signalling' in contrast to his behavior reprehensible.

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AnnieA said:
It's a hyperbolic metaphor; I used it because I find his 'virtue signalling' in contrast to his behavior reprehensible.

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Interesting that you seem to be unable to comprehend that, regardless of your intent, you have insulted our Royal Family in a vile manner. I think I need to step back for a bit, and regain my composure.
 
Well, gee, I thought never heard of virtue signaling either. When I read the question I assumed “virtue signaling” was when a man put a move on a woman and the woman slapped his face or kneed him while screaming ”I am a virgin, get your hands off me!”. 😂

As for the other explanations, hmm, I read them. I still think my explanation is the correct one or am I just “signaling my virtue”. 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
AnnieA said:
I have tons of respect for the Royal Family. That's one of the reasons his behavior disturbs me.

My point is, he is an environmental hypocrite and is one of the first to spring to mind when you ask about the term 'virtue signaling.'

.
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Yes, if you are going to talk about a well known world leader who likes and interacts with so called hookers, might or might not like to be peed on by said so called hookers, and a self proclaimed you know what grabber: chose the guy in the USA. You can’t possible smear THAT guy. He’s too busy doing it himself. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
Shalimar said:
Interesting that you seem to be unable to comprehend that, regardless of your intent, you have insulted our Royal Family in a vile manner. I think I need to step back for a bit, and regain my composure.
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Probably you should or put me on ignore--temporarily, hopefully! 🙃 I think you're too angry to see how I think the televangelist having immoral (for him) but consensual, remunerated sex after a sermon and the celebrity preaching environmentalism while raping the planet aren't so far apart as disgusting behavior goes.

The Sussexes' excesses gave the Royal Family grief while they remained in the UK. Those excesses harmed the planet. And Prince Harry did choose to step down as a Royal.

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AnnieA said:
Probably you should; I think you're too angry to see how I think the televangelist having consensual sex after a sermon and the celebrity preaching environmentalism while raping the planet aren't so far apart as disgusting behavior goes.

And Prince Harry did choose to step down as a Royal.
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Hmm, if you are going to point fingers at someone preaching environmentalism while RAPING the planet and the people of the planet do not look beyond the borders of the USA, or Washington DC. I got a prime candidate for you. 😂😂😂
 
Aneeda72 said:
Hmm, if you are going to point fingers at someone preaching environmentalism while RAPING the planet and the people of the planet do not look beyond the borders of the USA, or Washington DC. I got a prime candidate for you. 😂😂😂
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There are a lot of high profile people all over the world doing it. 😢

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Back to virtue signalling. So if someone hosts a charity event by allowing their restaurant to be used and charging by the plate with part of the donations to the charity but in reality they are thinking that this is also good advertising for their business.

Would this be an example?
 

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