Virtue Signalling

[spathiphyllum]

i've no idea what it means anyone got an example? This was bought on by daves new avatar, i do not want any digs at other members though i'm genuinely interested Google define doesn't really assist.

[ummmm]

It's just people pretending to be concerned about matters.

A bit like you pretending to live in a park home when we know you live in a caravan.

[Spicerack]

You need a lie down, ummmm.

[retrocop]

Usually people who try to impress how virtuous,generous,charitable and squeaky clean they think they are. Those who do good deeds but are not content to get their reward in heaven but trumpet it for all to see on social media.

[SparklyKid]

I have no idea, heard the expression a lot, but, for the life of me I have no idea what it means.

[SparklyKid]

Is it a bit Like Lilly Allen and the like saying they will take in immigrants ?

[sunny-dave]

It means saying anything which could be interpreted as (even mildly) Liberal or Socialist leaning - which the Forces of the Right then interpret as implying that the VS is only saying it to make themselves look good.

I'm attempting to de-toxify the label, much as the previously abusive term 'Black' was in the 1960s - by self identifying and saving the abusers the bother.

[hc4361]

It's a way of showing people just how much more charitable or morally superior you believe yourself to be.
It can be a statement at the end of each post, such as 'I donated £100 to (the fashionable cause of the minute), will you?"

Or an avatar that shows your support for the fashionable cause of the minute.

[hc4361]

It's an insult intended to convey that you believe the person you accuse of virtue signalling is not sincere or is just trying to impress.

[spathiphyllum]

So for example, only caring about things for the publicity when in fact you may not care about that thing at all?

[emmie]

that's rather odd wouldn't you say.

[spathiphyllum]

Yes, but at school, there were a lot of attention seekers. The kind that would only do something for the attention of others. We use to call these people "ballbags"

[spathiphyllum]

IE, someone would do a something, and then look at you in the face to see your reaction, you'd tell him to stop "Ballbagging"

[bookbinder]

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/virtue-signalling

[spathiphyllum]

That's a good definition, thank you

[retrocop]

bookbinder
The Cambridge dictionary deffo appeared pretty much what I wrote as a of the cuff definition. Seemed to hit a nerve immediately. :-)

[naomi24]

bainbrig, don't be ridiculous. Look a bit harder.

sunny-dave, It's nothing to do with politics - left, right, or anywhere else.

hc4361, you were right - until you described it as an insult. It isn't. It's an observation. I repeat something I posted here a day or so ago.

Utilising the term ‘virtue signalling’ eliminates the requirement for lengthy explanations or for more personal and potentially hurtful criticism. I find the phrase communicates the message very well indeed. Short and to the point.

[hc4361]

Got to be careful, though. If I changed my avatar to 'Je Suis Charlie' after the 2015 atrocity in France, was I showing my support for freedom of speech and the victims or virtue signalling?

[hc4361]

I disagree, naomi, it is an insult in the same way 'do gooder' is used as an insult.

[Mamyalynne]

As with all such phrases the problem arises when they are misused, a co worker once asked a colleague what they'd done that weekend - the colleague had run a half marathon for a Children's Charity.

The one who'd asked spent all day then bemoaning her colleague's 'virtue signalling'?

I did ask if she should have lied and said she'd been sunbathing but the penny didn't drop.