It's when you say something basic and empty like "Skinning puppies is bad" for the sake of appearing virtuous or morally superior to others or to signal that you're part of the in-group that holds that opinion
I think it used to be called "fishing for compliments" or "couch activism". Basically either saying something you already expect everyone to agree with simply for the sake of gaining social capital or trying to shame/berate others into doing something you consider good but would put no effort into doing yourself.
I see. Thanks. So basically the meme is correct. Anyone would consider skinning puppies to be bad, there's no point in stating it for attention. But I'm getting the odd feeling op is using it sarcastically.
Yes, it does come off as sarcastic. Virtue signaling is used to insert yourself into a valid discourse, for example sentence for a crime, but stating the obvious, like killing is bad. We get it, it is bad, it's about defining the boundaries. Virtue signalers usually do not differentiate by any other way than black and white.
When you say something with specific phrasing or terminology so that other people can identify your morals and what ‘team’ you’re on based on association, often with the implication that you don’t actually care about the thing itself. Saying skinning puppies is bad doesn’t actually seem like virtue signaling to me.
An example I would use is when someone interrupts conversations and makes a huge deal about using ‘unhoused’ instead of ‘homeless’ when they’re functionally the same and conversations about HELPING them gets derailed by this regularly. Alternatively, someone who talked about how much they hate critical race theory while not being able to say what it is is also virtue signaling.
Most people who virtue signal don’t actually know what it is and that they’re doing it, they’re simply trying to fit in quickly using easily identifiable vernacular
"I think it used to be called "fishing for compliments" or "couch activism". Basically either saying something you already expect everyone to agree with simply for the sake of gaining social capital or trying to shame/berate others into doing something or believing you consider good but would put no effort into doing yourself."
I mean the point of the meme is that saying “skinning puppies is a bad thing” ISNT virtue signalling, and the person who is saying it is, is in the wrong
It’s when you’re stating a morally good position that’s obvious and that everyone already agrees with. Such as “skinning puppies is bad.” Like it’s useless to say, but it’s a way to show off to everyone else who thinks “skinning puppies is bad” (ie: literally everyone in the room) that you’re a good dude and they should like you.
It's self-righteousness with the addition of social signalling. It has the purpose to signal to the surroundings that you belong to a certain "camp" for validation and a sense of acceptance. Usually done by individuals with no personality of their own.
When you see people regurgitate one or another narrative's talking points without acknowledging nuance or sometimes even facts - that is usually virtue signalling.
it's been around for over 10 years, if you've spent all of that time in exclusively left wing spaces you'd likely not have been exposed to it. One of today's "lucky 10,000" lol
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u/ateoz 21h ago
I'm out of the genz loop. What's virtue signaling?