Feeling a little uncomfortable about all this virtue signalling

was that bad grammar?
as fortunate as she is.

I agree GillT57
There are many people who are working hard in shelters and cooking hot meals for people in need - quietly asking them if they need donations and/or help and getting the child to help make up packs of warm clothes, food or whatever would be the best way to teach her that not everyone is as fortunate as her.
Then not posting on FB - although one local charity which helps the homeless does post on FB and that is how I found out about them.

Despite my irritation with the Xmas virtue signalling, I am generally a fan of FB. It is a great source of local news and information, FB can't be blamed for being the platform that some use in an inappropriate way.

I am not surprised Oldwoman . That is disgusting behaviour.

Agree with the OP. Just before Christmas a small local charity which helps the homeless all year round were collecting food donations in the local supermarket. Most people handed over donations, wished the Nuns Merry Christmas and moved on. I was disgusted to see one family actually taking a "selfie" saying they were going to post it online to show what they had donated. Have to say the Nuns didn't look too happy about it!

I abhor FB Lemongrove.

Makes me pleased I am not on FB.

Glad to see that most on GN agree with my irritation ! We have a local ' man of the road' and he goes about his daily routine of dragging his belongings in a trolley, has placed inside and outside where he camps for the night. Someone locally on FB started talking about giving 'K' a new coat or duvet for Xmas and then started the sadly predictable nonsense about 'we should look after our own before sending aid overseas' etc......the night shelter who look after him came into FB and explained that his life was his choice, he sought help when he needed it, please do not give cash as by his own admission he will spend it on scratch cards, and also pointed out, politely, that 'K' is one of many they are helping. Cue huffy 'feeling offended hun'. Complete inability to understand how his life worked, how he couldn't cold with being stuck in a flat all day,preferring to walk about doing as he wishes and also illustrating that the purpose was not helping 'K' but letting the local FB community admire the generosity of 'hun'.

I agree with the op. There is so much virtue signalling going on. It's a similar term to moral high ground and social media is full of it, Gransnet is too. If you talk about any good fotune you are reminded others aren't so. lucky. We know this but the holier than. Thou types have to remind us people are homeless or need foodbanks. Why do theythey always do this When we all know about it?

Oh gosh, yes, I find virtue-signalling intensely annoying! The hot Xmas meals for homeless people reminds me of the ?RSPCA campaign, a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Homeless people require help all year round, not just on one day a year.

Likewise, I am irritated by people doing 'Dry January' or 'Veganuary' and asking for sponsorship for it. Why I should give people money to give up alcohol or animal products is beyond me. Do it for the state of your health and donate the savings to charity by all means but don't ask me to fund your lifestyle choices.

I'm sure many people are well-meaning, but yes, the virtue signalling is very annoying. And the muddled thinking sometimes. We had a case in point recently - one excellent well-organised local charity dealing with the homeless and vulnerable announced on FB that it had lost its funding (temporarily, we hope). Straightaway someone leapt in saying that because of this they were going to collect any spare duvets and bedding anyone had and drive round that weekend giving it out to any homeless people they found in the area (whether they wanted it or not, presumably). Followed by lots of posts asking where the duvets should be taken, etc. Friends were messaging me to check that I'd seen the post and whether I'd any duvets. For goodness' sake, as others have said, think about it, find an organised charity that knows what its doing that can target help properly!

Absolutely agree. The services that help the homeless the registered charities, need all the support they can get and they know how to target the help to the best use! In our town we have 3 excellent charities who provide services for the homeless including the winter night shelter, a place where homeless folk can get hot meals nearly every day of the week , hot shower and laundry etc we also have a waste food cafe that is free or pay as you can and our brilliant food bank which as well as giving out food and toiletry items feminine hygiene products and baby items for low income households and homeless will also help making benefit claims or housing applications. I am sure that similar is in every town so these are the places I suggest help goes to.

Oh that's truly awful Misadventure. I really don't know what to say,

eglantine
When my daughter died, there was apparently some kind of competition about who had been her best friend. Never mind that she hadn't used Facebook for a good few years.
It disgusts me.

virtue signalling is hideous. However as a knowledge source Facebook can be brilliant. I use it less and less for family and friends but for groups (cookery, gardening, local school info) is it vital. One facebook message and the whole village knows the school is snowed in for example - however the "aren't I wonderful" posts are grim.

I am now sorry I don't do FB, so I must use GN to say, I gave several thousands pounds each to all of my favourite charities.
I spent all day Christmas eve cooking vast amounts of food which I took to the homeless shelter and spent all Christmas day working there, mostly doing laundry for the visitors so they could go back on the streets with clean dry ironed clothes.
Loud applause from all please. I don't believe in hiding my light under a bushel.
Is that actually what these people want?

Misadventure, I have a friend who constantly posts details of other people's lives. When she announced my husband's death together with a photo of him and me on a day out and a so sad message I was furious. Even more so when the replies commiserated with her.........

This year I've seen quite a few people announcing on fb that as of next year they will no longer be sending cards but will make a donation to charity instead.
Oh this is another thing that really irritates me I'm afraid. On the surface it seems a noble gesture. In reality where is the sacrifice? How have they suffered or put themselves to any trouble in order to help a charity? Not a bit. They've just got out of the faff of buying, writing and posting Christmas Cards, by sending a tenner to a charity of their choice. Presumably they still receive cards, so they don't even go without themselves! It's the ones who would have received cards from them that miss out. Why not say "this year as well as sending cards I'm going to match the cost and give to a charity". Now that I would respect!

Agree with Paddyann and BB, couldn't have put it better.

I totally agree paddyann I have a SiL who does this constantly about her father. Birthday, Christmas. I really have to restrain myself from saying " Actually he was an absolute s* " But I don't. I couldn't be that cruel.

its the huge number of posts to people in "Heaven" that get up my nose,maybe I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't think dead people see FB or that many of these people would have been better spending time with their dear departed while they were alive than putting posts on FB telling the world how wonderful the lost Mum/Dad /third cousin twice removed was now they've "gone"Now there IS a lot of hypocrisy there !

Its pretty distasteful to be writing about people on Facebook without their permission. I find it vulgar.

Seems to be the norm nowadays to tell the world every detail of your life.
I agree charitable actions should be done quietly without fanfare but there is something to be said for raising awareness in our children of less fortunate people. Not sure they should be treated as exhibits though.

Agree absolutely.I have closed my facebook account.I got completely fed up with"friends" complimenting each other for everyday acts of kindness or friendliness that should come naturally to most people.They even write about people in the same house as them .Are they too embarrassed to speak face to face ?

[Gill] totally agree with your post