Virtue Signalling

Of course Maw Prince Harry is one person who has told us to take fewer flights and then uses private jets himself, but I certainly wasn’t only thinking of him. Emma Thomson springs to mind, along with Gary Linekar. Also along with Lily Allen and Benedict Cumberbatch. Some of these have been guilty of telling us all to take an asylum seeker from Calais into our own modest homes, whilst doing nothing of the sort themselves (in their large/several houses) or housing someone for a few weeks before they move on. It’s virtue signalling at its worst, especially if you’ve paid good money to watch Hamlet or some such play, and Benedict Cumberbatch is starring in it, and he suddenly spoils the performance by giving a long rant to the audience about how they all should be doing something about the asylum seekers in Calais.

Dickens

grandtanteJE65

eazybee

People who have walls / huge bookshelves full of books but never read. A class signifier.

This sort of silly remark.
People who have walls full of books buy them because they like books and they keep them on shelves because it as an ideal way to store them.
Nothing to do with class.

I am with you here, no-one I know who has walls full of book shelves, has them only for show.

We read our books regularly, irrespective of whether we are academics, artisans or charwomen.

I'd just like to understand how those who criticise people with bookshelves full of books know that they are not read?

Without going full throttle with explanations - if you have acquired books throughout your life and don't want to part with them... where the hell else are you supposed to keep them?

This happened a lot during lockdown didn't it, when politicians were talking on Zoom. I remember an episode of Have I Got News for You when a comedian appeared with blank walls with signs saying "Books" behind him

MawtheMerrier

“Humble bragging”
Of the “we were so poor….” variety!

My brother and I were (lightheartedly) talking about this at the weekend and trying to outdo each other. The best was voted to be "we were so poor, that our dad used to suck a Polo mint and we sat around him warming our hands." Yes, I know poverty is a thing and is not really a subject for joking, but still ...

Fleurpepper

Virtue signalling is very much in the eyes of the beholder.

I guess that’s what the person virtue signally hopes - either subconsciously or deliberately. If you do or say something in the hope that it will give you a certain caché, then you want it to be noticed?

In my opinion, the only reason to announce that you give money to charity, donate to a food bank or help others is virtue signalling. Why would you need others to know?

grandtanteJE65

eazybee

People who have walls / huge bookshelves full of books but never read. A class signifier.

This sort of silly remark.
People who have walls full of books buy them because they like books and they keep them on shelves because it as an ideal way to store them.
Nothing to do with class.

I am with you here, no-one I know who has walls full of book shelves, has them only for show.

We read our books regularly, irrespective of whether we are academics, artisans or charwomen.

I'd just like to understand how those who criticise people with bookshelves full of books know that they are not read?

Without going full throttle with explanations - if you have acquired books throughout your life and don't want to part with them... where the hell else are you supposed to keep them?

eazybee

^People who have walls / huge bookshelves full of books but never read. A class signifier^.

This sort of silly remark.
People who have walls full of books buy them because they like books and they keep them on shelves because it as an ideal way to store them.
Nothing to do with class.

I am with you here, no-one I know who has walls full of book shelves, has them only for show.

We read our books regularly, irrespective of whether we are academics, artisans or charwomen.

What Greta said at Davos something along the lines of "Those lecturing about the climate crisis are the very ones causing it"

The fact that a Scandinavian historian addressed that summit a couple of years ago with a "if corporations just paid their taxes we wouldn't need all this grandstanding philanthropy" to gasps of "how revolutionary is that!"

Corporations who like to kid themselves they are all about doing good in the world and equality when they are involved in horrible underhand practices such as exploiting children in a ruinous way in the Democratic Republic of Congo to mine cobalt an essential component for electric car batteries, or using forced labour such as the Uygher Muslims in China. The duplicitous Disney Corporation for example, overtly promoting all sorts of equality but air brushed black actor, John Boyega out of the Star Wars poster at China's behest .

I'll leave it there because there is just too much of it really Why anyone listens to these so called influential people God only knows.

On a personal level we have loads of books, some I've read and don't want to part with, some I've inherited from my parents, I grew up with books in that respect I was lucky, some I have earmarked to read, some are my children's that have been recycled for grandchildren, some my son has given me he works in publishing, some are my stepson's who died, they are very special to my husband.

I'd get rid of the telly before I offload our books.

GrannyGravy13

Just a thought but is complaining about dislike of virtue signalling in itself virtue signalling?

I think it's whinging actually. Also known as being a b**ch.

Great minds X post Gg13 😄

I think people who talk about virtue signalling, are the ultimate virtue signalers(?)

What happened to good old fashioned hypocracy, or even better showing off?🤣🤣🤣🤣

Sorry Gagajo a little joke at your expense. I know you have broad shoulders.

Just a thought but is complaining about dislike of virtue signalling in itself virtue signalling?

This is more organisations, but having slogans or adverts on equality for gay people/women etc whilst flogging their goods using very different type of branding in countries such as Saudi Arabia.

I’m glad you are all sharing your thoughts here…..because I’m not really that bright sometimes and was never quite sure what it meant. So it realistically means people who say something and mean nothing of the sort? Or they are for full of bs.

Casdon

One thing I can’t stand is when people use their religious faith as a way of signalling that they are in some way superior to others. I’ll probably get shot down for saying this!

Not at all. I had a friend who was deeply religious and you felt the whole time that she was looking down on you because she corrected you when you said something that was not in line with her way of thinking. She was very anti a lot of the minority groups and that is why I sorted of evaporated. Goodness knows what would have happened if one of her family had erred in any way.

maddyone

People who tell us all that we should take fewer flights and then use private jets themselves.

I can’t imagine WHO you might be referring to!

Spot them.

That’s made me think of another one! People who move to the country then complain about the smells of silage, muck spreading, etc.

One thing I can’t stand is when people use their religious faith as a way of signalling that they are in some way superior to others. I’ll probably get shot down for saying this!

Not just real country folk ExperiencedNotOld one can sort them miles off as they drive "into the city" to further flash the cash.

Different but sort of the same.
People that move into a country village, swop their car for a 4x4, start wearing country style clothes (that never get dirty) always from expensive brands, buy a couple of labs or spaniels and then can’t understand why real county folk find them so funny.

People wearing charity t-shirts but never commit charitable acts.
People with the Ukrainian flag in their Twitter bio or on their FB profile pic.

Norah

Being a bossy know-it-all. Forcing one's opinion.

I second that. I live next door to someone the same. I always go out in the back garden so she can't see me.
I have never known anyone so officious, who knows everyone and everything is so much better than yours. She is always butting in on conversations.
If I do catch sight of her I get the Hyacinth Bucket "Oh haven't seen you lately been holed up?"
No, I've been bloody avoiding you. It's got to the point where I go to the Post when I hope she is having a meal.

People who tell us all that we should take fewer flights and then use private jets themselves.

Is not talking up your possession and use of books not a signalling of virtue

Who is 'talking up' their possession or use of books? That would mean suggesting that the possession or use of books, was something to be proud of.

My experience is that it is, and always has been, something to apologise for. Look how rude people are if a bookcase appears near anyone on a Zoom call.