Virtue Signalling

Virtue signalling……….? A 65” telly and not a book in sight. Or a £40,000 new car and an unkempt garden and a dilapidated house. Those things baffle me far more than someone with a heaving bookcase. Please don’t come and visit me…… you would hate my library. It might be too eclectic for your taste.

😂😂😂

Thanks Oreo ! Are you “virtually signalling” me ? Methinks you’re just being rude ! I have stayed quite clearly that I do NOT consider anyone inferior to me in any respect irrespective of which daily newspaper they choose to read or whatever else they read or indeed choose to do - what kind of person do you think I am that I’d consider myself to be superior to both my dear late mother and my husband ??

Warbler

Virtue signalling……….? A 65” telly and not a book in sight. Or a £40,000 new car and an unkempt garden and a dilapidated house. Those things baffle me far more than someone with a heaving bookcase. Please don’t come and visit me…… you would hate my library. It might be too eclectic for your taste.

No, I don’t think the examples you give would be classed as virtue signalling.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, virtue signalling is "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... indicating that one has virtue merely by expressing disgust or favour for certain political ideas or cultural happenings".[4] The expression is often used to imply by the user that the virtue being signalled is exaggerated or insincere

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling

Stated not stayed !! Fat fingers !!

I always thought virtue signalling was about bragging about good deeds you’ve done rather than how many books you’ve read.

I'm probably risking a tsunami of criticism, but dare I mention a certain virtue signalling lefty Lineker, who makes all these pretend compassionate statements about the poor immigrants arriving by boat to escape slavery ( in which case why didn't they ask for asylum in other countries in Europe?) and compares the Tories to Nazis.

I don't engage with Twitter, but has he also boasted about giving some of his millions to these poor migrants?

65” television and not a book in sight-could well be a sign of someone who prefers to read away from the TV. That takes care of my DD’s family-all voracious readers but books aren’t kept in the living room, so not vs.
The car/garden situation?
Boasting possibly, combined with a lack of interest in the kerb appeal of your house. Still not vs for me.
Virtue signalling- going on about how kind, caring, etc. you are, with the implication that you are sooo good and better than others.

I read a lot of threads on Gransnet but don’t often comment.
Never before have I read such a shambles of a remark regarding people who have books unread or otherwise on their shelves.
I have books on my shelves that I read 30 or 40 years ago, but may well read them again.
I am not virtually signalling that I am better than anyone else.

How rude and ridiculous. Get a grip.
My children and grandchildren may also read things that I don’t, but this information , stories and magical inspiring things are still available to 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 quite agree. I have hundreds of books. I have read them. How could anyone who doesn’t know me possibly make value judgements?

rowyn

I'm probably risking a tsunami of criticism, but dare I mention a certain virtue signalling lefty Lineker, who makes all these pretend compassionate statements about the poor immigrants arriving by boat to escape slavery ( in which case why didn't they ask for asylum in other countries in Europe?) and compares the Tories to Nazis.

I don't engage with Twitter, but has he also boasted about giving some of his millions to these poor migrants?

If he has given his own money to them, why do you think his statements are 'pretend'?

Anyway, I'm off now to take a home made cake (organic and vegan) to the orphanage, and see as many old ladies over the road as I can on the way. I might drop in to the charity shop on the way, drop in a cashmere coat (must remember to take out the numerous support ribbons) and donate a large sum of money to my current cause. I like to add to the regular direct debits with a bit of extra cash.

rowyn

I'm probably risking a tsunami of criticism, but dare I mention a certain virtue signalling lefty Lineker, who makes all these pretend compassionate statements about the poor immigrants arriving by boat to escape slavery ( in which case why didn't they ask for asylum in other countries in Europe?) and compares the Tories to Nazis.

I don't engage with Twitter, but has he also boasted about giving some of his millions to these poor migrants?

He has taken some of them into his own home.
He may have given millions but boasting about it would be virtue signalling.

Perhaps check before you call someone a hypocrite?

SueEH

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 quite agree. I have hundreds of books. I have read them. How could anyone who doesn’t know me possibly make value judgements?

I find it difficult to part with books and still feel angst about some I sent to Oxfam years ago.

Im probably a virtue signalling numpty.

Like MONica I am never without something to read, nowadays a Kobo reader. I do not have to carry reading glasses everywhere and they tend to be cheaper. On average 10/12 a week, Every room has books but varied from chiclic to heavy tomes on history and design. Mostly well thumbed and well read.

Merryweather not completely useless with the addition of a comb it makes an impressive mouth organ

On the subject of books I once visited a stately home and commented to the guide on the impressive library. He told me that at the time the house was built it was common to buy books by the yard to fill library shelves and looking closely some of the books had no relevance to the occupier.

GrannyGravy13

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

This is the comments I came here to post myself. 'I'm so good I wouldn't virtue signal like you' kind of thing.
It's only in the past year or so that I've heard this phrase and I see it thrown at posters who make a comment certain people disagree with. People are allowed opinions without being accused of virtue signalling. I wonder when it first started being used.

I think all this correspondence about bookshelves etc is rather off the point.
What came into my mind on the subject of virtue signalling was the greenwashing which corporations and even political parties put about in an effort to appear more ecologically sound than they actually are.

Having bookshelves full of books you never read is indeed a class signifier.
Readers read their books and do not have them lining the walls as a pretence.
However, I prefer to see books lining a wall even if not read than the minimalist blank walls so much in evidence now.

Having bookshelves full of books you never read is indeed a class signifier.

What class is this? Upper class? Aristocrat? Working class? Middle? Who really thinks about class today.

Also I still do not understand how anyone would know if books in a bookcase had been read or not!

This whole thread is making me frown.

@Maria59. 🤣 I had completely forgotten about turning it into a kazoo type instrument. Happy days 😂

I cannot bear those who Whatsapp the group to tell them they are definitely going to put stuff in the collective box and then post yet again to announce they have done it.... and then the one-up-manship begins.....
Surely the point of donating is to benefit the recipients rather than to seek kudos from the world for your 'generosity'. Virtue signalling at its finest.
Donate quietly and then shut up about it, I say!

Zoejory

*Having bookshelves full of books you never read is indeed a class signifier.*

What class is this? Upper class? Aristocrat? Working class? Middle? Who really thinks about class today.

Also I still do not understand how anyone would know if books in a bookcase had been read or not!

This whole thread is making me frown.

Lining your walls with books you have never read and never intend to read could indicate some class or intellectual insecurity. If you don’t read books, why would you bother to go to the trouble?
There again, they could be part of someone’s interior design scheme.

Angela Strawbridge does virtue signalling in spades..she gets up my nose. Now, where's my tin hat.....?

Gagajo, please tell me how to cull books, I try but then buy twice as many as I have space, and undines, I'm glad I'm not alone on the book front!