Virtue Signalling

Terms like 'virtue signalling' get up my nose.
What on earth is that?
And yes, I have loads of books so, in return, I'd probably get up your nose.

People who make a big thing about buying only eco friendly products. The products are still manufactured using processes which use up thousands of water and often nasty chemicals which end up in the water table. Labour practices can be questionsble. Some products are made in an truly ecofriendly way, but a lot is greenwash . It's a new marketing strategy , the latest bandwagon to jump on.

I have shelves of books collected over the years mainly reference books, French, Italian, Spanish dictionaries, my old school books right from my first French book aged five. My grandmothers Grimms Faiy Tales, 1897, and Hans Anderson". Books on Gardening, Artists. Thomas Hardy, Dickens, and other classics. The last books I read wereDr Zivago, Les Miserables, War and peace before my eyesight failed me.

I don’t know which one I find worse: Virtue signalling, or projection from insecure people who see virtue signalling where there is none. Both stem from insecurity I feel. Both deserve eye rolls.

Frankie51
How true. Most people don’t look beyond the label or the adds.

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

As a former librarian and retired academic I have an entire room filled with books which are my reference library. I never thought when I was buying them that it had anything to do with class.

specki4eyes

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

I’ve watched Angela Strawbridge in spades. I’ve never once heard or seen her practicing virtual signalling.

Virtual signalling clearly explained.

www.ethicssage.com/2021/05/what-is-virtue-signaling-and-why-should-you-care-about-it.html

kittylester

I have an exceedingly well read friend who is also an author. She spent a whole couple of days colour coordinating all her (read!) books. It looks better in the promo photos or so her publisher told her.

Slightly off topic, but it irritates me when charity shops arrange their books by colour - what's wrong with good old alphabetical order, so as you can easily find an author?

Another example of real VS (as opposed to just showing off) is when people say they aren't going to send Christmas cards, but will donate to XYZ instead. The point of sending cards was never about spending money, so if you CBA to send them that's fine (I don't), but why make a point of saying that you will donate, if not to signal that you are being 'good'?

MerylStreep

specki4eyes

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

I’ve watched Angela Strawbridge in spades. I’ve never once heard or seen her practicing virtual signalling.

Virtual signalling clearly explained.

www.ethicssage.com/2021/05/what-is-virtue-signaling-and-why-should-you-care-about-it.html

Angela Strawbridge?!?! No way does she virtue signal! She dresses, colours her hair, creates all sorts of things in a pretty unique way! She loves to please others - her family, the brides and guests at the chateau weddings, etc., but never seems to me to be at all superior in her attitude.

Sometimes, not always, I detect a bit of virtue signalling by those who say they are getting or have an electric car, possibly forgetting that most of the population won't be able to afford these vehicles and the cost of running them. It's not as if they come without a human cost. The mining of cobalt an essential component in their batteries is done so in The Democratic Republic of Congo. The companies who are involved in that turn a blind eye to the children involved in getting it out of the ground in almost a Dickensian way, ruinous to their health, paid a pittance merely to stay alive. It kind of reminds me in some ways of those who casually discuss their recreational drug habits as if there is some virtue in improving their mental health through the supposed medicinal purposes, completely ignoring the fact that many kids are drawn into County Lines and become enslaved to evil gang masters who threaten to harm/kill them and members of their family.

I’m afraid Julia Bradbury on Instagram has become tiresome since her cancer diagnosis (I’ve had it myself by the way)
Nothing, it appears is acceptable!

Electric cars - for all the reasons mentioned by TerriBull and anyone who makes a virtue of using a milkman and glass bottles with no thought for those who need to buy 16+ pints per week who have to compare 98p per pint in a bottle with £1.90 per 4pint container.

Terribulls post was spot on, there are actually some quite complex issues around some of the solutions to climate change etc which impact specifically on the most vulnerable.

This is a public service announcement

I no longer ever want to be called VS

Violet will do

Thanks

I have that book wallpaper in my loo. I love it. I'm not sure what that says about me.

Ah, at last, posters are posting on Virtual Signalling and not one upmanship. I was beginning to think I was the only person here who knows what the expression means.

I think virtual signalling is an online only thing lol

Oh dear.Am I virtue signalling because I drive an electric car ?I didn't realise. Well it's lovely to drive and we have solar panels (is that VS too ?) and I've been driving electric gor 8 years without lecturing anyone about it.I just quietly rant to myself when I feel sick from diesel fumes in a queue at the tip,or behind a filthy exhaust.
Am I VS because Ben our local milkman supplies local milk I'm bottles?I didn't realise.We have always used a milkman.It's a choice. DD however buys far more and fills her green bin with plastic.Everything comes with a cost .

Washerwoman
No, you’re not virtual signalling because you drive an electric car. But if you said you drive one because you care for the planet you have to think about the children who’s lives mean nothing while they are mining for cobalt to make your battery.

Washerwoman

Oh dear.Am I virtue signalling because I drive an electric car ?I didn't realise. Well it's lovely to drive and we have solar panels (is that VS too ?) and I've been driving electric gor 8 years without lecturing anyone about it.I just quietly rant to myself when I feel sick from diesel fumes in a queue at the tip,or behind a filthy exhaust.
Am I VS because Ben our local milkman supplies local milk I'm bottles?I didn't realise.We have always used a milkman.It's a choice. DD however buys far more and fills her green bin with plastic.Everything comes with a cost .

No you weren’t until you announced it on here and mentioned your DD using plastic. It’s a choice. Making it is not VS. Implying your choice is better is VS.

Doodledog

Another example of real VS (as opposed to just showing off) is when people say they aren't going to send Christmas cards, but will donate to XYZ instead. The point of sending cards was never about spending money, so if you CBA to send them that's fine (I don't), but why make a point of saying that you will donate, if not to signal that you are being 'good'?

One of my dislikes too. I do send some cards to people who’d be very disappointed not to receive one, but the number drops year on year. I often feel like replying it’s possible to do both.

I hope you didn’t march too many old ladies across roads they didn’t want to cross because that really is VS 😂

But I didn't say it was better.Just different. And I completely understand why my DD buys cartons. When I said everything comes with a cost I meant the battery in my car-the same lithiun as in my phone,laptop, cordless vac etc,the plastic in milk cartons.We all consume.

MerylStreep

Ah, at last, posters are posting on Virtual Signalling and not one upmanship. I was beginning to think I was the only person here who knows what the expression means.

Virtue signalling, surely? (Not virtual)

Surely, it is Virtue signalling. Saying something that shows how virtuous you are compared with other people.

Virtue signalling, is commenting to the till operator that you are putting some food in a particular bag because it is for THE FOOD BANK, said loudly enough for those in your immediate vicinity to hear.

At which point, I comment, (to everyone on this thread) that I prefer to be discrete when I put tenners worth of goods in the Food Bank basket.