What Are Virtue Signallers?

[Atheist]

And is there such a thing as Evil Signallers?

[andy-hughes]

'Virtue Signallers' are people labelled by one of the increasing list of new adjectives that are the fall out of the social media generation.

It's shorthand for people who like to tell everyone that they are doing and saying the right thing about whatever issue is being discussed online.

[Atheist]

AH; in other words they are just like everybody else? I was thinking about people who call other people "Lefties" or "TROB" or "VS's". What signals are they sending?

[JimF]

^ Especially when the "virtue" being signalled really shouldn't need to be signalled in the first place.

E.g. you wade into a thread discussing racial abuse or prejudice and you bang on about how you've never been a racist and you know lots of black people who are perfectly nice people and how we're all equal and how racists are horrible and...

[andy-hughes]

Atheist - // AH; in other words they are just like everybody else? //

Not really.

'Virtue Signallers' actually go out of their way to make a point on line to draw attention to their particular views or actions which they perceive as painting them in a positive light - I don't think you could ever say that 'everybody else' does that.

//I was thinking about people who call other people "Lefties" or "TROB" or "VS's". What signals are they sending? //

Hostility - usually!

[retrocop]

I suppose most 'virtue signalers' attempt to portray the fact that the contents of their lower bowel does not exude a foul aroma. :-)

[Atheist]

AH; thank you. I think that the people with views I find disagreeable are probably also hoping to paint themselves in a positive light with their like-minded friends. I suspect that they suspect that they are in a minority and therefore are original thinkers who don't follow the herd. Also, I didn't say that 'everybody else' does something.

[ladybirder]

They are self righteous, sanctimonious people who like to claim the moral high ground.

[Atheist]

Retro; your comment is not very enlightening, apart from the fact that it shows you regard VS's as people who talk through their btm's. Doesn't get the discussion anywhere sensible.

[pixie374]

I have only ever heard the phrase on AB, and as far as I can see, it is a phrase used by lazy people who feel guilty or upset that they have been disagreed with.

[retrocop]

LB
Pretty much sums it up..:-)

[Atheist]

LB; wouldn't you like to have the moral high ground? Or would you prefer the moral low ground?

[Atheist]

Perhaps JC was a VS?

[retrocop]

//Doesn't get the discussion anywhere sensible.//
Well you started it pal

[Atheist]

And I don't mean Jeremy.

[Atheist]

Retro; did you use to address people as "Pal" when you were on the beat?

[pixie374]

Nobody is. It's a meaningless trend, if you don't have a valid answer to someone, use it... :-)

[Mamyalynne]

A 'Virtue signaller' is what you are dubbed if you don't join in with the general loudly vexatious tone of a discussion - you may get the odd mention of an old sainted nun thrown in.

Makes 'em feel better.

[Atheist]

Pix. It seems to be a common trend here to use acronyms and private jargon to signal to your like-minded chums what you are, whilst confusing ordinary people who are looking for rational discussions. TROB; ROB; EUSSR; Beep Beep Cee; Oh I've lost the will to continue...

[andy-hughes]

Atheist - // Also, I didn't say that 'everybody else' does something. //

Indeed you didn't, please allow me to amend -

"I don't think you could ever say that 'everybody else' does that."

to -

"I don't think you could ever say that 'everybody else' is like that."

[andy-hughes]

Atheist - // Pix. It seems to be a common trend here to use acronyms and private jargon to signal to your like-minded chums what you are, whilst confusing ordinary people who are looking for rational discussions. TROB; ROB; EUSSR; Beep Beep Cee; Oh I've lost the will to continue... //

You may be over-thinking this somewhat - I think acronyms are merely shorthand, a byproduct of the texting / social media generation, rather than signals to others that they all belong to an exclusive club.

They are abbreviations, not Masonic handshakes!