I’m afraid this doesn’t engage with the real concerns/objections to what is commonly referred to as virtue signaling, because you’re using a pretty narrow, overly generous (to the point that it feels motte-and-bailey, but I’d prefer to believe that your experiences differ enough from mine that we just have a terminology disagreement).
The virtue signaling that I object to is the cheap, non-rationally-justiable, and often hypocritical expressions of support or hatred for in-group or out-group rallying topics. The pendulum CANNOT swing too far against this, IMO.
I think your definition of virtue signal is too narrow. You’re defining away signals of actual virtue! I know many people say “virtue signal” to mean an insincere, in-group membership token, but that’s not the plain meaning. I think your definition is dangerous because it implies that there can be no measurements of genuine virtue—using that standard leaves evidence or the opportunity for evidence on the table.
I’m afraid this doesn’t engage with the real concerns/objections to what is commonly referred to as virtue signaling, because you’re using a pretty narrow, overly generous (to the point that it feels motte-and-bailey, but I’d prefer to believe that your experiences differ enough from mine that we just have a terminology disagreement).
The virtue signaling that I object to is the cheap, non-rationally-justiable, and often hypocritical expressions of support or hatred for in-group or out-group rallying topics. The pendulum CANNOT swing too far against this, IMO.
I think your definition of virtue signal is too narrow. You’re defining away signals of actual virtue! I know many people say “virtue signal” to mean an insincere, in-group membership token, but that’s not the plain meaning. I think your definition is dangerous because it implies that there can be no measurements of genuine virtue—using that standard leaves evidence or the opportunity for evidence on the table.