Virtue Signalling

Better Than Being Good

From left leaning Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling

As mentioned in the above article, the Cambridge Dictionary says this about it:

"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 favor for certain political ideas or cultural happenings"

It's obviously not a new phenomenon, and not actually the province of only one side of the political spectrum, it's just so much easier to talk a good game than to play a good game. It's more obvious now since social media creates a platform for legions of virtue signalers to ply their craft without the danger of a punch in the nose.

The Left complains that the term is a slur by the Right, but I think it's just a new term for the old practice of calling out someone who just says whatever is the current thing for looking good, but a person may be sincere in their beliefs, not everyone is a hypocrite.

It is the home of the first rule of propaganda: The rule of simplification - reducing all data to a simple confrontation between 'Good and Bad', 'Friend and Foe'.

Those who engage in significant virtue signalling may well be those drawn in by the fourth rule of propaganda, which is: The rule of unanimity - presenting one's viewpoint as if it were unanimous opinion of all right-thinking people: draining the doubting individual into agreement by the appeal of star-performers, by social pressure , and by 'psychological contagion.'

The fourth rule of propaganda is everywhere. The news media is resplendent in their devotion to whatever viewpoint is being promulgated as the correct and only good one, with only a few oddballs not seeing the wisdom inherent therein. They're no slouches at the fifth rule of propaganda either:

The rule of orchestration - endlessly repeating the same messages in different variations and combinations.

For more on propaganda:

"If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it." ~ Marcus Aurelius

Since no one wants to be thought of as out of it there is an incentive to repeat the talking points of the current propaganda, whatever it is. One may do so without need for critical thinking or self analysis, thereby staying in the good graces of the herd. I remember the herd well from my days of youth when the young rebelled and showed their individuality by dressing and talking alike.

Many corporations are constantly virtue signalling in an effort to improve their bottom line. Whatever they see as the winds of changing culture will be presented as deeply held corporate beliefs. It's good to laugh in their faces, and with enough of it they might go back to the idea of basing their success on producing superior products.

Corporate virtue signalling may be very dangerous, not to mention unfair. Consider the recent movement of airlines toward prioritizing diversity in their work force over competence, not only for pilots but also for mechanics and elsewhere. What could go wrong?

A beautiful example of corporate virtue signalling backfiring is the case of Bud Light beer and their ad campaign with Dylan Mulvaney, apparently believing that the culture as a whole had changed so much that their sales would come out ahead by picking up some new customers while the old customers wouldn't care.

Actions speak louder than words as the old saying goes, so why virtue signal at all? If you believe in a cause do something real to support it. Better yet, do something unrelated to a cause but beneficial to humanity. Cure cancer or work at your local charity.

At issue is that virtue signalling is often the home of the dishonest. Spouting on the internet (I should talk) by just repeating talking points is inherently dishonest in that one is simply repeating ideas of someone else while subtly claiming them as ones own.

"Lying damages others. Lying subtly permits us to destroy ourselves as we are caught in the snare and shatter our own self-image and credibility. Freedom from deceit and lying improves self and gives all of us peace of mind." ~ Marvin J. Ashton

"To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful." ~ Edward R. Murrow

"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. "One word of truth outweighs the world." ~ Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Virtue signalling is somewhat like the person who uses cynicism to gain a cheap reputation for wisdom. Such a person applies a cynical view even when not warranted, much as a virtue signaler applies virtue signals with abandon for the same reason.

"Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking." ~ Leo Tolstoy

It's fair to say that the average virtue signaler would not pass Tolstoy's test, but we may hope his type of free thinkers increase.

"Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul; then shalt thou reach the point of happiness, and independence shall be thy shield and buckler, thy helmet and crown; then shall thy soul walk upright, nor stoop to the silken wretch because he hath riches, nor pocket an abuse because the hand which offers it wears a ring set with diamonds." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Stay Brave, Stay Free