Virtue Signaling

Is an economically disadvantaged kid better off because of an insistence on how many black film editors, or baseball executives, or executive chefs receive awards? Is climate change really helped by expensive legislation that kills jobs and causes inefficiencies? (The prohibition of gas-powered anything.) Virtue signaling is the public expression of opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one’s good character or social conscience or the moral correctness of one’s position on a particular issue. It’s often expressed as being against something. Remember: Live and let live People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones Do unto others as you would have them do unto you Do as I say not as I do (that didn’t work coming from my father) I don’t care whose picture is on a beer can. I don’t believe you’re a “better” person because you have a black lives matter sign on your lawn. I see too many people praying in church who won’t merge leaving the parking lot. Virtue signaling is the expression of a conspicuous, self-righteous moral viewpoint with the intent of communicating good character. Virtue signaling doesn’t actually require or prove that you’re doing or have done anything virtuous. In 2016, an NFL quarterback named Colin Kaepernick chose to sit rather than stand during the national anthem. This was his form of protesting against racial prejudice and inequality. Nike sales and stock shot up when they made him their spokesperson. But 7 years later Kaepernick still hasn’t been signed by any team and his age probably prohibits it at this point. In another example, when Apple stopped including chargers for its new iPhones they stated that it helped cut back on e-waste. However, as the authors point out, “Cynics argue that Apple is merely taking part in moral grandstanding and cutting costs while not passing the savings on to customers.” Some Sources: Virtue Signaling Examples By Dave Cornell (PhD) and Peer Reviewed by Chris Drew (PhD) / August 5, 2023 from HelpfulProfessor.com

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