The other side of the coin to virtue signalling; rather than angling for praise by performatively proclaiming their support for certain causes, vice signalling involves attempting to show off their good person credentials by performatively approving of harm or other bad things that have befallen others.
Like virtue signalling, vice signalling is a largely tribal act; a way for the speaker to associate themselves with certain other groups, causes or ideals. Also like virtue signalling, vice signalling is a means of doing this without actually showing any follow-through or doing anything tangible for the cause it apparently supports; much like adding a filter to your Facebook profile to support Group X doesn't actually accomplish anything, tweeting your support for violence against Group Y serves to gain edgy clout without actually taking any meaningful action. Finally and also like virtue signalling, it is not so much the morals behind it as the smug and performative nature of vice signalling that make it irritating: a reasonable person might for instance agree that at times, the use of force has been necessary to stop people from committing terrible acts, but when someone makes a great deal of effort to be seen revelling in physical harm done to someone else however necessary it may have been, it ceases to be about the morals and becomes instead an exercise of preachy autofellatio.
Like virtue signalling, vice signalling is a largely tribal act; a way for the speaker to associate themselves with certain other groups, causes or ideals. Also like virtue signalling, vice signalling is a means of doing this without actually showing any follow-through or doing anything tangible for the cause it apparently supports; much like adding a filter to your Facebook profile to support Group X doesn't actually accomplish anything, tweeting your support for violence against Group Y serves to gain edgy clout without actually taking any meaningful action. Finally and also like virtue signalling, it is not so much the morals behind it as the smug and performative nature of vice signalling that make it irritating: a reasonable person might for instance agree that at times, the use of force has been necessary to stop people from committing terrible acts, but when someone makes a great deal of effort to be seen revelling in physical harm done to someone else however necessary it may have been, it ceases to be about the morals and becomes instead an exercise of preachy autofellatio.
Steve never fails to post on Reddit about how great it is every time some celebrity he doesn't like dies. A classic case of vice signalling.
Actions that run counter to societal norms so as to prove your love and loyalty to friends, loved ones, etc.
'Did that guy just knock over your beer?!'
'Yea, that's Dan. He's just shit signaling. Don't judge him by this interaction alone.'
'Yea, that's Dan. He's just shit signaling. Don't judge him by this interaction alone.'
by no-kindo April 3, 2018
A virtue signaler is a trendy poser ego-maniac who perplexes old school trailblazing liberals. Their ego takes precedence over the actual issue, and it's painfully obvious. It's also a great rebuttal tp a meritless claim that one is racist.
Debator: Remember when we all used to get along? At least it seemed that way. Now social media is perpetuating shock value and BLM seems to have been hijacked by violence.
Virtue signaler: You're just racist. Black Lives Matter!
Debator: Yes they do! What you don't know is that they matter more than your virtue signaling.
Virtue signaler: You're just racist. Black Lives Matter!
Debator: Yes they do! What you don't know is that they matter more than your virtue signaling.
by Sperloid August 3, 2022
by Bill2310 February 1, 2018
A communique intended to spread awareness of an issue, typically through mass media such as amateur radio or the Internet. Sometimes knocked by detractors for unapparent reasons - voting doesn't raise money for anything, but voting is still important. Self-Injury Awareness Day doesn't raise money for anything, but awareness is still important. The entire point of a signal boost is that if you can do something more significant to help, you do that as well as participating in the boost, but if you can't, you boost to help reach those who can.
Tamara says she's standing on an eighth-floor windowsill and I don't know where she lives. Signal boost 'til we find someone who does.
by Apricot Man February 3, 2013
by Mike Oxhugee August 29, 2007
Did you see Professor Trogan driving his Tesla to Berkeley today.
Ted: Yeah he was just virtue signaling before his gender unicorn lecture.
Ted: Yeah he was just virtue signaling before his gender unicorn lecture.
by Strangetimes April 20, 2022