by Spootin1 December 03, 2010
by q359 June 28, 2023
The act of signalling exclusivity or secrecy, even when there’s no substantial reason. It mimics in-group dynamics to create a heightened sense of importance, often leaving outsiders feeling excluded, even when the content is trivial.
Super-signalling can be thought of as a kind of unintentional gaslighting. The term comes from the 1938 play Gas Light, where a man drives his wife to the brink of insanity by gradually dimming the lights in their apartment while pretending that nothing has changed.
Super-signalling operates similarly, although more subtly. There’s really nothing there, yet our very human Fear Of Missing Out is triggered. While gaslighting is deliberate, super-signalling is often unconscious—those engaging in it are likely unaware of the (super) signals they’re transmitting.
The behaviour is rampant on social media. Vague status updates, cryptic tweets, or ‘stories’ that hint at something significant without revealing any details are the digital equivalent of those whispered huddles. They tap into our instinct to belong, leaving us wondering what we’ve missed.
The same is true for airy corporate slides with conspicuous stamps of saying “CONFIDENTIAL,” when it’s apparent that they contain little of substance.
Or scientific presentations where heavy smoke screens of technical jargon obscure the fact that the subject being studied is actually quite inconsequential.
As Gertrude Stein once quipped: “There’s no there there.”
Super-signalling operates similarly, although more subtly. There’s really nothing there, yet our very human Fear Of Missing Out is triggered. While gaslighting is deliberate, super-signalling is often unconscious—those engaging in it are likely unaware of the (super) signals they’re transmitting.
The behaviour is rampant on social media. Vague status updates, cryptic tweets, or ‘stories’ that hint at something significant without revealing any details are the digital equivalent of those whispered huddles. They tap into our instinct to belong, leaving us wondering what we’ve missed.
The same is true for airy corporate slides with conspicuous stamps of saying “CONFIDENTIAL,” when it’s apparent that they contain little of substance.
Or scientific presentations where heavy smoke screens of technical jargon obscure the fact that the subject being studied is actually quite inconsequential.
As Gertrude Stein once quipped: “There’s no there there.”
by SlowThinker October 26, 2024
the yellow lights on a car BMW drivers don't know the use for. they're made to let others know when you're about to change lanes or go into a corner
Audi driver: You fucking dick sucking cunt use your signal lights
BMW driver: use psychic powers you Audi driving fag
BMW driver: use psychic powers you Audi driving fag
by Marcotine January 29, 2017
It is when you somehow manage to turn off wireless capability while surfing the internet on a laptop. Then you go around frantically checking all wires to make sure they're connected. Hours later you realize, after searching that you had pressed the button that is placed so far on the keyboard you don't understand how it got pressed.
I was so scared that my internet was cut off that I trouble shooted for hours. Then I looked to see that wireless capability was turned off.
I was glad it was just a signal frantic.
I was glad it was just a signal frantic.
by kookycarl May 09, 2012
When every time you try to get together with someone and they tell you they are busy. They’re never available.
He’s getting the busy signal from that girl he met last week.
They’re getting the busy signal from their son.
They’re getting the busy signal from their son.
by Mom knows August 17, 2023
by k.djmasta November 23, 2014