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
Get the Super-signalling mug.by Jack Giffin November 9, 2024
Get the A super offensive definition mug.1) The name of a super full moon that occurs during the month of November, supposedly named as such because beavers are particularly active at that time of year as they prepare for the winter months ahead.
2) When a woman is over-eager during the act of mooning and reveal more of her posterior than she intended.
2) When a woman is over-eager during the act of mooning and reveal more of her posterior than she intended.
Susan was so keen to moon the Google Street View Car that she bent over too far and gave them a Beaver Super Moon instead.
by GoodinBed November 16, 2024
Get the Beaver Super Moon mug.When you receive head so f***ing good, that by the time it's over; 25 years have passed & you're on the streets begging for money to satisfy your crack habit. (Like the majority of the homeless in L.A.)
Nick: Damn dude, I haven't felt anything that amazing since we pretended to be suicide-bombers that one time!
Vinny: No, shit? Sounds like she almost gave you that California Super Suck!
Nick: Damn near, I knew I was in trouble when I started getting light headed & I was getting weird wiffs of crack.
Vinny: No, shit? Sounds like she almost gave you that California Super Suck!
Nick: Damn near, I knew I was in trouble when I started getting light headed & I was getting weird wiffs of crack.
by Mr_Blue_Pants November 21, 2024
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The middle ground between a girlfriend and a fiancé. You don’t want to propose yet but you know she needs some reassurance to stick around.
by Snugglesfucks November 26, 2024
Get the Super girlfriend mug.When the male rectum and crotch area turn very yellow and grow pimples that contain sperm and piss from having sex with Sexy Asian men
by Gyattiel November 28, 2024
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