Checking my cluttered (fake?) news feed, I once again came across the term "virtue signaling."

Made me pause to consider how funny it seems that new terms get included in our language, even when they are used to describe things that have been around for a really long time.

Although the term "Virtue Signaling" (as best I can tell) formally dates to about 2015, and is typically used in the context of a certain self-righteousness typically found in so-called "Social Justice Warriors," the bones of the idea itself is pretty old.

Back in the day, I used to call it "narcissistic altruism."

Sunset
Silhouettes against the sunset sky

In fact, I had more than a few friends/acquaintances who were mightily absorbed in building a public image around "how generous" and "how selfless" they were. Most of the time, they were involved in all sorts of causes and local civic events... many of which they actually knew little about, or even cared much about... expressly for the purpose of "being known as a great humanitarian."

Often their language would be peppered with snide and passive aggressive statements designed purely to establish their moral superiority over others... even though they didn't necessarily ascribe to (and live) a lifestyle that suggested they cared one whit.

At my former art gallery-- some 20 years ago-- there was this one women who'd come to all of our events because she considered herself a great patron of the arts.

She would waft into the room, carried primarily by a cloud of her own self-importance and use our champagne and snacks as a free dinner and an opportunity to grow belligerent about the cause of "starving artists" and then drift back out at the end of the evening.

Flowers
Salmonberry flowers

To the best of my recollection, she never actually purchased a single piece of art in the 10-12 year period we were acquainted with her.

Meanwhile this other person I knew-- around the same time-- was eternally talking about all his donations given to charity (often in minimal amounts), mostly to let the world know what a "great humanitarian" he was.

It's actually a surprisingly common practice. Even my own mother engaged in her own version of "charity for public consumption;" supporting an assortment of causes mostly to have status with her friends and the local community around where my parents were retired.

TRULY Selfless People Tend to be Pretty Much... SELFLESS

Madrona
Bark of a madrona tree

Most authentic philanthropists I've met tend to be pretty quiet about their actions and contributions... generally because they tend to be very passionate about what they are undertaking and supporting... and they do these things simply for the joy of doing them, not for recognition.

My friend Emmitt, for example, is an elderly gentleman by now... he rolls up in his mid 1990s Subaru station wagon and you'd never know that he owns half of town and probably donates a six-figure amount to an assortment of local causes... simply because he's grateful for what they are doing for the local community.

And he doesn't engage in any forms of "false humility" either... he simply doesn't find it a topic of importance to discuss his community support.

Isn't "Giving" Good, No Matter What?

Leaves
Evening sky leaves

I suppose some would argue that I am making an issue out of something that is not.

After all, "isn't all giving good, as long as it is giving?"

Well, I suppose there is truth to that-- as long as donations and volunteer efforts end up in the right place, they "do good" no matter what the underlying motivation. Although... with those working towards "being seen as virtuous," there are often strings attached.

But ultimately, that wasn't what this post was about... mostly, I was just pointing out that this kind of behavior isn't some brand new thing we can conveniently pin on SJW Liberals. They didn't invent it. They merely repackaged it.

How about YOU? Have you encountered people who practiced altruism as a way to draw attention to themselves? What do you think about that sort of thing? Does it seem manipulative? Or do you think these people are justified in "wanting something" for their money? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!

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created by @zord189

(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 171215 21:30 PDT

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