Whenever I got accused of “virtue signaling” on Twitter, I always replied with “I’m standing up for what I believe in. What do you believe in?” They immediately got defensive and either ignored me, blocked me, or replied with childish insults. Really shows that it’s just political favoritism.

December 08, 2025 - 18:20 UTC

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I like to reply to such people with a simple "?", forcing them to explain themselves.
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I also like to give non-accusatory questions. It is really funny how it boils down to them having toxic beliefs, but they can’t admit it.
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Did they ever give a coherent explanation?
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It was far too late when I realized that these people used virtue signaling as this constant insult because they disbelieved the idea people could genuinely empathic and broadly desire good for other people and to model justice in society, regardless of whether they get anything out of it themselves
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I'd say that virtue signaling is precisely when people are NOT empathic, ie. when it is used to attack or harm others. Precisely what the right is doing a lot, maybe more than the left.
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That last part hit close to home when I realized how mad they get when they see pronouns in people’s bios. It is for empathy, but it’s also convenient. I told them I do it because I might have a female character or a flower as my pfp. Once again, they either ignore me or get defensive.
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I quickly learned that any attempt to have a serious interchange with someone on the "other side" on Xhitter quickly devolves into name-calling within 2-3 posts. They don't have serious arguments, just venom.
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And bots and bot farms. Don't forget you might have been talking to a bot with the power to convince you everyone (else) is shit.
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Yup. Twitter is not the place to change people’s minds. I flat out got an “I don’t care” from someone after they couldn’t come up with a counterargument. I even tried to talk to a “2020 election was stolen” person on Discord. No name-calling and just facts. They didn’t budge.
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The ad hominem fallacy, a logical error where someone attacks the person's character, motive, or attributes instead of the substance of their argument to derail productive conversation.

Me: What DT policy has benefited u?
Them: The border
Me: That’s not a policy
Them: U R a bitch! DADDY’s back!🇺🇸😭
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See Also
"Don't make it political" -a cheap political point scoring refuge for people with no argument

..there are others but my mind just went blank
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I'm on 65 lists called "Russian bots," "bad faith Trump helpers," and like "purity testers."

If refusing to sign my name to genocide is purity testing, then sure, I guess I do belong on those lists. Even suggesting we have a primary to see if people actually wanted Harris was a sin .
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I had an old friend try the same thing on Facebook and I said the same back. of course that person was basically completely cynicized ("both sides" not perfect therefore the only moral stance is to jump on people for virtue signalling and lecture them)
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Likewise. I never felt ‘cowed’ into not doing it. But I’ve noticed that a lot of media weather vane types seem to lack the moral compass to do what millions of ordinary people do all the time, and stand up for normal human decency.
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Thank you. Many years ago, people would dismiss something as "politically correct" and I'd say: "I believe in treating people with respect." (And then they would feel attacked.)
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I’m glad you and so many people who liked and saved my post seem to feel my pain in that you shouldn’t be ashamed about standing up for what you believe in. Especially if it’s about empathy, which the current administration clearly lacks. It’s a shame kindness isn’t bipartisan.
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“At least I have virtue to signal.”
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I reversed it once. They wanted to protect the country from stuff like murdering & mutilating children, invading hordes of murderers, etc. I asked why dems don't want to do those same things. They didn't have an answer & also guessed it's spite for maga. All their propaganda is shallow as hell.
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They accuse us of making straw man arguments for them and yet they act like we’re not against murder and child endangerment. My favorite is them thinking we’re against families just because we support same-sex adoptions or us not wanting kids because it’s too expensive.
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