No-one would describe themselves as a "
virtue signaller", it's only used in a dismissively critical way (perjorative) and it's a new thing (neologism).
What is a person accused of it actually doing, to attract this description?
According to the critic, they are guilty of employing an expressed concern for moral values as a device to show themselves off as morally concerned, rather than just making a moral point, so it shares some of the characteristics of an "
ad hominem"..
In practice, it seems to be used by right at left politically, a bit like "snowflake".
Like all insults/dismissals, it says as much about the user as the target.
...It would be like some one who chastises some one and talks about how important being vegan is, then goes home to their leather couch and enjoys a nice steak.
That's just plain old hypocrisy, I'd have thought.
Edit: and so's this, just pure hypocrisy.
Yes, also like Bernie Sanders advocating socialism, while owning 3 mansions, being filthy rich, and paying a lower tax rate than... Someone else..
Rules for thee but not for me, sort of thing..
One who does not "practice what you preach"
Using the term "virtue signal" is a bit more nuanced than that, imo. Although what it also does is devalue the "virtue" word by using it in a negative context.