Canadian Politics Today

Not sure this should be in Canadian politics since virtue signalling seems universal. But certainly Trudeau proudly calling himself a feminist at every possible opportunity, and insisting half his cabinet would be female is virtue signalling. His insistence on taking all those Syrian refugees immediately following the news viewing of that dead boy on the beach was virtue signalling. Him putting 'middle class' into every speech about fifty times is virtue signalling. Marching in gay pride parades when you're not gay is virtue signalling. Even his 'town hall' things are virtue signalling (look at me, I'm a honest, ordinary guy who likes to talk to you ordinary folks!).

Down south, it's all virtue signalling. The NFL kneel downs for the national anthem are all about virtue signalling - on both sides. You think Trump even knows anything about football or has ever watched a game? You think the owners holding arms with Black football players who won't stand up is anything but virtue signalling when what they'd really like to do is fire their asses? Politicians who waves guns on stage to show what rebels they are, that's virtue signalling, as is every political ad carefully crafted to have multicultural people in it.

Coke has new TV ads featuring gay and transgendered people in it. Pure virtue signalling.

So  what is virtue signalling, exactly?   Can someone define it for me?

Not sure if it has a formal meaning.
I define it to mean: "engaging in actions that do nothing or cause harm in order to be perceived as a virtuous person".

Doing things that are actually good is not virtue signalling.

Ok, and 'actions' mean message conveyance here ?

So - talking as opposed to acting, or acting as opposed to acting symbolically.

conspicuous expression of moral values done primarily with the intent of enhancing standing within a social group

Ok, so you have to have a great view into peoples' intentions to assess it.

Ok, so there's no getting past the subjectivity.

conspicuous expression of moral values done primarily with the intent of enhancing standing within a social group

This seems fairly apt, and I think could describe JT showing up to hug Syrian kids when they landed.  And it does take some of the objectivity out.  Or maybe not.   Hmmmm....

If that's true, then it becomes virtually meaningless in any discussion, other than to throw shade at "the other guy".

So - ask somebody how to objectively use the word, if it's not just another derogatory word for people of different viewpoints.  If they can't answer then maybe propose a word that can use to convey a principle.

Snowflakes.  Always used to describe liberals.  Therefore it's just a one-sided insult.