When someone publicly denounces another person to demonstrate their social conscience, it’s not the same thing as being a good person.
What they’re doing is virtue signaling, which, it turns out, is a lot easier than actually behaving like a decent human being.
A strong indicator that someone is virtue signaling is when they insist that others denounce the person with them or risk being labeled as reprehensible.
Just because someone else is offended, doesn’t mean that we have a moral obligation to also be offended.
Sometimes we need a gentle reminder that emotions are not the same thing as ethics.
Likewise, our moods do not equal our morality.
Last, but not least, our indignation is not an accurate measure of our integrity.
T.K. Coleman says it like this:
“Your contribution to society is about what you do, not how you claim to feel. You have the right to feel whatever you wish, but beware the machinations of those who claim you have a responsibility to feel whatever they wish.”
This is why it’s essential that we put greater emphasis on who we are and what we stand for, rather than simply going around declaring who or what we are against.
One approach seeks to require those around us to think as we do or to chant in unison with us.
The other inspires the people around us to see what is good, true or lovely and to voluntarily choose to embrace it.
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