"Ironical that those who find the term to be absurd are the ones who virtue signal almost as a reflex to positions they don't like..." says the person who reflexively uses "virtue signal" (pretty much the only one who does) as a generic put down without rhyme or reason to any oppositional position.
You use virtue signal the way an ugly person might accuse someone of "beauty signaling" when simply beautiful would do. That's a word we use to describe an attractive appearance.
Or the way a selfish person might accuse a generous person of "generosity signaling" when simply generous would do. That's a word we use for charitable behavior.
Or the way a stupid person might accuse a smart person of "intelligence signaling" when simply intelligent would do. That's a word we use for brilliant thinking.
So maybe you should try and stop turning attributes into insults, presumably because that attribute in others calls attention to your own deficit, and instead of using the phrase virtue signaling, you can just call good, worthy, ethical, opinions as simply virtuous, because that's what they actually are and we have a word for it.
The only person signaling is you, if by signaling you mean being insincere and less interested in solutions and more interested in displaying to others your belonging to group think.
You use virtue signal the way an ugly person might accuse someone of "beauty signaling" when simply beautiful would do. That's a word we use to describe an attractive appearance.
Or the way a selfish person might accuse a generous person of "generosity signaling" when simply generous would do. That's a word we use for charitable behavior.
Or the way a stupid person might accuse a smart person of "intelligence signaling" when simply intelligent would do. That's a word we use for brilliant thinking.
So maybe you should try and stop turning attributes into insults, presumably because that attribute in others calls attention to your own deficit, and instead of using the phrase virtue signaling, you can just call good, worthy, ethical, opinions as simply virtuous, because that's what they actually are and we have a word for it.
The only person signaling is you, if by signaling you mean being insincere and less interested in solutions and more interested in displaying to others your belonging to group think.