Virtue-Signalling to own Tribe theory

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GoodTaste

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Is "own" in "Virtue-Signalling to own Tribe theory" a verb meaning "to possess"?

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Richard Dawkins:

A 3rd theory, suggested by many repliers to my question about Twitter nastiness, is the Virtue-Signalling to own Tribe theory. It’s plausible & fits well with the “Nastier than thou” theory. “Look at me, I’m a real red-blooded member of our tribe, even nastier than thou.”

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jutfrank

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No.

Read it as ... to one's own tribe.
 

Tdol

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The last sentence confirms that for me.
 

GoodTaste

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Thank you.

Does "Virtue-Signalling" mean "showing (signalling) that (I) am more virtuous (than you)"? (I understand the last sentence this way)
 

GoesStation

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Thank you.

Does "Virtue-Signalling" mean "showing (signalling) that (I) am more virtuous (than you)"? (I understand the last sentence this way)
Not exactly. There's no implication of superior virtue. It's just showing that one is virtuous.
 

SoothingDave

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You should understand that saying someone is "virtue signaling" is a criticism.
 

bubbha

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I've observed that not many people know what "virtue signalling" really means or use the term properly. I've heard too many people use it in circumstances in which it doesn't apply.
 

Tdol

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Thank you.

Does "Virtue-Signalling" mean "showing (signalling) that (I) am more virtuous (than you)"? (I understand the last sentence this way)

Theoretically. It's a complex and disputed term.
 
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