But, after observing society over the last few years, I've come to think that people who _whine_ about virtue signaling are so full of vice that they cannot possibly believe someone _else_ isn't also as base as they are.
Its all such a shame. It seems like society has no ability to have reasonable, sensible conversation. I really wonder how the enlightenment even _happened_.
I agree, you're absolutely right.
I'm just kind of old, tired, grumpy and sad about the state of the world and my low capacity to influence the general direction or even small local things.
There have been many celebrated and uncelebrated people throughout history, known for their tremendous insight and wisdom, who all say the same thing about virtue: It's better, by far, to be a good person with fuck-all than a pos with billions.
* "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" - JC
* "The one who lives a hundred years immoral and uncontrolled is not worth as much as one who lives a single day virtuous and meditative." - Buddha
* "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor" - Seneca
* "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself." - Marcus Aurelius
Etc. And that timeless fact doesn't change no matter where or when or who you are; or how many people are "rolling around in the muck".
It's not even an especially hidden fact. It's awful sad that grown-ass adults can look at people like Musk or Gates or Trump or the Manosphere shitlings and think, wow, those look like happy content people.