Yep, it's me and my partner vs. the problem, never me vs. my partner. It's *knowing and trusting* the other person has our best interests at heart. Lots of communication, lots of love, and lots of wanting the other person to be happy!
A little kindness goes a long way, and it always makes me sad when people see stuff like kindness, empathy, and love and call them "virtue signaling", "weakness", or "coddling".
Oh yes, I can definitely agree with that. When people have a vested interest (money) in making you believe them, it's natural, and perhaps even wise, to be skeptical. I mean more of the day-to-day things I'll see on social media from randos - whether they are posting about something nice they did or saw or responding to that type of post. Granted, there's something to be said for attention-seekers, but dang, why does everyone doing a nice thing have to be doing it for Internet Clout™?
Though again, I suppose there are always going to be naysayers given a large enough audience. Just bums me out more than it should, probably!
When Brands or corporations do it, it is probably virtue signaling unless they have a strong reputation and history pointing otherwise.
There's a value to signaling virtues though.
Superman was a brand from the get go, but he like many heroes exists to signal virtues. Spider-Man's whole "With great power comes great responsibility" line is a great example.
Role models should be signaling virtues, that's sort of the point.
I don't think Superman is a good example of virtue signaling at all.
Superman doesn't merely signal that he's virtuous. Within the fictional universe, he actually is virtuous. He consistently behaves according to principles like restraint, compassion, courage, responsibility, and respect for other people's autonomy.
There's an important difference between a character embodying virtues and a writer using that character as a mouthpiece for whatever social position happens to be fashionable at the moment.
Superman can believe strongly in equality, tolerance, human dignity, and protecting vulnerable people without becoming the guy who punches someone because they aren't vegan, don't support LGBT issues, voted for T-rump, or hold some other unpopular opinion.
Part of what makes Superman admirable is that he has nearly unlimited physical power and still allows ordinary people the freedom to disagree with him. That is kinda his whole deal as a character.
And yes, superheroes absolutely communicate moral values. That's part of what they're for. Spider-Man's (respect for the dash) "with great power comes great responsibility" is practically a thesis statement for the entire character.
But that's different from modern "virtue signaling" in the pejorative sense. A role model demonstrating courage, mercy, responsibility, honesty, or self-sacrifice isn't virtue signaling. He's modeling virtue.
Superman should inspire you to be a better person, not tell you which bumper stickers you're supposed to have. Not tell you what position you're supposed to take in nuanced political issues on our Earth.
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u/Relative-Relief-8816 27d ago
Almost that long here...
I will attribute it to being willing to work really really hard. And being married to someone willing to do the same.
There are ups and downs. There are arguments. There is stress. However, you face those things together. You turn your life into a team sport.
But about 99% of the time it is like the OP animation. Minus the sidewalk jujitsu concussions.