How do we differentiate between genuine empathy and love for the world and simple virtue signalling?

If USA weren't the one safeguarding (contentious but please read on) the world and its modern interests then we would end up with something much worse.

If you only focus locally, it is quite easy to dismiss any form of killing, any form of surveillance and any form of inconvenience. This is "Defund the Police" meme all over again.

I gain social points by showing my disgust against the killings and murder done by the west. I gain nothing by promoting what they safeguard and promote that is necessary for the world to function. Such dynamics will lead to self ownage at the long run but social status points for oneself in the short term.

▲

frm88 a day ago | parent | next [-]

USA weren't the one safeguarding (contentious but please read on) the world

Another commenter posted a link collection of Palantir "safeguarding... the world" here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47564423. I feel you accurately described it as being contentious.

▲

gopher_space 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> How do we differentiate between genuine empathy and love for the world and simple virtue signalling?

We don't bother doing that because it's a waste of time.

> I gain social points

You gain no social points.

	▲	simianwords 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		>We don't bother doing that because it's a waste of time. It literally isn't. I'm not sure what you are trying to say here.

▲

kelipso 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> we would end up with something much worse.

Whenever I see this, I recognize it as obvious scaremongering.

▲

simianwords 2 days ago | parent [-]

When I saw "defund the policy" I recognised it as virtue signalling.

▲

bdangubic 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Same people that scoff at “Defund the Police” rejoice “Defund the Dept of Education” (and vice versa)

▲

simianwords 2 days ago | parent [-]

Question: do you agree police must be defunded?

▲

bdangubic 2 days ago | parent [-]

I agree that in both cases there is an issue that needs to be solved (see NYPD budget as example) so don’t take “defund” at face value but more like “radical changes are needed”

▲

simianwords 2 days ago | parent [-]

The scoffing of "defund the policy" was specifically at the face value interpretation.

	▲	bdangubic 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		if you want to tear something apart to rebuild peacefully this is the way. their salaries are paid by public money so defund, get everyone out and rebuild. not unlike dept of education which may also need a similar treatment to rebuild

▲

southerntofu 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Most of humanity has lived without police for most of its existence. It's not an inherent part of life. And in many places, the police is a very recent (few centuries old) invention with ties to oppressive structures such as slavery and colonialism.

Whether abolishing the police, or defunding the police (to deescalate the militarization), both are proposals formulated by serious academics and politicians, whether you agree or not. It's not virtue signalling. If anything, "defund the police" is still very badly regarded outside very small circles and there's no credit to be gained by holding such positions.